More silly questions from a newbie conure owner

[dawnkyung]

Swaps steps up pretty consistantly now..i got nipped pretty well when he decided he didn't want to step up off of his playgym and got angry that i wanted to take him off. As soon as he steps up, i praise him and give him a bite of millet.

When i approach him with my finger in his cage, he shies away and flees to the opposite side. He's not aggressive if i go in the cage for him though, just tries to run away. Any tips?

Often Swaps will step up off of other things without trying to take my finger off, but if i try to "ladder" with alternating hands (to help with the "up" training), he REALLY doesn't like this. its then that he gets very very nippy, nipping hard enough to make me sweat lol. How can i fix this? should i not "ladder" with him?

I posted this on another conure board as well. Thanks for any help anyone can give me!

[Monica]

As for the cage issue, why not attach a perch to the door (if it's a swing out door), with a treat cup, or even put these two items on the outside of the cage next to the door. When you want him to come out, put his favorite treat in the cup so that he has to come OUT to get it.

As for laddering, just keep doing it until you can no longer ladder him (i.e. fingers too sore!). Then repeat when your hands have recovered some! This is what I did with my cherry headed conure... Each time she'd step up without biting I gave her a kiss (although there times she bit my nose or lips too!). Each time she bit, I'd tell her "NO biting!" firmly. She didn't like laddering either, but I did it anyway until my hands were so battered I had to stop. Noel is 2 1/5 times larger than swaps, so believe me my fingers got battered and bloody a lot! Now though, Noel will step up/down to me from anywhere (even if she's higher than what I can reach) unless of course she's outside enjoying the apple tree and isn't ready yet to come in!

[dawnkyung]

Thanks a ton!

I will keep laddering him, despite his wrath!!

He is a tiny little thing. The vet weighed him in at...62 grams i believe? Vegetas like twice his size!

He is pretty consistant about wanting to come out all the time, so i think that getting him out of his cage won't really be a problem hehe. He can be easily lured by millet or even banana. Anything i am holding he has to come investigate!