The Step-Up

Doug Cook, Professional Animal Trainer
Post to clickbirds list, January 15, 2001

Recently we've done some "behavior consultant" type work - and I visited a few bird shops this weekend (something I do to torture myself...) Anyhow, I noticed something that is at the root of many peoples handling and "trust" issues with their birds.

Many people expect their bird to "step-up" when asked to do so (and most birds are eager to comply), but somehow things go wrong at this point. The bird lunges, or hesitates, the person pulls his/her hand back, etc. The person fears a bite, the bird seems afraid of the hand etc, etc.

The problem often stems from the fact that the person does not take the term "step- UP " literally enough. When you ask a bird to step UP, make sure that you position your hand/stick in such a way that the bird CAN step UP, like going up stairs. I saw people hold their hand level with the perch , below the level of the perch, too far from the bird, diagonal and below the perch.......any where but directly in front of the bird, and ABOVE the level of the perch. Think about this...

Birds are top heavy, stepping downward is awkward and less secure-feeling for them - many believe that parrots have poor depth perception...here the bird "reaches or grabs with his beak to steady himself, the person reacts to this "bite" and yanks the hand away -- next attempt the bird anticipates a "moving perch", and lunges again. Total misunderstanding between bird and human, and trust goes down the toilet. It's worse if the person offers his hand BELOW the level of the perch, now its really out of reach - the bird may grab, or simply not even try to step to the hand.

Now the person says "he won't step-up for me" -- well, of course not, you are asking him to climb DOWN, not step UP....and if the hand is out of the birds reach...things still don't work.

It is important to position your hand directly in front of the bird and ABOVE the level of the perch....a bird is built to reach UP to the next branch (or hand) and raise his weight up and on to the leading foot in a flowing, stepping motion. Watch how his feet grasp and close AROUND a perch as he steps upward, the whole foot kind of "rolls"forward as he moves upward . This the natural, and balanced way in which he moves....and this is what we must ALLOW him to do when he steps UP . Greater security and balance will cause less grabbing etc as he gets on your hand...When you return him to a perch, play pen or t-stand, hold him BELOW the perch, and watch how confidently he steps UP and on to it.

Watch your bird climb around his cage-as he moves UPward his steps are smooth and confident. If he is backing or climbing down the cage, notice how he "feels around" with his feet, how much more cautious and awkward he becomes. Starting to see what I mean here ?

I know this sounds so basic, but watch people who complain of having birds that bite when asked to step-up, or have birds that refuse to get on their hand - in almost every case, you will see them position their hand incorrectly, and they don't even realize that they are creating the "birds problem". Be aware of how you approach your bird next time you pick him up....

You will have less problems with a step-up, if you make sure the step is always UP.