My three month-old Quaker Ollie is exhibiting some odd behavior and I'm wondering if anyone else has dealt with this. He simply refuses to "step up" when he's in his cage. He is not cage defensive and doesn't nip or anything. In fact, he'll put his head down in his "please scratch me" pose when I try to get him to step up to come out. He just refuses to step up in his cage and it makes getting him out a chore. I inevitably have to gently grab him with both hands and wait for him to let go (because he will hold on for dear life!) so that I can pull him out.

When he is out of his cage, he steps up just fine. What should I do to get him to step up when he's in his cage?

Someone with lots more experience will no doubt answer soon but i would just say patience and lots of treats when he finally does it! If hes very keen on out of cage time then try a few times and if he wont do it close cage and turn your back for a few minutes and then try again.He may think then that stepping up is best as he doesnt want to stay in cage for any longer than he has too

Mine goes buck wild and screams that twittering noise at me when I get close to the cage. When I put food in she attacks me, HARD!!! Once she comes out on her own, she's just fine.
Cage protective? !!!YES!!!, but she wasn't like this the first few months I had her. The other two in her cage can't wait to get to me to come out.

I still love her though, whether she likes it or not!!!

I have had Kiwi for 8 yrs and sometimes he will not come out of his cage. Please do not force your bird to come out of its cage. That is their home and they need to feel protected in there. I would just open the door and let your bird come out on its own. That is just my opinion from years of owning my quaker.

Clyde will step onto my hand inside his cage but won't come out that way -- he climbs up on the side and comes out on his own. The parakeet I had in high school wouldn't come out unless it was her idea, either. Just leave the cage door open and move back a little way or even find something else to do and I'll bet he'll come out pretty soon.

Thanks for the advice, everyone! For now, I'll just try to let him come out on his own. Hopefully with time, he'll learn to step up when I try to take him out. By the way, he took his first bath today and it was probably the cutest thing I've ever seen. Unfortunately, he prefers his water dish to his official bath dish but oh well, a bath is a bath. Guess I'll just be changing his water more often now! :-)

Does your baby have easy access to the cage door? I think when they're that young they are so clumsy and feel very unsure of themselves.
And I agree to letting him come out on his own. (I know it's hard to do when you want to cuddle right now! ) treats have always helped me bribe my babies out!
Mine loves the papaya bits!