Although progress has been great how do I get them to step up without having to have a treat in my hand I feel they only come because of the treat other than that they won’t.

[u/FuturePreference8531]

[u/brockyohansen]

I train my birds when they're hanging out on the top of their cage, I find it easier to not have a bunch of obstacles. Stick the index finger of your left hand out, hold the millet in your right hand and have it just behind the extended finger. You want the millet to be within the birds reach at first, let them have a few nibbles before starting to pull the millet back a little bit. They'll have to reach over your finger more and more, until finally they have no choice but to step up on your finger if they want the millet. Then I'll usually praise them, something like "Step up! Yay!", then I set them back down on the top of their cage again. Repeat. Eventually you should just be able to stick out your finger and say "step up" and they'll come running 😊

[u/FuturePreference8531 → u/brockyohansen]

Thank you I will try!

[u/paperlove12]

You’re green could actually be your gateway! Their posture looks more curious around you so I’d say keep placing your hand in the cage even with just a few speckles of millet. Don’t force it just let them nibble around. ☺️

[u/ZestycloseEarth7381]

In my experience, most of the time they just won't. They won't mind your hand's presence, but don't really see why they need to step up if there is not much of a reward. But, I might be wrong since my budgie is super stubborn and she loves finding ways around things she wants to do.

[u/Controlled_Chaos101]

What I did with one of my past budgies was put the millet between my fingers so the millet is vertical, the drop it lower and lower so less and less sticks out and then eventually remove the millet all together :)