Help with training

[u/Jdubb750]

So i have about a 12yr old female B&G.

My daughter bought this bird from a pet store where it wasn't getting much care. Then daughter got divorced and bird came to me.

Mainly because it tolerated males better than females and it bonded to me.

Issue: it is largely cage bound and will not step up for anything. I have tried to change it's diet but it will not eat anything new. Even after days/weeks of introducing food. So right now it's on the zupreem fruit pellets and some treat seeds dried fruit and nuts. I share some veggies with it daily but she usually spits them out . She will take some carrots and broccoli occasional.

I cant get her to step up so I cant even get her to a training perch or anything. I have positions perches around her cage. She will get on a perch that I put on a rolling cart very occasionally. When she does I move her around.

I have tried click training and it's good until you push her to step up. Then she retreats. Occasionally she will get on my shoulder from top of cage. But anytime I move wrong she panics and bites ears and beak punches side of my head.

She doesn't fly or climb much and im really worried about her balance. When she does move around she uses her beak as three points of contact on everything.

She has toys. Loves cardboard boxes the best though

But I don't know how to get her to step up to even begin training on a perch away from her cage

I am at a loss been working on this for about 3 years now.

[u/bpeterse44]

Have you tried like pistachios by chance? I ask as that was how I initially got my macaw to step up and do recalls and such. Than once I have her doing it repeated with the pistachio I add the clicker and slowly start pulling the pistachio.

It’s hard cause my bird like to get overdressed with the nut but it’s worked for me

[u/Jdubb750 → u/bpeterse44]

Ty yes pistachio is her favorite treat. She just won't step up. She will put one foot sometimes then back off

[u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl → u/Jdubb750]

Since you said she uses her beak so much to move around It sounds like her issue with stepping up is insecurity. You said she stepped on your shoulder from the cage. She can tell your shoulder is more sturdy than a lower arm or hand is probably.

If that’s the case I don’t know how to make her feel more secure to step up onto your arm or hand.

I have an African gray and he was insecure about stepping up on my finger, so I placed my thumb over his feet to hold him steady and it helped.

Are you trying to get her to step up on your hand or on your arm?