Stepping up is a basic, but very important building block that all feathered friends should be familiar with. It is useful for moving birds in and out of cages, to and from stands and people, or retrieving them from the floor or unsafe situations. It is easy for us to get too comfortable or lazy with this simple training tool because tame birds seem to instinctively respond. Sometimes birds can forget as well! Some parrots that do not step-up may not understand for a number of reasons: they were not trained to step-up, they were trained to be moved with sticks/perches, they have free reign of the house or room and do not rely on people. Babies and sometimes untamed birds or adults may need practice, or a refresher course. Many young birds will learn fast, especially if hand fed and handled frequently.
Different birds learn in different ways, and some birds may be very scared or sometimes aggressive if they have not been handled. Training is best done in a safe, quiet environment (sometimes in a different room, away from the cage), in a tidy area with minimal hiding spots.
It is good practice to use a verbal cue, like “step up” or “up” that a learning bird can associate with the physical action. Initially, birds may need a light touch or pressure from your finger placed low on their chest.
Some birds will step-up from vulnerable places like the floor, but small T-perches work well for birds that are inclined to avoid, or run away from hands.
If your bird is food motivated, a small treat held just out of reach can be used to coax your bird onto your finger where it can then eat the reward.
Once a bird is perched on your finger, alternate your hands to have your bird step-up in a ladder-like motion. Remember to use the verbal cue! This is best done if the bird is facing you. Make sure after a few steps that you allow your bird a break, that can be its own reward.
Take a few minutes each day during normal playtime and handling to reinforce this behavior.
