FSB, Street No. 22, Punjab, Pakistan
If you’re just starting out, you should read this article. If you want to know how to train your parrot to step up, you should read this other post instead. How to formally solicit participation from a trained parrot is the topic at hand here.
Anyone curious about the best ways to hold a parrot, whether they already have stepped up the bird or just got a tame baby parrot, will find this to be an invaluable resource.
I’ve seen folks at the bird store and on YouTube who claims to own parrots try to pick up my birds without proper training. In my experience, parrots will not step up or even bite if you approach them the incorrect way. However, when I try to grab the same parrot, it readily approaches me.
Leap and Grab Techniques
It’s not that my parrot has it in for me that other people’s parrots don’t, but rather that I’ve learned to handle all parrots in the same way. I wish I had found an essay like this before getting my first parrot and learning the hard way, so I thought I’d pass along what I’ve learned.
You should avoid making a poor first impression or the parrot may associate you with undesirable things. You should not make any jerky movements when the parrot is around. This encompasses a wide range, from which to see and hear objects. Even if your parrot didn’t hear the door, it may be anxious and jumpy, making it tougher to catch.
If you interact successfully, you can be more abrupt and the parrot won’t mind.
But if you make a bad first impression, it may fear you. In the beginning, the parrot may be startled; please be patient.
Leap and Grab Techniques
Don’t immediately grab the parrot as soon as you walk in the door. Get out and about on your own and do a few activities to get to know the parrot better. While these steps may not be required if you already have a solid rapport with the parrot in question, they are recommended for any situation in which you will be meeting the bird for the first time.
After you’ve calmed the parrot down, you can go ahead and ask for the upgrade. The parrot could be on a stand, in the cage, or in a human’s hand at this point. Your strategy should be approximately the same regardless of what it is resting on. Carefully approach the parrot, keeping an eye out for any signals of hostility. If the parrot appears unfazed, you can get closer and closer. Start by pausing and standing half an arm’s length away from the parrot, then reaching an arm (right- or left-handedness doesn’t matter, use whichever is most comfortable) away from the bird.
