How did you teach Marnie to step up on to your finger?
I trained my parrots the step up command by putting my finger right up to under their bellies and saying step up, in a firm voice and immediate praise when they do it. Short 5 minute sessions or less of this and they will learn. I do spend a fair amount of time interacting with my birds so they just really like me around, and they always get lots of hugs and petting....and sung to!!!

i absolutely fell in love with Marnie! i have a few questions about my bird i have rescued that i was told is a green cheek conure, but he bites hard. i am not giving up on this bird nor am i or will i EVER get rid of him ! i just want to know how i can get him to stop nipping me he can come out of his cage fine and sit on your shoulder but the second you go to get him to step up he bites... can i get him to stop this ?

First off good for you to rescue a 'used bird' , so many people give up on them, and so wonderful that you are committed to helping this little fellow. Something thats worked for me is to very loudly and firmly say 'step-up' as you put your finger under his tummy...act like he doesn't have a choice and you believe in it too!!!! But if it continues to be awful see if covering your hand with a towel as you do the step-up for your protection. If he does do it right give him an immediate reward, either a food treat or tell him in a sweet, high, sing-song voice what a good birdy he is!! Maybe distract him with your other hand over head as you ask for the step up....good luck!!!

Is Marnie's wings clipped?
Yes, I do trim some of Marnie's feathers, mostly to keep him from flying off and possibly hurting himself.

Did Marnie learn the words he says from repeating what you and your husband said whilst raising them or something else such as from earlier parrots and his bunnies speaking?
Just from my husband and me speaking to him!!!

Do you recommend a cockatoo to people? I am thinking of getting one.
My personal experience with cockatoos is they are MUCH more demanding than any other type of parrot. My two take the majority of my time in care and the interaction that they need. The pet store I got mine at many years ago does not sell them anymore for those reasons, and from what I've heard about parrot rescue groups..70% of parrots given up are cockatoos. This is a decision to think long and hard on!!!

Does your cockatoo's eat the same food as Marnie?
Yes, same foods for the cockatoos, just cut up in a larger size.

Is Marnie potty trained? How easy was it to train him to talk?
First, I haven't potty trained Marnie. Really no reason to for our sake!! and he just picked up talking easily on his own, my other ringneck doesn't talk at all, and no bird is guaranteed to talk!! He says around a dozen or so things..plus sounds..We are just always positive and encouraging with anything our parrots do that is good!!!

Why doesn't Marnie have a tail?
When Marnie was a baby, he was rather clumsy...and broke his tail feathers quite often. Of course these were feathers that were still growing so they had blood in the shaft of the feather. To keep Marnie from bleeding too much the feather had to be pulled with tweezers close to the base of the feather . Pressure then was applied til the bleeding would stop. This happened enough that his tail feathers don't grow very well now, hence the short tail!! But he doesn't seem to mind...he still has plenty of self confidence about how he looks!!