Everyone's situation is different. Some people may not be able to spend the one on one time with every bird and maybe they don't really need to have a bird that steps up. I know many people would prefer their birds step up, but again, every one and every bird is different. We don't know what goes on in individual lives and therefore can't generalize the rules into one sentence.

To my bigger fids, step up IS A MUST. My budgies will step up occasionally, and Bbay, my only handraised one (the one I handraised I mean) will step up if I ask her, my tiels fret about it, but do so, ut its NOT A MUST with them. But the bigger guys like my U2,M2,RLA, 2 quakers, yes, its a must. And its not so I DOMINATE them. With companion animals such as birds (birds are not pets) I dont believe in dominating them, I believe in FRIENDSHIP and trust and love, not dominance.

My goal is, eventually, for Cleo to be a therapy bird. I love to work with children and geriatrics. For this reason, stepups are a MUST.
This is waaaay down the road, but I think she can do it. Maybe only on a limited basis, but somewhat.
Now that I can get her to stepup and get in her carrier, I will be taking her out and sociailizing her more.
But, after reading answers and talking to people, I'm about to decide that a blanket answer is neither possible or appropriate. Both of our birds stepup now. After reading about some people have workarounds for stepups and are leading very good lives. It is absolutely whatever works best.

Your conclusion IMO is an excellent one and is confirmed in articles from Barbara Heidenreich (GoodBirdInc.) as well as Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D. who says "There’s usually more than one way to solve a behavior problem and each solution should be customized to the needs and learning history of each individual learner, as each bird is truly a study of one. "

In her teachings she cannot emphasize enough that; each bird is truly a study of one.

Great Thread!

Last evening I was watching a dog trainer talk about animals [dogs of course foremost] needing a job to keep them sane. I really believe this is true - it was even for our cat [who would sit by anything she thought out of place, until you noticed or even brought you toys to play, like a dog].

This trainer was 100% behind the clicker training - as she said it was unfair to expect them to understand our words as the first thing - maybe later when they understand what's being asked. That most animals are great observers & learn from gesture & sounds & of course rewards. That they take a lot of joy in doing the job right & getting attention that reinforces it.

I hope Cleo continues on her new path with an A+.

Yes, each is a "study of one". As are WE! What is difficult to discern, at least for me, is deciding WHAT to teach. Since building trust is so important, there have to be WAYS to build that trust. With Cleo, actually BUILDING trust was accomplished by stepping up...and still, it's a daily struggle sometimes. But, she knows that she can and she trusts me now.. She's just stubborn and that's ok. If she doesn't walk over and stepup when I give the cue, I walk away and let her hear me having a good time in another room. Soon, she starts calling, I go back, offer again. She steps up then usually. But, if she doesn't , I repeat what I did, just staying gone longer and walk around in the room where she can see me but not be with me. Soon, she calls again. I go back and she gets on. Only a few times since she started stepping up do I have to bribe her onto my hand with a treat and then she will.
I'm working on her walking over and stepping up. Not just automatically sticking my hand UNDER her. I ask her to stepup and put my hand 6 or 8 inches from her.
Once she's stepped up and on me, she's a happy camper.
she's doing very well...and all of this is building not only trust in ME, but she is learning to trust HERSELF and her decisions.

We started to teach 'come' by backing away a bit & offering the same gesture as step-up. You have to make sure they are focused on you tho - not something else or you can stand there a while.

Mark, I think what you are doing is great! Being that this is a somewhat new behavior you're asking for you may want to reward for smaller positive steps toward your hand for a while.


May I also suggest that you use two verbal commands. I use "Step Up" for when it's a must and "Come Here" when I am asking if they would like out time or to come and play. I use "Step Up" very seldom, but they both know what it means.

Day to day requests aren't always verbal requests either; I go to them, I might check their food bowl, I talk silly to them, I dance back and forth as I talk. Before I know it (a minute or two) I have a hitchhiker and they are jumping on my arm and I didn't even say "Come Here."

Other times I may do all the silly stuff, then say, "Come Here." Kady may decide he doesn't want to. I tell him, I have to go and I'm going to have lots of fun. I offer my arm again and he hops on. Like you described in your post, I let them know the value and rewards of stepping up is lots of fun that will continue, if they choose to go with me.

Yea, I will start cueing her with "come here" and THEN "stepup".
a LOT of progress has been made since I stopped sticking my hand INSIDE her cage. That was conditioning her to bite. I needed to respect that as apparantly that is important to her.
After eliminating that specific unnecessary catalyst to a bite, (aka antecedent) it became much easier for her to trust me to do stepups in other places. I met her 1/2 way. That's important in any animal training (and kids too for that matter) to let them know they have some control. Nobody should be in control of someone ALL the time.
This has been very interesting and intriguing for me. And Cleo has been the perfect example.

Just wanted to add my two cents-
Although Darwin is pretty new, I have already taught him to step up and I think that it's a great trust builder. I began by luring him onto my hand with millet and after a while I was able to hold the millet behind my back and offer my hand and he would automatically step up. Now I always verbally praise him when he steps up and occasionally give him a food treat, just to keep him more motivated.
I think that if step ups are always followed by a reward of some sort, it can really improve the relationship between person and bird. Darwin is clipped, but when he is done playing and wants to go back into his cage he flies over to the legs of his cage stand and waits there. When I first offered him to step up from the ground he moved away from my hand. However, I eventually got him to do it and I praised him profusely and immediately returned him to his cage. Now he eagerly steps up because he knows it will get him into or out of his cage. I believe that step ups have really aided our bonding process.
However, I also believe that if a bird is really reluctant to step up and it is an unpleasant and difficult experience for the bird, then the bird should not be forced to comply. Step ups should always be a positive thing.