Back-in-the-cage tips?

[DebSpace]

Beau has come out of the cage on his own for some solo playtime, but runs away from the perch or jumps over it when I'm trying to get him back inside (same thing if I try using my finger) even if he is on the floor. Don't recall ever having a bird that didn't want to jump up on something higher when they were on the floor. :confused: To get him back into the cage after playtime I gently catch him in my hands, stroke him a few times on the back and place him back in his cage. Even though he doesn't bite me, I don't think he is too thrilled about me holding him that short time. I don't like making him feel cornered and certainly don't want him to become MORE fearful of my hands. He loves millet, so I have tried coercing him back inside with that to no avail. Any tips to share? :whistle:

[bellarains]

Deb,

Sounds like Beau is warming up. If he does not want to go back into the cage, he is enjoying your company:)

As for tips on getting a bird that does not want to go back into the cage? You are already doing what I do. I just love mine up as I'm putting them back in. I hold them cupped in my hands, give them little kisses on their backs, and pop them back in. They don't really want to go, but at least they were being loved when they went;)

[Janie]

I agree with Lori! :) Mine rarely want to go back into their cage and if they won't step up and try to waddle off, I do pick them up and put them back in. I pet 'em, kiss 'em and put them back! :D Sometimes you don't have a choice when they are determined to stay out! ;)

[eenkopjekoffie]

Hello,

This is kind of the problem I am having right now with Lief, who I have had since friday and is out for the first time today. Over the weekend we made what I think is very good progress, by which he is now taking millet from me, and actually walks forward if I back off slightly. However, there has not yet been any hand contact of any kind, he is still not comfortable with that. He has been out of the cage now for a couple of hours I would think, and shows no interest in wanting to go back. I think that picking him up is probably the last thing I should do, so does anyone have any ideas how I can get him back in his cage? Help would be appreciated lol.

John

[DebSpace]

Thanks, everyone, I needed some reassurance. I think my new little guy might be perchaphobic. :lol He loves to swing in his swing, but the only perch he gets on in his cage is the small sand perch. He likes to sleep on the bottom of the cage, which worried me at first :omg: but when the blinds are opened in the morning he perks right up and goes to his swing. I use primarily natural wood perches, but I'm going to try using a sand perch for our next practice session to see if he responds better. He likes a rope perch I have outside the cage, too. Seriously, he avoids the other perches by navigating around them on the cage bars with his beak. :rolleyes: He's a fun one, though, and extremely sweet. John, with all my prior birds I used a small towel to catch them in because they would bite the fire out of me in this early stage. Once they learn the step up command, I teach them the words "inside" and "outside" to get them to come out or go back in. Sounds like Leif is starting to have some fun with you, too. Beau is semi-tame already and has only even nibbled me once since I brought him home a week ago, so I felt I could use my hands to gently catch him.

[BarbieH]

Sammy rarely wants to go back into the cage. He does, however, love a straw hat with a certain Fuzzy Frog in it. :rolleyes: (That's his humpy buddy) It's much easier to get a reluctant Sammy back into the cage if he can ride in the hat. :D

Whenever any of my birds go back into their cage, they get praised for it. Sometimes it's a simple "Good bird!" Sometimes they get applause. Even if they were reluctant to do it, once they're in, they get praised for being in. I think it makes it a little easier next time, IMHO.

Good luck! :)

[DebSpace]

:lol :lol :lol Well, look out Wal-Mart, I'll be on the lookout for strawhat with a frog on it! Too funny. I do believe I would enjoy seeing a pic of that; it sounds priceless. :whistle: Beau is slightly starting to improve on the step up command and today he went back into the cage on his own without flying down to the floor. Making progress, any way. Thanks!

[Eliza]

Beau has come out of the cage on his own for some solo playtime, but runs away from the perch or jumps over it when I'm trying to get him back inside (same thing if I try using my finger) even if he is on the floor.


Apparently Beau with the lovie school with Beetle :roll:

If Beetle is on the floor, he'll hop on a perch about 99% of the time. But if I feel it's time for him to be in his cage and he's on the back of the couch, he leaps of my hand, a perch, a toy... it's like he's training for the Olympics in the standing jump category :lol

Not much advice in that regard, other than to be patient.

Now as for Mr. Beau and the perches... I wonder of the color of the perch is upsetting him somehow? Hmmm... I've read that the eye-ring lovies can be a little more skittish than the peaches so chances are he's just getting used to his new home.

Best of luck!

-e-

[kk and tango]

Tango never wants to go back in his cage, either. He will run up your arm and try to squeeze back out before you can get your hand out of the cage. I find if i pick him up in my hands and set him down on a perch or shake one of his toys I get better results.

[BarbieH]

I do believe I would enjoy seeing a pic of that; it sounds priceless.

I've kind of got it in my avatar, though that doesn't do it justice. It's Sammy in the hat; fuzzy frog not visible. :D