Stick to It — Teaching Your Parrot To Step Up

Stepping onto a person’s hand is an important parrot skill. However, even the most well-trained parrot, like my Macaw Tiko, gets fussy once in a while, and those that weren’t taught to step up when they were young may resist the idea when someone decides it’s time they learn.

Offering a hand to a parrot that has no intention of gently stepping onto it can be scary, but when you need to do it, what options do you have? Buy bulk packages of Band-Aids and pain relievers? Use falcon gloves? If you have a parrot that fights you rather than steps on your hand and you’ve reached a sticking point, your bird needs some stick training.

Stick, dowel, perch or hand preserver. Whatever you call it, it’s a way to pick up your bird without worrying about losing fingers. All parrots should be taught to step onto a stick even if they normally will get on your hand.

Not only does this give you some added control when your bird cops an attitude, but if other people need to pick him up they’ll be able to do so with confidence. Stick training can also help your bird learn to step onto whatever you offer him, even if it’s not his usual training stick.

My husband once had to get our blue and gold macaw out of a tree, and couldn’t let go of the branch he was holding onto, so he stuck out his leg and said “uP”! Bijou stepped onto the outstretched leg even though he looked a bit confused.

Stick training isn’t complicated, but you’ll need to handle the stick properly. Whether you’re teaching a bird that already steps up, or one that doesn’t, you can’t just wave a dowel around and expect him to hop right on.

If he’s new to the concept, he’s liable to freak out so badly that you’ll be lucky if you can get him to look at you, much less let you pick him up. Parrots have an attitude of “That thing is trying to get me!” and are sensitive about stuff coming at them, especially when they don’t know what to expect. If you don’t start out right, you’ll probably have to make up for some bad experiences.

Choose a stick that’s not too thick so your bird can get a good grip, and a length that you can manage easily (anything longer than eighteen inches may be too awkward). Eventually, you can use more than one stick and vary the size or style but at first I recommend just one.

Having several around the house is a good idea. When your bird is being naughty and you want him to step up, you don’t want to have to hunt around for a perch. If they’re handy, you’re always prepared. To keep one by the cage, consider attaching a strap to one end and hanging it on the wall. Your bird can get used to seeing it and you’ll be able to get it easily.

At first, just let the stick hang around near the cage for a few days so it becomes something your parrot is used to seeing. Casually carry it around a little, too, but don’t bring it towards him at this point. The next step is to allow him to touch it.

During your play time together, put the stick on your lap, the couch or wherever you’re playing, along with some of his toys. Set it flat on the surface with everything else and treat it like the other toys. Let him approach it on his own timetable. He can nibble and push at it, but mainly encourage him to touch it with his feet.

At some point, slide the stick over to him, still keeping it level on the play surface. When that goes well, begin to lift and move it a little. Once you see that he’s not nervous about that, you can add the “up” command and use the stick as you would your hand, pressing gently at his legs with a little lift. It’s usually better to come at him from underneath and from the front — don’t bring it down upon him.

It can take some birds longer than others to get over their fear of the stick, but most take to it pretty well. And for parrots that aren’t comfortable stepping onto hands, this can be a good way to start–let them get used to the stick first.

Even if they’re biting it, they’ll learn that biting doesn’t scare you off. They’ll learn that the stick, and eventually your hand, offers a secure and trustworthy method of transportation and that being picked up isn’t so bad.

“This article was written by professional parrot behavior specialist Kim Bear who consults for Birdtricks.com”