'Splain it to me, please.....

[Bladesmith]

So Jarvis is settled in, and has taken over my home. Yay! But after getting him used to me, getting him to leave his cage, and spending the first couple weeks with him climbing on my shoulders at will, he's settled into a pattern I don't understand.

At night, usually after 9pm, and when the room is darkened, he climbs out of his cage and climbs onto my shoulder/chest. And parks himself. Doesn't want to get back into his cage as he usually does (He's slightly agoraphobic due to being locked in his cage for over 2 years.....), just parks himself.

Now, I usually put him to bed (Back in his cage and cover on) after he's been up for 12 hours or so, because he sometimes gets cranky if he's tired.

So I have no idea what he's doing, and could use some hints as to what's going on. Should I let him stay up and out until HE feels like going to bed, keep him on a schedule, or what? And what does this behavior mean?

Oh, I guess I should mention that he's a 5 year old male Quaker.

 

[Anansi]

It just means that he enjoys being with you. Which is great but, like a child who would eat chocolate all day, he needs limits. You have to set his boundaries. If 9:00 is lights out, then establish a routine with him where he goes to bed at that time every night. It might take a little while, but he'll come to understand. Structure is good for him.

You can try coaxing him back into the cage with one of his favorite treats. In the meantime, you should work on his target training during the day. If his target training becomes solid, he'll go where you tell him. Including the cage.

 

[Scott]

Setting a schedule and boundaries is very important with parrots. All of mine seem to understand what happens as the sun goes down, with some variation of timeliness. Most are happy to have darkness and bedtime, except for one. Gabby (23 yr old Goffin) is at his most Velcro at night. He would be content to be held until the sun rises! So we engage in a little cuddle-session before lights-out and he generally becomes compliant. Sometimes, however, I can feel his reluctance to go back to a stand or cage and give him a bit more time. (some nights he sleeps in his cage, others on a playpen, depending on the rotation of his mother and brothers.)

Just be loving but firm and he'll get the picture!