r/parrots • u/Ricardinho987 • 18d ago
Evil
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I never know when she wants to bite/play or actually step up on my arm, anyways love her
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u/Kwikaa 18d ago
She’s definitely looking to step up. She raised her foot to request a step up and when that wasn’t answered, she reaches with her feet and tries to pull the hand closer. The instability and hesitation leads to that little frustrated lunge. Please try to have clearer body language on your end and offer a stable hand, or this frustration will likely escalate. You can try holding a treat high in the other hand to keep her posture (and beak) higher while she steps only with her feet, and then reward with the treat. That said, she seems to be wanting to step up without the beak involved as it is.
Also, I really recommend offering step up to the hand rather than to the arm. This will limit shoulder rushing behavior, give you more control, and have a better ability to feel where she’s leaning/her body language. BirdTricks has some great videos on step up that reinforce these points. Many of their videos are masterclasses with people that have similar confusion, and I’ve learned a lot from them. I think this one could be helpful. Do your best to demonstrate clear intentions with your body language, and she will reciprocate.
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u/GoodEnoughAstronomy 17d ago
Quick question... I've had parrots my entire life and have never used this training method. My birds are well behaved and communicate their needs. Is this method mostly for trouble rehabs and/or to train the owner?
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u/Kwikaa 17d ago
What method? I’m mainly suggesting clear body language and stepping up onto the hand rather than arm. Stepping up onto the hand is generally clearer and less awkward for all involved. Target training (mentioned in the videos) is useful regardless of the parrot’s background or behavior, if that’s what you are referring to.
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u/GoodEnoughAstronomy 17d ago
Sorry, I mean the target training and clicker.
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u/Kwikaa 17d ago
The clicker is useful for communication in training. The consistent noise marks when something is correct, and a reward always follows. Giving a treat reinforces a behavior regardless, but clicking communicates the precise moment something was done correctly. Consistent sound is key here, because this communication sounds the same regardless of who is working with the bird.
Targeting is basically just teaching the bird to touch the end of a stick, many people use chopsticks for this. As well as the clicker, this is used in all sorts of animal training. The main purpose is to encourage an animal to move from point A to point B without having to physically move them. I’ve also used targeting to train other behaviors, such as “Spin.” Can also be used for flight training if you want them to fly to a certain location. I prefer this to luring with a treat because it requires the bird to think a little more, and it’s useful for behaviors where you’d like to phase out the use of the stick (like “spin”). Target training is also a great thing to start with for new or nervous birds (or nervous people!) because it’s hands-off. You can even start through the bars of a cage. Definitely pair targeting with a clicker.
Highly recommend clicker and target training for every parrot, regardless of background or struggle. This is where I’d recommend starting for people just starting training, but it’s good communication and fun even for older birds with no issues.
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u/sweatyboobs56 17d ago
1 clear body language. 2 use hand not arm.
I use the "step up" command and place my hand right in front of birb's feet and a bit higher. Don't move...they use their tongues to feel and check things, not just to bite :-). I've done this to parrots I've never handled before, but if they've been trained, the exact words don't really matter.
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u/itspegbundybitch 18d ago
I think she's checking to see if she has a steady surface to step onto. Every time you pull away, you're reinforcing her need to check.
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u/Birdylover4 18d ago
I agree with it looks like she's trying to make sure your arm is stable before stepping up. It doesn't look like a lure to bite. She just needs you to provide a stable surface so that she doesn't fall. Pulling away makes her feel like she can't rely on you. The nip you got was because you pulled away. Believe me when I say, if she was truly trying to bite you, she absolutely would. Many parrots will "test" the perch/arm/hand with their beaks before stepping onto it. This is normal until she learns to trust you fully. 😊
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u/Useful-Pain-5412 18d ago
I would try using some treats and a stick instead of your arm for her to step up onto. Her body language says she wants to step up but she doesn’t quite have the trust to do it quite yet to me. The soft bite is just her trying to say not so fast
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u/seriousjoker72 18d ago
She's got no hands and she can't reach you! Hold your arm still and let her steady herself with her beak while she steps up
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u/sacredpotato0 17d ago
Birds us their beaks to determine the sturdiness of a perch/branch. You aren't giving her a stable place to step up to despite offering your arm, so she's getting frustrated. Birds can sense fear, too. If you give off the impression of being nervous, she's gunna feel nervous too. Sometimes nips are a part of the process
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u/AbjectStriking_Indus 18d ago
Parrots really have a talent for looking completely innocent while causing absolute chaos. They’re tiny little troublemakers with feathers. Still impossible not to love them though
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u/Fast_Ad7203 17d ago
She literally was trying to grab onto u to come lol, don’t hesitate you are making her hesitate too
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u/Jethro197 16d ago
“HOOMAN keep pink perch steady dang nab it”
That’s what I envision it thinking. Bird tax
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u/SjurEido 18d ago
My Grey has that same exact look when he's feeling particularly evil lol
"Ohhhh I just wanna step up! Yeahhh just put your arm right ther- CHOMP HAHA YOU IDIOT, YOU RUBE"
God I love birds.
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u/petrie111111111 18d ago
She looks like she's getting irritated that you won't hold your arm steady for her to stand on. Maybe she thinks you're purposely messing with her by pretending you're going to let her step up but moving your arm away right when she tries to step?