Cockatoo confinement

[Siobhan]

Until very recently, Rocky 'Too was content to stay on his cage or playstand unless we were in the room. Meaning that when we left for work, he would stay in his designated territory until we came home. However, a couple of days ago, Hubby came home to discover Rocky on the couch, merrily destroying a remote (which Hubby managed to fix; it wasn't totally destroyed).

The next morning, we created a sort of 'too playpen by arranging footstools and things in a semicircle around his cage and playstand and it worked that day. He stayed behind the barrier. I set it up this morning before I left, since I left after Hubby did today.

I know you're thinking, just leave him locked up in his cage while you're gone and yes, we could do that and we may have to do that, but it seems mean, considering the other six birds, in their bird-safe room, are free to fly around all day. Rocky doesn't fly, but he can clamber down to the floor and walk around. We don't know if he "can't" fly or just doesn't. He's lived with us a year and has never attempted to fly yet.

We are trying to figure out a better and more effective way to keep him in his corner without keeping him locked up while we're gone. Any suggestions?

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

Until very recently, Rocky 'Too was content to stay on his cage or playstand unless we were in the room. Meaning that when we left for work, he would stay in his designated territory until we came home. However, a couple of days ago, Hubby came home to discover Rocky on the couch, merrily destroying a remote (which Hubby managed to fix; it wasn't totally destroyed).

The next morning, we created a sort of 'too playpen by arranging footstools and things in a semicircle around his cage and playstand and it worked that day. He stayed behind the barrier. I set it up this morning before I left, since I left after Hubby did today.

I know you're thinking, just leave him locked up in his cage while you're gone and yes, we could do that and we may have to do that, but it seems mean, considering the other six birds, in their bird-safe room, are free to fly around all day. Rocky doesn't fly, but he can clamber down to the floor and walk around. We don't know if he "can't" fly or just doesn't. He's lived with us a year and has never attempted to fly yet.

We are trying to figure out a better and more effective way to keep him in his corner without keeping him locked up while we're gone. Any suggestions?

I dont know anything about Cockatoos but reading your post one thought kept crossing my mind ; could Rocky have suddenly learned that he can fly without you realising that he had discovered his wings...it could perhaps explain why he is suddenly becoming more adventurous.

 

[Scott]

Sounds obvious, and you've probably contemplated this, but might Rocky coexist in your bird-safe room with the others in your flock? I've had different species successfully integrated in a room, but it depends on the individuals!

Rocky will very likely outsmart every effort you make to barricade him in an area. They are like small children, always eyeing the path to more fun!! Faced with this possible end-game, confinement is the preferable alternative to an unsafe environment.

 

[Siobhan]

The little birds in that room would probably feel compelled to challenge an interloper and would lose, particularly Benjy the budgie, who has already come to grief several times because he simply doesn't accept that he's a tiny thing. I don't think Rocky would chase them down and attack them. But I think he would be nervous and jumpy and would bite if they came near, and that would be fatal for any one of them. Rocky comes from a background of abuse and neglect and has been hit and had things thrown at him. He jumps out of his skin when our elderly Lab lays down with a thump, which she does because she's arthritic and can't lay down any other way, and he's heard that multiple times a day for over a year. It still startles him. Maybe one day, we can gently and with supervision integrate him into the flock, but for now that's just not an option.

 

[ToMang07]

Bigger seed catchers maybe? I know I put some on Willow's cage and it took her quite a while to figure out how to get over them. If they were bigger, I doubt she could at all.

 

[sarai7]

What's a seed catcher.... ? Googling...

 

[ToMang07]

These thingies.

Yes thingies. That's the technical term.

Bird Cage Accessories: Universal Cage Seed Guards