how to get my bird in the cage without a hassle?

[parrotowner21]

Am i the only one who has a bird that gives you a hard time going back into the cage lol. I have a cockatiel that i bought last year, and i respect her a lot and practically let her do what she wants.

She is very territorial about her cage, you can't try to take her out or she will try to bite you and if she is on her cage on the outside when she comes out she will also try to bite you. She lets me pick her up just not when she is in or on the outside of her cage. Most of the time she sits on the outside of her cage. So thats why its a hassle to get her in an out of the cage.

I mean she likes me, shes always starts chirping up a storm when she hears me near my room when the door is shut or when i come in my room. Because she is cage territorial I only ever take her out of the cage when she really wants to. Which is when she starts chirping load and getting excited and she opens her wings and starts climbing around the cage.

 

[Kiwibird]

I find food is a strong motivator. Put a favorite treat in her dish and see how much 'fuss' there is about going in And while it may be *temporarily* more difficult, perhaps the reason theres so much struggle to get her back in is because she has to struggle with you so much to get out. Why not (when reasonable) just open the door if your home and not doing anything inherently dangerous for a loose bird (like cooking or walking in and out from outside) eve if she isn't going crazy to come out. Parrots who spend a lot of time out of their cage (and have the freedom to choose to be in or out) are more confident, it will strengthen your bond, likely lead to her not being as protective of her cage and understanding when she goes back in because you put her in, it's only for a little while (not and extended period of time).

 

[Dinosrawr]

I used to have to fight Avery, my conure, to go back into her cage for the first while. Then I started food management, letting her realize that she only got her food in her cage. Ever since I've done that, Avery hadn't ever fought me when being placed in her cage. Sometimes she'll give me a nip to say she doesn't want to go in, but she never fights against the door like she used to.

Once your bird realizes being in their cage isn't bad but good, they start to appreciate it more. And when they realize being with you is good, they come out easier.

Step-up training is really important too I find. Training your bird to step up from high places, from their cage, all of those things help with having then come out of their cage or off the top. I like to reinforce it with Avery everytime she comes out and it really helps.

 

[MonicaMc]

Am i the only one who has a bird that gives you a hard time going back into the cage lol. I have a cockatiel that i bought last year, and i respect her a lot and practically let her do what she wants.

She is very territorial about her cage, you can't try to take her out or she will try to bite you and if she is on her cage on the outside when she comes out she will also try to bite you. She lets me pick her up just not when she is in or on the outside of her cage. Most of the time she sits on the outside of her cage. So thats why its a hassle to get her in an out of the cage.

I mean she likes me, shes always starts chirping up a storm when she hears me near my room when the door is shut or when i come in my room. Because she is cage territorial I only ever take her out of the cage when she really wants to. Which is when she starts chirping load and getting excited and she opens her wings and starts climbing around the cage.

Is she cage territorial, or was she never taught to step up from her cage?


Just because a bird knows step up away from the cage doesn't mean they know step up while on their cage. You are generalizing one behavior with all circumstances. She's not.



If you always mounted a horse from the horse's left side, then one day you mounted the horse from the right side, that horse might buck and freak out! The horse wasn't taught that mounting from the right side is the same as mounting from the left side. Although the behavior may be the same to you, it's completely different to the horse! People over-generalize and animals under-generalize.



You should find your cockatiels favorite treat and start teaching step up from the cage. You can do this by laying your step up hand on top of the cage, then having her favorite treats in your other hand. Start feeding her by hand and slowly lure her over to your step up hand. She doesn't have to step up immediately, simply coming to your hand is enough! Then touching your hand, and eventually putting one foot on, then the next. If she backs off, that's ok! Teach her that coming to you equals good things! Soon enough, she'll learn to step up!



When going back into the cage, give her some toys, foraging items or food! Make it rewarding to her to go back in!

 

[Betrisher]

Yes! Monica's method is exactly the one that worked for me to get my female Alexandrine to step off the cage and to go back in! The main piece of advice I can give you is to always stay calm. Don't allow yourself to get flustered and frustrated with your bird (I know how that can be when dinner's nearly ready and birdy won't go home for you). Always start putting birdy away with plenty of time to spare - allow yourself a good twenty minutes half-an-hour to do it. Make it fun and entertaining and save birdy's favourite treat for home-time. In my case, it was bits of dried paw-paw, which the Beaks only ever get at home-time. You'll probably find that as soon as you calm down and approach this as a training issue rather than as a misbehaviour issue, the going-home time will improve for you. Just try to think as birdy does and give her what she needs to succeed.

PS. Forgot to add: if birdy plays up, don't be afraid to leave her alone for five minutes and try again. When you're first training her to go home, don't expect her to comply immediately or in your time. Just be patient and allow her time to figure out what you want her to do and then do it. Reward, reward, reward!

 

[MomtoPercy]

Yup, you've gotten good advice here

Don't underestimate thhe power of bribery . It works on fids AND kids LOL!

Percy's "go home" bribe is "a nutty" (half of a pecan nut half). He ONLY gets "a nuttie" for going home and he knows it. Sometimes, I still struggle but 9 times out of 10, it works.

One thing I've learned though - never let it get past bedtime before you try and return your bird to his/her cage. In our case it is 6pm or when darkness falls (which is earlier now that winter is here). If master Percy is still out and about after bedtime, I know I'm in for a fight - usually with blood involved He IS tired but will refuse to go home and will start randomly snapping at me for daring to suggest he goes home. I always make sure I get him home waaaay before he "puts on his dress" (like my son calls it) - when he starts puffing and his feathers start covering his feet.

Good luck!