Help please:Mr. Sunshine will not go back into his cage.

[RobynnLynne]

Sunshine has been out of his cage the longest ever, almost 7 hours. We've had a great day, but I don't' know how to get him back in. He doesn't want to go back in, lol. I've tried every food lure I know.

He wants to come to me and keeps putting his foot up, but after the other day I'm not ready to try again, yet. He loved the praise all day mainly learning to target train and not bite the stick, but to gently touch it with his beak.

Any ideas on how to lure him back in? It is getting close to the time I usually turn the lights off and he is sitting on the cage door quite contented.

 

[saxguy64]

Just a thought, did you try turning the lights off while he's out? My girl Baxter wants to be with me until I turn off the lights, then she can't wait to get back in her cage. I know it's probably not typical, but worth a shot. Otherwise, the dark might calm him down enough to convince him to go in.

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[RobynnLynne]

Just a thought, did you try turning the lights off while he's out? My girl Baxter wants to be with me until I turn off the lights, then she can't wait to get back in her cage. I know it's probably not typical, but worth a shot. Otherwise, the dark might calm him down enough to convince him to go in.

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Thank you,I just turned them out, but he looks perfectly content.

Poor boy has spent most of his life in his cage but it's not practical to leave him out. He has no intention of moving!

 

[saxguy64]

Well... Maybe make sure his only accessable food is INSIDE the cage. He'll have to go in for it when he gets hungry.

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[RobynnLynne]

Yes, got it. Thank you. I guess it wasn't the smartest letting him eat his dinner outside of his cage!

 

[RobynnLynne]

He just told me, "Goodnight."

 

[Scott]

Parrots are masters of observing routine. Mr. Sunshine may not willingly enter the cage, but he knows the protocol. Agree with placing food inside and turning out the lights. You'll want to check on him before going to bed.

 

[Scott]

He just told me, "Goodnight."

And with that, you know he can do no wrong!

 

[RobynnLynne]

Parrots are masters of observing routine. Mr. Sunshine may not willingly enter the cage, but he knows the protocol. Agree with placing food inside and turning out the lights. You'll want to check on him before going to bed.

Thank you. I'm resuming normal routine.

 

[Flboy]

Going into cage=very special treat!

 

[RobynnLynne]

Going into cage=very special treat!

I get it. He had his fill of every good treat I have today when we were training. I will never make that mistake again.

 

[wrench13]

So tonite make it very dark in the room, , cage door open. Food inside. He may or maya not go in.
But as of tomorrow, start to maake a routine bedtime process. Fun and games until half hour before bedtime, and darken the room, very dark. I call this roostingtime. And at cage time try to get him to step up, and go into the cage. Do you cover him at night? We do ,with Salty. Sunshine souds like he has adjusted well to his new home, but hehas to learn the routines of the house. You set the routines and keep to them.

 

[RobynnLynne]

But as of tomorrow, start to maake a routine bedtime process. Fun and games until half hour before bedtime, and darken the room, very dark. I call this roostingtime. And at cage time try to get him to step up, and go into the cage. Do you cover him at night? We do ,with Salty. Sunshine souds like he has adjusted well to his new home, but hehas to learn the routines of the house. You set the routines and keep to them.

Thank you, Wrench13. I have given him a lot of slack, just so happy he is making progress.

You are right I have to get the step up. But, I'm even more leary after he bit me good and hard the other day, lol. I think he would've done it today too, if I would've trusted him. It was amazing seeing him go from biting the stick to gently touching it.

It looks like I am letting him rule the roost.

I will start to make a more precise bedtime routine... love your suggestions, thank you! I will implement them.

I do not cover him as it would be a slow process to get him to not freak out. He was not covered the 5 years with his last owner, nor his first 7 years at the doctors office. I do not know about the other homes.

I probably won't get much sleep unless he decides to go back in.

So many lessons learned...

 

[Kiwibird]

While now isn’t the right time per se as you have so much trust building and training to do, just to stick it in the back of your head for “eventually”, Mr. Sunshine sounds like he may actually be a good candidate for being a free range birdie someday. And that is something I almost never say to anyone. It’s something of a rarity in a parrot. I may be the last one who regularly posts regularly here who has a free range bird (?), but typically amazons have a higher likelihood (macaws too) and more so, birds with a certain personality (intelligent and cheeky) and of those far and few between individuals, usually challenging rescues who spent years in a cage are the most hopeful of all!

Your description of last nights events reminds me much of Kiwi when we were building up trust with him- a very intelligent bird who valued his freedom and messing with us humans. Eventually, he became so good and trustworthy, we could leave him out while in another room, then when running a short errand and eventually, he spends all his waking hours with his cage door open, free to roam. And when he’s ready to sleep, he goes in his cage, shuts his door behind himself and makes some squawks to let me know it’s time to be covered. Another persons amazon did the same thing and another persons amazon slept on the shower curtain rod in the bathroom at night. Once you establish a nighttime routine and he learns he won’t be trapped in the cage forever (even if at this point it’s only coming out a few hours a day), I bet anything a bird like that will eventually start putting himself to bed at night.

 

[RobynnLynne]

And that is something I almost never say to anyone. It’s something of a rarity in a parrot. I may be the last one who regularly posts regularly here who has a free range bird (?), but typically amazons have a higher likelihood (macaws too) and more so, birds with a certain personality (intelligent and cheeky) and of those far and few between individuals, usually challenging rescues who spent years in a cage are the most hopeful of all!

Well he certainly had me feeling challenged. Obviously he cherishes his freedom. He stayed out all night and greeted me cheerfully this morning still perched on his cage door.

He waited pleasantly for his morning chop and veggies, but looked perplexed when I put it inside his cage at 8:00 am. He made no move to go back in. I left him be assuming he would go back in for his food. I cleaned inside and vacuumed around outside his cage but he just watched.

He just sat contently checking out everything his new home free from bars. Finally at 11:00 I knew his freedom meant more than his food. So, I brought a perch stand I'm almost finished with slowly close to his cage. Thankfully it alarmed him enough to quickly climb back in.

Since I usually remove his breakfast at around 10, I removed it and he ended up missing his morning chop. He did scold me for that, but quickly went for his pellets, so he was hungry.

I usually serve him breakfast and then open his cage. For the past few days he has come out and in as he wanted. When he did come out I'd reward him with a treat.

So I opened his door again but the stand is close to his cage so he's checking it out. I need to get the step up down for sure and it will be easier with the help of his t-stand.

That is what we'll be working on!

He is so sweet and very content. He thrives on praise and loves his training. He learns fast. The praise means more to him than the treats, and now his freedom ranks even higher.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

All this stuff is so new to him He was in "prison" for so long and has now tasted freedom! And his staff person is treating him so good with yummy food and playtime. Sounds like Mr Sunshine is accepting his new life pretty well and liking it!


Jim

 

[GaleriaGila]

I am so glad you are reaching out... what terrific wisdom you've been offered.
My little demon is flighted and fierce. Thank goodness he has an overwhelming obsession with super-hot green chiles...
He only gets one, at bedtime. I toss one in the cage; he fights the impulse (agonizing over what he knows is the BIG TRICK). After a minute or so, he is unable to resist the seduction. He flaps inside. Bang goes the cage door.
See? I'm smarter than the bird!?

Right?

 

[RobynnLynne]

All this stuff is so new to him He was in "prison" for so long and has now tasted freedom! And his staff person is treating him so good with yummy food and playtime. Sounds like Mr Sunshine is accepting his new life pretty well and liking it!


Jim

Thanks Jim, You summed that up very well.

I accept my staff position, lol. It is learning to understand and trust that is the challenge. I believe he might have been mistreated somewhere along the way and he knows (I believe) that I won't hurt him. But, honestly I am the fearful one because he can be pretty intimidating.

I want to pick him up so badly as he offers his foot and I think he's perplexed that I don't.

We are learning together.

I keep reading and re-reading all the threads on this forum. You ALL help more than you might realize!

 

[RobynnLynne]

I am so glad you are reaching out... what terrific wisdom you've been offered.
My little demon is flighted and fierce. Thank goodness he has an overwhelming obsession with super-hot green chiles...
He only gets one, at bedtime. I toss one in the cage; he fights the impulse (agonizing over what he knows is the BIG TRICK). After a minute or so, he is unable to resist the seduction. He flaps inside. Bang goes the cage door.
See? I'm smarter than the bird!?

Right?

LOL! Yes you are GaleriaGila.

I will try green chiles. He prefers the freedom more than any food lures I have. I need something he really values more.

 

[Kiwibird]

Well he certainly had me feeling challenged. Obviously he cherishes his freedom. He stayed out all night and greeted me cheerfully this morning still perched on his cage door.

He waited pleasantly for his morning chop and veggies, but looked perplexed when I put it inside his cage at 8:00 am. He made no move to go back in. I left him be assuming he would go back in for his food. I cleaned inside and vacuumed around outside his cage but he just watched.

He just sat contently checking out everything his new home free from bars. Finally at 11:00 I knew his freedom meant more than his food. So, I brought a perch stand I'm almost finished with slowly close to his cage. Thankfully it alarmed him enough to quickly climb back in.

Since I usually remove his breakfast at around 10, I removed it and he ended up missing his morning chop. He did scold me for that, but quickly went for his pellets, so he was hungry.

I usually serve him breakfast and then open his cage. For the past few days he has come out and in as he wanted. When he did come out I'd reward him with a treat.

So I opened his door again but the stand is close to his cage so he's checking it out. I need to get the step up down for sure and it will be easier with the help of his t-stand.

That is what we'll be working on!

He is so sweet and very content. He thrives on praise and loves his training. He learns fast. The praise means more to him than the treats, and now his freedom ranks even higher.

He really sounds like he will shape up to be an excellent companion and has that special quality about him that not every parrot has. Sounds like Mr. Sunshine could be a real bird brain too (that’s a compliment!) and is just making sure you’re worthy of showing his genius

But, honestly I am the fearful one because he can be pretty intimidating.

I want to pick him up so badly as he offers his foot and I think he's perplexed that I don't.
!

I grew up with parrots and one of the most important lessons I learned about birds happened when I was about 3. I tried to pick up the cockatoo without permission or help and he bit me in the face. Bad bite and hung onto my cheek as I ran screaming through the house. Before that day ended though, I had been made to hold the bird again (with supervision and help) so I wouldn’t be afraid of him forever. It’s like getting bucked off a horse. You have to get right back on. Just because he bit you a few days ago and will bite you again in the future (comes with the territory of owning birds, no getting around it) doesn’t mean he wants to bite you right now, especially when he’s asking for a ride. Don’t ignore him, that could break his trust and indicate to him you don’t like him or want to be his friend. It may be scary but next time the foot goes up, confidently ask him to step up and have a treat in the other hand to offer with lots of praise when he does. I bet he will without injury