really resists going back into his cage. He's spends a lot of the day out of his cage but when we need to go out and put him away, he flies off, gets nippy and it's just so difficult.
So far, we have tried tricking him into his cage, but he learns so fast they never work more than once. We've tried toweling him but he's sees the towel and he's off!
How on earth can we sort this out? Has anyone else had this problem and resolved it? Be so grateful for any hints. Thanks!
2007-01-21 23:30:04 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
I should add, that he's a very tame, loving bird, just gets nippy when you want him to do something he doesn't!
2007-01-21 23:31:25 · update #1
Those were all good suggestions, but I have a couple more to add.
Birds (and I'm finding that this isn't just a macaw thing, but all birds) mirror our moods. I can usually get an attitude adjustment by seeing how Rio, our Military Macaw is acting towards me. He never wanted to go back to his cage either, and on top of it, I always felt guilty by putting him there.
So, imagine the glee they feel in expoiting our feelings of stress and rush as we prepare to leave and are trying to hurry his feathered little butt back into his cage so that we can do so. It's usually a big fat NO from Rio if I go at it rushed. I remember one time, my son had cut his finger REALLY badly on a picture that had fallen off the wall. I had to take him to the ER. So, of course Rio needed to be put back in his cage before we could go, and LOL he wasn't having it. He ran from me, when I caught him, he'd somehow manage to grow fifteen extra legs to catch the outside of the cage as I was trying to get him in, he'd catch the playstand on top of his cage with his beak as I was trying to swoop him in and then he'd run allllll over the top of the play stand as my frustration grew to the point I was shouting at him at the top of my lungs "RIO! Get IN the CAGE!". At this point, he sets back and laughs, his evil laugh at me. All the while, I might add, he's lunging at me, trying to bite me.
It was at that point that I remembered all that I had read on mood reflection, went out of the room, calmed myseld down, grabbed an in-shell walnut on the way back and said "Rio. It's time to go in your cage. Step up." I was much calmer now, the panic had been taken from my voice and instead was replaced with a confident tone that said I meant business. I dropped the walnut in his dish, and then pushed my arm, with him on in and over to that dish.
If you know it's going to be a chore to get him in there, take a minute to remember to go at it with calm confidence, no matter what's going on. This applies if there's a FIRE in your house. Confidence is met with confidence in these guys. If they feel your fear of getting them to do what you want them to do, then they figure why should they feel confident that it's safe for them.
Does that make sense?
(For the record, we still have issues now and again for this. Rio's a "boob-biter" LOL...It's accessible to him just as he makes it inside of his cage if he doesn't want to go. Nothing pisses me off more than having THAT of all things pinched by an irritated beak. I usually find that the more angry I get, the more cranky he gets.)
2007-01-22 04:29:12 · answer #1 · answered by sdkramer76 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a pretty typical B&G to me! One thing you could try to do would be to take its fave treat and put it inside the cage, and let it crawl in there on its own! Most birds aren't thrilled to go back in their cages, I know with one of my birds that I have to play around for about 15 minutes before my bird gives up and lets me put him away! Good luck!
2007-01-22 00:22:20 · answer #2 · answered by acekingsuited83 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My birds are always happy to go back into their cages because this is where their food is.I dont put in fresh food until they have been out to exercise. I clean out the cages when they are out and then change food and water they watch me doing this.I mix lots of different fruit and veg with their seed.They then go in easily.
2007-01-22 04:18:06 · answer #3 · answered by red lady-bird 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reserve it's favorite treats for only when you need to put it in it's cage. Do not only feed it in it's cages it will start to build up territorial agression over it's cage if you do. Then you will have the opposite problem.
2007-01-22 01:47:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
only feed him in his cage also give him a nice treat when he goes in that way he will learn going back in his cage is a good thing
2007-01-22 00:49:23 · answer #5 · answered by top cat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my grey was like that ,i put he.s favourite fruit in cage when bed time now he,s OK, hope this works for you,pomegranate he.s favourite fruit.good luck.
2007-01-22 04:32:18 · answer #6 · answered by stephen eblue eyes 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my birds do this. not a lot you can do ..he will go back in when he is hungry.
2007-01-22 04:03:06 · answer #7 · answered by grumpcookie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋