Step U.... OUCH! Any suggestions?

[Addicted to Tequila]

Ok...

I will post more on how I got these guys later. But... "Lucy... we has a problem!"

The new 1 year old cherry-head/mitered conure was handled by a hesitater. You know the sort. As soon as the bird would put it's beak out to step up (which he is MORE than willing to do!)... the person would think he was going to bite and would pull away.

Now he has the lovely habit of lunging and then holding on for dear life as he steps up. I have dealt with these guys before... and usually they stop once they get the idea that you are "stable" and will NOT be tearing the arm away. Not this one. I am COVERED in bruises from thumb to elbow!

I tried wrapping a towel around before asking... he bit even harder! He does not break the skin (he did on his last owner... the hesitater) so I DO have hope. He is actually used to being picked up by the neck!!! I am unsure that I like that idea... even though he uses a foot to steady himself when you do it.

He will also lay on his back for a good 15 minutes while I rub his tummy or play with his feet (which is good... his nails are over an inch long!!!). He really IS a trusting guy... he just needs a bit of work.

I still have one good arm... but then I am sunk.

Any other suggestions?
(Yes... he will step up on a dowel... but that is sliding backwards a bit I think. It is not that he is viscous... he just knows not what he does!)

[mmr]

My suggestion would to be to not move your arm. Move it slowly towrds him when he does this to show him you are not afarid and that it isn't acceptable? Other's may disagree though. That is what I did with my cockatiel many moons ago and he stopped doing it.

[Addicted to Tequila]

Yep... that is what I AM doing. Hence the black and blue marks! Usually they catch on pretty quick... this guy is a bit slow. And BIG... big enough to actually hurt anyway!

[mmr]

Originally Posted by Addicted to Tequila

Yep... that is what I AM doing. Hence the black and blue marks! Usually they catch on pretty quick... this guy is a bit slow. And BIG... big enough to actually hurt anyway!

LOL I bet he isn't as big and My U2 and B&G! Now those are beaks I do pull away from!

[KimM]

I had the exact same problem with Newt for awhile (during his terrible 2's) Wrap your arm and hand up in an ace bandage- leave fingers free. Serves 2 purposes; 1. It protects your hands and arms from getting the crap bit out of you, so you feel more comfortable. 2. They feel more stable because your arm is not wobbling when they step up. I didn't have to do this with Newt, but I did do this with Ellliot because he is unstable due to a bad wing.

When Newt would do this, I would give him a "wobble" correction with a firm 'NO". If he did it again, I repeated the wobble and NO. If he did it a third time? He was deposited on the floor. Some prefer a couch or soft chair. They do NOT like being deposited, because they are "below" you and this can be intimidating. Give it about 10 seconds or so and ask him to step up again from wherever he's been deposited. If he does ok - REWARDH HIM BIG TIME!!! If he bites again? Back in his cage and ignore him

[Ginnyk]

You could try stepping up from behind, then his beak is facing the other way. As long as he isnt startled by it it should work nicely. It worked well for me with Gray who would sometimes lunge when he didnt want to step up. Now I just scoop him up from behind. And if he really doesnt want to step up he tries to distract me by giving me kisses lol

[xafsmom]

Originally Posted by Addicted to Tequila

Ok...

I will post more on how I got these guys later. But... "Lucy... we has a problem!"

The new 1 year old cherry-head/mitered conure was handled by a hesitater. You know the sort. As soon as the bird would put it's beak out to step up (which he is MORE than willing to do!)... the person would think he was going to bite and would pull away.

Now he has the lovely habit of lunging and then holding on for dear life as he steps up. I have dealt with these guys before... and usually they stop once they get the idea that you are "stable" and will NOT be tearing the arm away. Not this one. I am COVERED in bruises from thumb to elbow!

I tried wrapping a towel around before asking... he bit even harder! He does not break the skin (he did on his last owner... the hesitater) so I DO have hope. He is actually used to being picked up by the neck!!! I am unsure that I like that idea... even though he uses a foot to steady himself when you do it.

He will also lay on his back for a good 15 minutes while I rub his tummy or play with his feet (which is good... his nails are over an inch long!!!). He really IS a trusting guy... he just needs a bit of work.

I still have one good arm... but then I am sunk.

Any other suggestions?
(Yes... he will step up on a dowel... but that is sliding backwards a bit I think. It is not that he is viscous... he just knows not what he does!)

Return to the dowel. There's a reason for this...

You want to re-introduce stepping up in a positive way. You're also re-building his confidence in handlers 'hands'. It's not backsliding but returning to a basic foundation. It's something he can and will do and succeed at it. So, he steps up, you praise him, he likes it, he learns that you're not going to hesitate with the stick.

Then, second step is to introduce your hand behind the stick. Present the stick with your hand under it. He steps up, etc.

Third step, your hand first, the stick behind it. He steps up onto your hand, he can grab and beak the stick. Praise, ect...

Soon, he's learned to RE-associate the concept of stepping up with hands that don't hesitate again.

Not back-sliding, but returning to positive behaviour! It also reinforces the missing trust issue. Positive repetition = more trust.

[Addicted to Tequila]

But he bites the stick even harder than my arm!

I recently hurt my other wrist and made a vetwrap "cast" that I could slip on and off (with some work). I wonder if that would work. I might try it.

He really is not doing it to be mean. There is no lunging. No breaking of skin. And as soon as he has the first foot solidly planted he immediately lets go. He actually comes running to step up. He just seems so afraid he will not be allowed to step up... that he feels he must make sure you will leave your hand there.

[mmr]

Originally Posted by Addicted to Tequila

I recently hurt my other wrist and made a vetwrap "cast" that I could slip on and off (with some work). I wonder if that would work. I might try it.

How in the world did you do that? How did you make it hard?

[lola31]

i had a similar problem with pepper (also a keen stepper upper, you almost don't have to ask) but i found a solution pretty quickly and i might come in for some criticism for it but it works for me.
when offering pepper a finger or arm for step up i put a finger under her beak and she hooks her self up without even attempting a bite whereas before i did this i almost certainly got bit, if she attempted to bite the hand i offered for her beak i held my finger up vertically and said "no bite" kind of like this but i didn't waggle it (wayyy too tempting for a nibbler) it worked for me and now the holding a finger up and saying a firm no can pretty much curb any undesirable behavior.