She hates her cage

[nobleedd]

Hi every one

i am having some problems with Cadbury my CAG when it comes to putting her back the cage, i'm sure she is not the only parrot who dislikes going back in the cage. She is getting better by steping off me into the cage, but when i close the door this is when she will start throwing her toys out of the pram. This can last from 5 mins to 20 mins.
Normaly she will climb round the side of the cage then drop to the bottom, then back to the top to do it again. I'm worried she will end up hurting her self by dropping to the bottm. I do giver her a treat after getting back in the cage, is this a good or bad thing?

Is there any thing i can do to calm her down? or will it just take time.

 

[HRH Di]

Jade, our RFM, hates going into her cage, although she's getting better. I equate it to putting a 3 year old to bed when they know everyone else is still up and about.

Here's my suggestion - by no means an expert opinion, but something I've learned from my birds. Try to get her to view her cage as a refuge and not punishment. Give her a special treat only in her cage. Play with her while she's in her cage - with the door open.

Good luck.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Great suggestions from Di.

I have a special treat Auggie gets ONLY when he goes back in his cage: dried blueberries. He LOVES them.

It's also good to get into a routine, or make a ritual out of it. When it's time for me to go to work one of the last things I do is rinse and refill Auggie's water bowl, then he goes in the cage and I hand him his blueberry through the cage. He's got this down so well that occasionally I'll change his water when I'm NOT leaving, and he'll do his regular routine of climbing in the cage and waiting for the blueberry - and he gets ticked off if he doesn't get it.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

For teaching them this routine though you should do some repetitions when you are not actually leaving her in the cage. Lure her in, give her the treat, then let her come out. The lure her in, close the door just for a second, then let her come out, etc.

 

[parrotqueen]

That's so true, always make the cage a positive experience rather than a negative one. Not only will making it a negative experience cause her to refuse going in, but forcing her in can cause issues for your relationship.

Make a practice out of rewarding her for going in. Get her lured in, as AD suggested; and reward her for actually being in the cage.

 

[antoinette]

AD and PQ have covered your query so well, nothing for me to add

 

[nobleedd]

Thanks for the advice guys =D