Roxy Can't Step Up

[DaiseesMom]

I don't think Roxy the cockatoo ever learned step up. She has been trying a few times to step up on my hand but loses her balance, and gets scared and jumps off all together and then tries again. I try to stand her on my arm, she keeps going to my hand.
I tried balancing her on a stick but she is petrified of it, so thats not going to work. Any suggestions? It seems she wants me to pick her up.

[Skittles]

Awe poor little Roxy!!

If she will allow you to pick her up, then I would pick her up.

Is she just having a problem stepping up in her cage? or is this occuring outside of it?
If she's never learned to step-up, then it wont come over night for her Keep at it and she will eventually learn that your hand/arm is stable and she wont become unbalanced when she steps-up

[DaiseesMom]

Thanks Skittles! She seems very balanced on her perch and outide of her cage, she hates to be picked up and will bite me. Its so cute when she comes over to me from the floor and taps my foot with her beak like saying "pet me, pick me up" I will slowly work with her on the step up, poor girl! I cannot wait to be able to walk around with her.

[Breadpazoid]

You haven't had her very long, right?

I think it's just probably a trust thing. Take it VERY slow with the stick. Let her see you handle it while she is confined to her cage. You might even want to play with it and make a big happy fuss out of it to show her that it's not evil.

[pixibubbles]

instead of getting her to stop to the hand, can you sort of scoop her up? its easier wil lil birds, but i have done it with bigger ones. i know a few birds who will go berserk if you offer a finger or your forearm... but love to be scooped up like a baby. there doesnt seem to be any pattern to it either, so it isnt just re-homers or re-habs... seems to be just some birds lol

when you move her to your arm, have you tried keeping a hand in front of her... your arm is moving and she has nothing to grab hold of if she wobbles. only thing is, if she does wobble and grab you for support it might not be very nice for you... depends if she knows her own strength yet in relation to our fragile skin.

[baaaad_kitty]

ooh i have the same problem with my new (yet unnamed) parrotlet. can't seem to step up! the most he does is put one foot on my finger. then walks over it to the other side LOL