{"id":3744,"date":"2021-05-27T17:57:08","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T16:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thinkparrot.com\/?p=3744"},"modified":"2023-09-28T05:58:21","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T04:58:21","slug":"parrot-wont-step-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinkparrot.com\/parrot-wont-step-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Won’t My Parrot Step Up?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If a consequence\/outcome to a behaviour (the step up) is reinforcing, the parrot will most likely repeat the behaviour in the future.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

For some birds, reinforcement for stepping up might be the chance to interact with their caregiver. Others may work better for a treat, a head scratch, access to a toy, being carried to a favoured place or simply for the reinforcement of being brought out of the cage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Kobe stepping up from inside his night cage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If the consequence is NOT reinforcing or if the step up has been regularly paired with aversives, a parrot is unlikely to want to step up in the future.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aversives<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It is commonplace to use force to bully our parrots into stepping up. We push our hand into the bird\u2019s chest or perhaps we prise his feet off the perch. These are both examples of using negative reinforcement<\/em> which is also known as escape\/avoidance learning<\/em>. The bird steps up to escape\/avoid<\/em> the pressure of the hand in the chest or the fingers pulling at his toes. Not only is the experience of stepping up paired with aversives (however mild in the eyes of the human) but the person using the negative reinforcement is also being paired with those aversives. A sure way to erode trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall out to negative reinforcement\/aversives<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Some birds quickly learn that lunging or biting will make the hand\/aversive go away \u2013 they are then labelled as \u201caggressive\u201d through no fault of their own. Some may become “fearful”, even to the point of phobia and try to get away from us\/our hands. Others will continue to step up, but offer the absolute minimum behaviour in order to escape\/avoid the aversives. Not a good place to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Positive reinforcement<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

By using positive reinforcement<\/em>, we can make stepping up an enjoyable experience for the parrot. An experience our parrot will want to repeat in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Body language<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First and most importantly, notice the parrot\u2019s body language \u2013 this is the main way our parrots communicate. Body language will tell us if our parrot is relaxed and willing to engage with us or is not comfortable with our approach. Only ask for a step up if the bird is relaxed and willing to engage – this will become increasingly likely if we use positive reinforcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shape the step up<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If the parrot consistently shows signs that he is not comfortable with our approach, then go back to basics and carefully shape<\/em> the step up which is explained in this thread:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step Up Training For Your Parrot Using Shaping<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shaping the step up will provide many opportunities to earn positive reinforcement and therefore positive experiences for our fearful bird. An effective way to build\/rebuild trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aggressive responses also need to be treated sensitively when shaping the step up. As soon as the bird learns how to earn reinforcers his attitude will change. However, to begin with he is likely to continue to use body language that says, \u201cI\u2019m not comfortable – go away!\u201d That\u2019s fine \u2013 heed it way before<\/em> it progresses to a lunge. Pushing forward until the bird has no option but to lunge or bite, is only teaching him to lunge or bite more<\/em> at our approach. Calmly walk away at the first hint of uncomfortable body language – the opportunity for him to earn reinforcement has been temporarily lost. Try again when he is more relaxed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are not feeling confident in shaping the step up, begin with the much easier Target Training<\/a> so that the parrot learns about cause and effect and earning reinforcers. Then progress to shaping the step up since it is using exactly the same principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Targeting<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If the bird knows how to target, ask him to step up by reaching for the target over your hand. The behaviour would be shaped by first getting him to touch a target progressively closer to your hand for lots of reinforcement. Then to touch it over your hand, until he has to put one foot on the hand, then two to reach the target. Be sure to keep the hand absolutely still and highly reinforce. Allow him to step off again immediately so he is in full control. Training duration (the length of time he\u2019s on the hand before stepping off) and perching on a moving hand can be trained later. These are both discussed towards the end of this post: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hand held perch<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Teaching the parrot to step up onto a hand held perch is a useful behaviour as it can save hands being bitten in an emergency, or make it easier to reach a parrot in an inaccessible place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Ollie steps up onto a hand held perch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It can also be a way to move a parrot with a phobia about hands. Choosing something the parrot is already familiar with makes the process easier to teach. It doesn\u2019t have to be a stick, it could be a folded rope perch, a basket handle, or even a cushion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step Up Training For Your Parrot Using Shaping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other general step up tips<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Our aim is to set our parrot up for success. To ask when we have his full attention, not when he\u2019s in the middle of preening, killing a toy or eating. If he\u2019s not ready, we can return in a minute or two.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • If the bird is not ready, and we stand with our perch or hand in front of the parrot, repeating, \u201cStep up, step up, step up\u2026\u201d over and over, the verbal cue becomes meaningless \u2013 just noise \u2013 and we become annoying. The visual cue can start to get lost too. If the bird doesn\u2019t step up within a certain time frame after being cued then walk away. Again, the opportunity for him to earn reinforcement has been lost. Try again a minute or two later when he\u2019s more receptive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Sometimes a bird might need a prompt especially when initially learning the step up. Briefly showing them the treat, if that\u2019s what you are using, might help to kick start the behaviour. However showing the treat before<\/em><\/strong> the behaviour (the step up) is a bribe or lure. It should be faded out as quickly as possible or else the parrot will just follow the treat and won\u2019t properly learn the behaviour, or might decide that particular treat is not worth working for.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Check hand placement. It is easier for a parrot to step up<\/strong><\/em> onto a hand that is a little higher than his feet, rather than step down<\/strong><\/em> to a hand below him.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • We may want to rethink the reinforcer: if the reinforcer is food, he may no longer be hungry, which is why breaking the treat into tiny prices will allow for more repetition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Try changing up the reinforcer for the step up so the parrot doesn\u2019t know what he\u2019s going to get next. Different treats, access to a toy, praise, being carried over to a window, etc. (whatever works for the bird).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Another technique could be to use behavioural momentum which is asking for a few easy behaviours that he knows how to do first, and then without pausing ask for the more difficult behaviour – and of course highly reinforce it!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Make life easy for yourself and the parrot<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Many caregivers have problems getting the bird to step up from inside his cage. Make life easy for yourself – why not just open the door and let the bird choose to come out when he wants to? That way the bird has choice and control \u2013 two important reinforcers. Maybe attach a short perch on the inside of the door so that when the door swings open, he has somewhere to climb to and sit. It also makes going back in easier too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Emergency step up<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Of course in a true emergency, the bird should be made safe and secure as quickly as possible by any means. An emergency in this household is someone unexpectedly at the front door. Kobe gets over excited at the sound of the doorbell and is likely to follow me to the door. He knows the emergency drill. I show Kobe his folded rope perch and he either immediately steps up on it or flies to it. He\u2019ll stay on the perch as I carry him to his cage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"
    Kobe being carried on his folded rope perch to his cage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    To get this fast 100% successful response, I taught Kobe to step up onto the folded rope perch from inside his night cage every morning. He is used to rope perches in his day cage so there was no need to desensitize him to it. Of course Kobe was eager to come out of the night cage so that was the reinforcer to step up. After months of stepping up onto the rope perch from inside his night cage without hesitation, the step up has become automatic. He also understands, through experience, that if I use this emergency procedure, I will always let him back out of his cage in a few minutes after the person has gone. This is the only time I use the folded rope perch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But I have to rush to work!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    If we ask a parrot to step up and he does, then we immediately put him into his cage and walk away, is that parrot likely to step up more, or less, in the future?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Of course it depends on the individual bird, but my guess for the majority, is less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Therefore it\u2019s important to teach our parrot that step up doesn\u2019t necessarily mean going straight back into the cage. Even if we are rushing out, there is still lots of reinforcement we can provide en route. For example, we can ask for a step up and reinforce the behaviour with a treat, skritch, or opportunity to be with us. Then we could take him over to the window for a few minutes to ooooh and ahhh at what\u2019s going on outside (certainly reinforcing for some individuals), then<\/em><\/strong> we carry him to his cage. But reinforcement doesn\u2019t end there\u2026 look what\u2019s waiting \u2013 breakfast, or a new toy, or foraging opportunity! Our parrot will most likely step up in the future even if we are rushing to go to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n