Queegy won't go to bed

[sarafigal]

Week two with Queequeg (Queegy), the rescued older BFA. She now hangs out on top of her cage, has fun foraging for nutriberries and almonds, and even ventures across the cage top to the java tree stand. She'll take treats from all of us, but doesn't want to be touched. She has lunged at me once or twice to let me know that I SHOULD NOT TOUCH HER BELL. She didn't actually pinch, though, and she could have. It was a cranky warning that I was being overly familiar at the wrong time.

All is well. But I do have a question about bedtime. For the past two nights, she has refused to go into her cage, even for a nutriberry. She stares me in the eye like a truculent three-year-old human child and transmits the clear message: "I don't want to go to bed. Make me."

I did towel her about a week ago to put her to bed, and she held it against me for an entire day. I thought it was a bit traumatic for her. Since she doesn't go anywhere and the house has no roaming animals inside, we just let her sleep on top for the past two nights. However, I actually DO want her to sleep in her cage as a rule, so we've got to get down to business now.

Should I just towel her and let her be mad? Hold off on treats the hour or so before bed so that the nutriberry is irresistible?

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

I wish I could help you out with this specific situation but what I can say is you do need to work on putting her into the cage during various times of the day for a few minutes here and there. She needs to know that being in the cage is neither a punishment nor only during bedtime. It needs to get to the point where you can simply pick her up and set her onto a cage perch and close the door without any effort. It's possible that she is spending too much time with the flock (you) and is not learning any independence.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Is she stick-trained? Or could you try and see if she steps up onto a perch/stick for you and get her into her cage that way? You'll be preventing a possible bite and won't have to towel her that way. So no grudge = better relationship, lol.

 

[sarafigal]

At this point, she won't let any hands near her. She does go in and out of her cage, and she clearly finds it comforting. She just won't do it at night, like a tired kid at bedtime. She also is not ready yet to step up onto a stick or perch, although I'm trying…

 

[JerseyWendy]

What does she do when you try to coax her onto a stick/perch? Could you try with 2 perches? One from the front and one from behind. Sometimes they are more inclined to step backwards than forward. Just an idea....

Yup, Amazons sure have the mentality of a 3-year old. They can throw some major tantrums, too.

 

[sarafigal]

I got her to step up to a dowel today!!! She stepped up, took the nutriberry, and stepped back down. Major celebration. But still no hands... And we have yet to determined tonight's tactics for the Battle of Bedtime.

 

[Thekatsmeow]

When I first got my amazon I spent several days talking to her and letting her get used to the sounds in my house. I didn't let her out of her cage. Her previous owners let her have her way all the time but I really wanted to be able to have more control over her. She was very spoiled and bit them when she didn't get her way or was forced into doing something she didn't want to do. I wouldn't let Rocky out of her cage until she stopped lunging at me and it didn't take long. I took little steps toward bonding through her cage bars until she showed interest in wanting to be with me. Having to step up to come out of her cage was important for me so I would open her cage door and offer my arm. She thought she would get her way by just going around and trying to sneak by me by just pushing through. I calmly told her no, closed the cage and walked away only to try again in 30 minutes. Even after we did well with step up several times she lunged to bite when it was time to go to bed. I stood on a chair so I was above her and gave her the evil eye. That worked once. The next time I had to use the "evil stick" to get her to bed. She hates a certain stick that I was going to use in case step up was a problem onto my hand. All I did was get on the chair and put the stick on the top of her cage behind her and she ran right into her cage. She does better for me when she has some time out of her cage and some in. If she has played for several hours and she gets quiet I can tell its time for her nap. I put her in her cage then. If I don't its like she becomes a cranky 2 yr old and she pitches tantrums.

 

[henpecked]

I would not towel the bird , your losing what ever trust you've gained. Don't feed her any where but in the cage. treats are OK but leave her food/water in the cage. If need be close the door when she goes in ,in the PM.

 

[mels2kool65]

My blue front doesnt like hands, when it is time for her to go to bed, I make her step onto a stick, and I put her in her cage. Once in a while,she doesnt want to step up, and go to bed, I just keep pushing the stick by her legs and say up! She will then always step up.

 

[Clueless]

When I put my amazons back into the cage - I quickly follow it with a treat. They know when they are placed on the perch, they will get a treat. Maybe you should find "THE" thing that Queegy likes and save it JUST for the bedtime ritual.

I'm not sure but I think Secret may have learned to count - there is a limit to sunflower seeds for training. The last seed of the day is given when Secret is placed in the cage . . . . .I'm seeing a very slow, reluctant step up at that point!

With MC, I learned that after 9 p.m. is a baaaaaaad time for that bird. Picture stubborn multiplied by bunches! I can take him away from his stand - train for a while and spend one on one time in the floor . . . . then he goes straight to bed no later than 9 p.m. No war.

Thanks for adopting Queegy.

 

[Birdlover11]

Sounds like a spoiled rich girl LOL just work on her getting her inside the cage all day or maybe put a lot of irresistible treats in the cage. I never used the evil eye before lol