Ok...LOOK AT THIS!!! badabing!

Of course, I couldn't get her to do it later, but it was her bedtime and she was grumpy.
I started by getting her to lean over and go after the applebits and click. then slid the perch up between she and the treat and let the other end rest on the cage door top. She started leaning farther over to get the applebits until she got both feet on the perch.Then I started just wiggling it around while she stood on it and c/t for standing on it while I wiggled it. then gradually worked my way up off the cage door, then moved it to let her off on the top perch on the playtop, then one time she actually let me move her back into the cage on the perch. Of course, she got jackpots for all of those. LOL. I was most surprised at her letting me move her to the top perch without her flapping and carrying on. She was, weirdly, relaxed. Of course, she liked being high.
She's doing great. Even though she doesn't do it consistently, at least I know that she can. She still absolutley HATES that perch. I mean, opens her mouth to eat it as it gets closer. But, at least she doesn't run away from it and growl like a mad poodle like she did when I first got her. LOL. She really really wants ON me, but I'm not trusting her so much yet..I've seen the way she shreds and cracks the perch.
Some keys I have found so far is a GOOD Nites sleep, covered, 10 hours she does well. I take the food out right before we train and replace it with fresh food when we're done. And I've developed this sort of throw our head back and scream with her (looks pretty stoopid, but she likes it)when she does good, so she digs that.
The clicker has been the bridge to more than the actual feat I'm trying to get her. It has been a sort of conduit for our building a relationship. Kind of like a man with the quickest way to his heart.
I have found the quikest way to a bird's heart is thru her stomach as well. LOL.
Mark...relieved that it CAN be done, not done yet, but we're getting there.

Mark!! That's great progress. She looks VERY relaxed which is great and she's also VERY pretty!

She'll get there, these are major challenges for her to learn to trust a stranger.

She may feel insecure on Manzanita it's pretty slippery. I dont know if she'll be afraid of vet wrap on it, probably will. But vet wrap would give her a better grip. Maybe try switching perches to one that's rougher like a matte wood and not perfectly round....like those sand blasted ones I forget the name. They have knobs on them and usually arent slippery.

I would probably not wiggle it when she's standing on it. They dont like an "insecure perch". Feels like a dropping treelimb sorta. And the manzanita would be double the feeling.

She does look relaxed doesn't she? She wasn't frightened or felt "insecure" or she would have flown off easily.

Thanks for the compliments and the great observation!
Mark

That's excellent, Mark! It's so great to see her progress. How's about I send you a certain male DYH for a month or two?

haha, let me get things a lil more settled and I'd be glad to take Chico. These Zons, gotta love em. Remind me of that later...
I have really really been impressed with clicker training and how it can make everything easier...and more fun.
Mark

She looks good, and come a long way.

Great progress!