MICKEY hates his new cage! Maybe it's too big!

Jroyal14 · Mar 24, 2015

So I haven't posted on here in a while. But MICKEY and i have moved yet again. My new apartment has a very room sunroom off the living room with the most awesome view of myrtle beach! So it's only right that MICKEY gets this view lol. The room doesn't get too much sun because we're facing a weird direction so it's only full sunlight for about an hour.
Mickey has settled in nicely and loves whistling at the birds that fly past the window. The sunroom is pretty big so I decided to get Mickey a bigger cage. His cage now is very small but he is never actually in it, only to sleep. But I got a new cage and Mickey hates it. I put all of his old toys in it, I even draped his blanket over the back (don't ask, he likes it lol). He does this scream that I've only heard when he is really scared. He sits in the corner and whenever he sees me he tries desperately to get to me. I put him in his old cage and he immediately seemed fine. Idk what the problem is. I thought Mickey would appreciate a bigger cage. Do you guys think that maybe he just likes his old smaller cage? Should I return the new cage or should I continue to work with him?

gracebowen · Mar 24, 2015

I'm no expert but I would keep the cage. Let him stay in the old one for now until he gets used to the new one. If not already make sure he can get to the new cage if he wants to explore it. This advice is from reading other people's thoughts and suggestions. I read somewhere on this site to just give the bird time to get used to New things

One personal experience. My tiel is recently flighted. Before I knew he could fly I built a rope bridge from his cage to my bed so he could come to me on his own if he wanted to. The first time I showed it to him he was scared of it. Now he will perch on it but still hasn't used it to come over to me.

Kiwibird · Mar 24, 2015

I'd give him a little time to see if he takes interest in it, though make it so it's his choice (i.e. put him back in his old cage for now with the new cage nearby). It may be very overwhelming to him. Put some fun toys and treats in it and have it close enough to his old cage he can go explore if he wants. That's your best chance of getting him to go check out the new accommodations

, though he may not want a mansion. If he's given some time to explore on his own and still hates it, then theres no point in distressing him by forcing him into a bigger cage if he likes the smaller one.

Not EVERY bird seems to "want" a big cage, even though everyone says it's 'mean' not to keep them in the biggest cage you possibly can even if they genuinely prefer a smaller one. Some years ago, my mom bought 3 new HUGE cages to replace the very small by today's standards cages her birds had lived in since she bought them (back then, cage size wasn't a huge deal like it is today). The cockatoo went to his new cage immediately, but the amazons flat out refused to have anything to do with their new cages. "Petrified" would be a good word. She had to return them (the cages, not the amazons lol

), and those stubborn birds still live in their original, small, 40+ year old cages (and are the happiest, most well adjusted birds you could meet)

It may be a small percentage of parrots who prefer a smaller cage to a bigger one, but ultimately, it should be the birds "choice" in which accommodations make it feel most happy!

Allee · Mar 24, 2015

A sunroom with a view of myrtle beach, that sounds wonderful!

Some birds are reluctant to give up what's familiar for something new and scary. In addition to Mickey's toys and his blanket, maybe add some of his favorite perches and even food dishes. Let him watch you change things around in the new cage, put favorite meals or treats in the open cage. Maybe a perch beside the open door on the outside of the cage, in other words, make the new cage as inviting as possible and give him easy access to go in and explore and get out fast if he needs to.

I hope Mickey decides to keep his bigger cage. Please let us know how it turns out.

jasper19 · Mar 24, 2015

they just get afraid of new things.

Just buying a few new toys and switching them out of angels cage will freak her out if i do too many at a time. I just let them sit on the counter in view of her cage for a few days, then when she comes checks them out and gets bored after that i put in the cage.

So i would say just have the cage in the same room, over time he should get used to it and not be so afraid.

Birdman666 · Mar 24, 2015

Exactly. CAGS can be neurotic, and are just soooo not fond of change.
"I didn't approve this!" (The Judge Whoppner scene in Rain Man comes immediately to mind...)

I'd see if he adjusts to the new cage. If he's still stressed all the time, or he starts plucking, then give him back his "comfort zone."

AryoAsh · Mar 27, 2015

My Timneh Greycie is the exact same way. I bought her a new big cage right before she turned one in 2008. I tried to get her to move but she just kept going back to her other cage. Like Birdman above me said, African Greys don't seem to like change. I tried for months, but she just prefers her smaller cage. I keep her out a lot, so I don't worry about it to much. But I find it funny she doesn't want to live in a bigger "house". After I got her a friend, a Congo named Caesar(RIP), and he moved into it she started to go in to hangout with Him. But she still wouldn't sleep in there. I tried to move her in again, a while after Caesar suddenly passed from a terrible disease he was born with, but she would still climb out and go right back to her little apartment. Silly parrot.

RavensGryf · Mar 27, 2015

Kiwibird said:
I'd give him a little time to see if he takes interest in it, though make it so it's his choice (i.e. put him back in his old cage for now with the new cage nearby). It may be very overwhelming to him. Put some fun toys and treats in it and have it close enough to his old cage he can go explore if he wants. That's your best chance of getting him to go check out the new accommodations, though he may not want a mansion. If he's given some time to explore on his own and still hates it, then theres no point in distressing him by forcing him into a bigger cage if he likes the smaller one.

Not EVERY bird seems to "want" a big cage, even though everyone says it's 'mean' not to keep them in the biggest cage you possibly can even if they genuinely prefer a smaller one. Some years ago, my mom bought 3 new HUGE cages to replace the very small by today's standards cages her birds had lived in since she bought them (back then, cage size wasn't a huge deal like it is today). The cockatoo went to his new cage immediately, but the amazons flat out refused to have anything to do with their new cages. "Petrified" would be a good word. She had to return them (the cages, not the amazons lol), and those stubborn birds still live in their original, small, 40+ year old cages (and are the happiest, most well adjusted birds you could meet) It may be a small percentage of parrots who prefer a smaller cage to a bigger one, but ultimately, it should be the birds "choice" in which accommodations make it feel most happy!

Exactly. The post quoted above is something to keep in mind besides the linear and over simplified way of thinking that big cage = less cruel = always better.

Raven has a huge cage that the 'perch potato' only uses a small part of. It took him at least a month to adjust.

MICKEY hates his new cage! Maybe it's too big!

Jroyal14

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