Tips for encouraging wing extension/flapping?
Mr. Max is defying all of my attempts to activate his wings, but my attempts may also be misguided as I've never taught a bird how to fly (my sun conure came preloaded with the flight mods).
I've tried having two T-perch stands a little ways away and increasing the distance incrementally as he gets more confident but he immediately stops trying if his beak does not reach, so no luck even with little hops or flaps.
I've tried clicker training with demonstrating my 'wings' out to no avail. I know that seems silly but he likes other kinds of imitation games.
I've tried flight training our sun conure in the same room (with good distance, while Max is in cage) to show that flight is possible but he only gets mad at her and lunges when she takes flight regardless of the distance from her to the cage.
I recognize that flight might never happen for him if he's 33 and has full muscle atrophy from never using his wings but I'd like to at least give him the confidence to be able to balance and be able to catch himself when he's at risk of falling off his perches. Any tips?