How do I work on training Willow when she just fries away?

[tashia]

I've been working with Willow my Amazon Parrot for about 2 weeks now. For those that read my introduction you will remember Willow has had a rough past, bred by a Hoarder, taken by the humane society, adopted by an a person that doesn't understand that even birds need privacy. She is VERY protective of her cage. She doesn't mind you putting your hand in the cage to change the water and food or clean the paper, and she will come out with no problem on her own but once she is on the top of the cage she will bite if you try to get her to step up (she will take a treat from your fingers but it is very tentative). Once she decides to fly off the cage she will usually step up with no problem, but if she is not ready to go she draws blood! I usually try to let her just hang out where she is happy but there are times when the place she has chosen are either dangerous or inconvenient (my 4 yr old's bed right at bed time!) How do i build more trust with her so I stop bleeding and I'm not causing her more stress. Also I love that she can fly. God made birds with wings so who are we to take that unique ability away from them. But its very hard to do anything with her when she just flies away to keep from working with you. I have tried several times to just sit with her and feed her a treat or talk to her but as soon as she steps up on your hand she flies away.

[liz]

I can only tell you my experience.

Rambo has always gone back to his cage at night. While I was upgrading cockatiel cages he found a small one and claimed it as his "night night" cage. He had always gone back to it. There have been times that he thought he was too tired to walk back and would ask me to put him "night night".

Myrtle did not want to go into a little cage and prefered to sleep on her tree. Once she was socialized she thought she could sleep anywhere she wanted. I had to wait until she was asleep then wake her up to get on my finger so I could take her "night night with Rambo". Most of the time it worked but there were nights that she would fly away. I just followed her from room to room telling her "night night with Rambo". She would eventually get tire and let me get her or fly back on her own. For the last 10 nights she has automaticaly gone to the sunroom with Rambo.

[marie83]

If Willow will take food from you outside the cage start working on target training, if not start on it through the cage bars. When she get the hang of it you'll be able to target her around or even target her onto your hand. Use her favorite treat only for training to help motivate her.

Theres an article Michael wrote on target traing on his blog, its worth a read.