Honeymoon is over

[KeroRocks]

So the Honeymoon is over. Marley is still doing very well with one issue, if he doesn't want to go back into his cage HE DOES NOT WANT TO GO BACK!

At first I could just put him on the flight door and he would walk in now it's a different story...

He will go in and out of his cage on his terms but if I need to leave the house he needs to go back into his cage he turns into a brat. He's very well behaved otherwise. But he will climb to the top, lunge, hop away from me etc. when I need him to go in.

I've tried luring him in with those seed things (I forget the name) because he loves them but I don't give them to him any other time. If I reach toward his cage to put one in he lunges at me. I talk to him and tell him that it's time to go in.

He isn't nippy and doesn't lunge any other time except this.

I'm also trying to get him to understand that I will scratch his head but not if he buries it underneath my chin. He likes to cuddle and I'm fine with scratching his head and I'm fine with him cuddling on my lap but having him under my chin makes me think that my face is wayyy too close to his beak for my comfort. He seems to take me gently nudging him away and towards my lap okay.

 

[Kiwibird]

This is definately something you need to nip in the bud. One of the most important aspects of parrot ownership is that they respond to your commands. I completely understand if he's lunging and being aggressive not wanting to get bitten trying. I suggest you use the verbal command to "step down" every time so he has a clear way of understanding what you expect from him (not just for getting in the cage, but every time you want him to get off your hand). This may mean you need to do some additional training away from the cage so he picks this verbal cue up. Parrots are intelligent for animals, but sometimes they still need a way for you to communicate your expectations of them. He may simply not understand you want him to go in the cage vs. play on top of it. I know a lot of people train their birds to step up on command, but fewer actually train them to step down on command. If he will not get off your hand willingly and/or is getting aggressive, then you may need to resort to a stick. If he's not stick trained, then you should also train him that way too. It's a good way to safely deal with an aggressive or scared bird. Kiwi is pretty good about stepping down when I tell him to, but every so often he gets a real bug up his butt, and I have to use the stick (I can only think of 3 times really I've had to stick him, but it's nevertheless a good option to have). I personally don't like using it, and avoid doing so whenever possible, but I also don't like having my flesh removed in large chunks because he's cranky and doesn't want to go home.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Ive had issues like this too. Couple Ideas - On the times hes out and your on a time schedule .Put him on a playstand. Hopefully when its time to go back in he will step up on you.Make a big deal about him and give him a treat when you put him back in . I did this with my Macaw { I knew wrestling her off the top of the cage wasnt going to be good, and I have no problems] But my rehomed amazon immediatly bit me when I tried to get him to step up [off anything] to get him back in .He will step on a stick [but now thats what I have to do] SandyBee thats on here really put her time in and figured out her bird and doesnt have to use a stick [ I wish Id done that] Its smart your teaching him boundries [I think they do well with structure.] But be consistent ,it can take a long time [like months] especially with rehomes.Ive never had a goffin I hear these guys are full of it. Justin just told a story how one got out of his cage and let the rest of the birds out [ can you imagine LOL]

 

[Safira]

I agree with putting him on a playstand. Some birds (not all) do well with being allowed to go in and out of their cage at will, some don't. Personally I don't want to fight that fight, so if mine come out they go on their playstands. Granted, one of my cages is like 7 feet tall so I couldn't reach the top even if I wanted to. I have noticed a lot of large parrots like to 'play' and posture on top of their cages. They enjoy the "Haha you can't get me" game which can end up with a serious bite on your part.

 

[KeroRocks]

His cage has a play stand on 1/2 the cage. I can reach him anywhere on the cage and he will immediatly step up when I ask him. He will also go "off" when I say off when I put him on the back of my chair or onto the cage. He also knows "Go here" when I tap my finger somewhere and say "Go here" he does! LOL It amazes me.

He just seems to know when I need to go out and starts the brat thing. I make sure I have at least an hour before I need to leave to put him in his cage so he doesn't related going back into his cage with me immediately leaving.

He is petrified of perches in your hand. I don't know what happened to him but he hates that so I don't push it with him. It took him a couple days to come down off the side of his cage and even stand on the perches IN his cage. So I'm not sure what happened to him

I will keep working on the training when I'm not trying to go somewhere. Just working on going "In" and treating when he does.

Thanks all!

Here's a link to Marley saying Hello and babbling at me

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fngBajpd3k]Marley the cockatoo says hello - YouTube[/ame]