Two steps forward one step back

[reenie]

I've just had Stuart for 2 and a half weeks, and training was going great, however yesterday and today he's refusing to step up when he's in his cage and climbing away from my hand on the bars. I've read in other threads that this is normal when budgies get more confidence and start to decide for themselves when they will and when they won't comply.

I'm glad he's getting more assertive, but not sure if I should try to make him step up or just back off and kind of ignore this as 'bad behaviour'.

He's also got this thing with his bell, which I mentioned in another thread where he is trying to use the bell as a demand for millet. If I don't give him the millet, he shuffles back and forth on his perch really quickly, chattering and cheaping and bobbing his head then swinging on the bell and rubbing his head on the perch like a crazy bird. I'm not sure if he's just playing, or if he's letting me know that he's angry with me, and how or if I should react to the behaviour (it is very comical).

[Hezz]

Start training with something else - station training can be very handy and is often the basis for a lot of other training ideas. Forget about the bell for the time being, you might want to take it out for a day or two or even remove it for a few hours during the day.

Regarding the stepping up, I wouldn't stop practising that, or making him practise do so. It can be the difference between having no control whatsoever and getting him out of a tight place safely. Keep your sessions short - 5,10 minutes only but as many times a day as you wish.

[reenie]

Thanks Hezz. I had to look up station training, but I can see now how that will be useful. He's not flying to me yet, so station training will be a good starting point to get him to do that. It will also be useful in getting him to go lower down. He hasn't set foot on anything lower than his favourite perch in his cage, and I'd love to be able to work with him on the floor or even the coffee table, so the station training might help with that too. I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, but Stuart and I are having such fun learning about each other.

[samwiseg]

As you said, this is perfectly normal and Hezz has covered everything really in answer to your questions!

It is a learning curve when budgie training, but persevere and you will get there