Such a social birdy. Any tips for keeping him content IN his cage?

Unisyst · Jun 26, 2013

It's funny I search for "bird doesn't want to stay in cage" or any variation and it always brings up "bird doesn't want to come out of cage" as a result. My birdy loves people and being out.

Let's say I decide to sleep in, I'll hear him for HOURS going "wah... wah ... wah" (kind of a quacking sound). He has food, drink, and toys, but he wants out soooo badly. (Really even more badly than my previous birdy wanted out) Also he doesn't seem to like pooping in his cage (maybe I trained him that way? cause ANY time I take him out I put him over the toilet and he goes).

Now I can't be with him every second he's awake, anyway to keep him happy IN his cage?

weco · Jun 26, 2013

It's because our feathered friends are flock animals and in a flock everybody has direct interaction all the time.....simply having toys or other means of self activity available doesn't mean a bird understands or knows how to entertain itself.....sometimes you have to get down on the floor & roll balls, ring bells or tear up newspaper...all while ooohhhing & ahhhing & appearing to have a great time, even though you might be worried someone will see you & begin to wonder.....

Good luck.....

Unisyst · Jun 26, 2013

What does a flock entail? Can it mean a bird in a cage adjacent to my buddy?

weco · Jun 26, 2013

It could.....even other non-bird pets, though I don't know if a bird would think of your fish as flock members.....

I do know that some birds do mourn the loss of dogs & cats when they pass.....

Kalidasa · Jun 26, 2013

weco said:
It could.....even other non-bird pets, though I don't know if a bird would think of your fish as flock members.....

I do know that some birds do mourn the loss of dogs & cats when they pass.....

Definately they do! A good friend of mine has a cag and a Quaker, and when her German Shepard just passed the house is as quiet as a tomb. The birds are despondent. She's looking for a puppy. They used to mess with the dog by making doorbell and car honking noises, and have lots of fun watching her run to the door barking.

MissBMonkey · Jul 1, 2013

I have this same problem with my Ducky. Every morning at 7am she starts her quacking (hence "Ducky"), and if I don't answer her for a few minutes she begins her "talking" in her cute little gibberish words. If I don't get up then, she starts shrieking. Now, pay no mind to the fact that I keep her covered at night with a black blanket so no light gets in! And her cage sits only inches from another cage with my 3 budgies. She doesn't care 2 cents about the budgies. She only wants mommy to get her butt out of bed so she can play. Once she's out of her cage, she doesn't make a peep, but inside, she's the noisiest bird on the planet! I haven't figured out a solution to this yet...

JasmineGCC · Jul 3, 2013

Jasmine my GCC makes quacking noises when she's playing? She talks to herself too and if I'm in eg the next room I talk back to her. When she makes her loud flock call I shout back hello from wherever I am - even from bed! She's learnt to shout hello back and reassured she goes back to quacking.

In the weekend mornings I tend to get up early and feed her and play for 5 mins - give her something to keep her busy such as some paper to rip up and then go back to bed for a couple of hours.

lotosha · Jul 3, 2013

My CAG also hates to be left alone in the room, so I usually care her with me to kitchen, and bath where she sits on a table or a stand. If you have portabke stand you could take you bird with you.
In case you want to have a nap during the day covering the cage could help.

Birdlover11 · Jul 3, 2013

If your fid is a big treat fan , what about a foraging wheel ? Get some interactive toys , they always entertain my fids longer and it kind if forces them to try

ruffledfeathers · Jul 3, 2013

Georgie's first placement when i got her was next to an aquarium. She LOVED watching the fish. She would sometimes even climb down the outside of her cage (when i was home and it was open) and sit at the best level for viewing the fish. I also kept budgies and the canary all near her, so they all had 'company' in the house when i wasn't there. She didn't really like to play with toys the way Gilbert does but she did find certain things she loved to chew and destroy, so i got a number of good things for her to chew while i was gone too.

moni.k · Jul 3, 2013

I always try to encourage independence in the cage. Always make the cage a positive space, don't use it as punishment or "time out". Use foraging toys (may have to teach them how to use it at first). Don't acknowledge their screams for attention, I wait until they quiet down, then I shower them with affection and bring them out. I did notice that with gcc they're really hyper so releasing some of that energy will help make them more relaxed and less anxious in their cage.

MagegrayWolf · Jul 3, 2013

Foraging can be a huge help with this. Though you will need to show the bird how. Also when you introduce a new toy, try playing with it yourself while the bird watches. Then after a while put it in the cage and play with it a bit in there.

Something else that has helped make my bird more independent was to leave the cage open during play time and just let the bird go in and out as they please.

If it's a matter of just too much energy, try flight training (if the bird can fly). You have the bird fly to another room so down a hallway then call them back. If they can't fly try a bit of trick training before bed. This also helps when dealing with hormonal aggression. I taught my Sun Conure a "give me" trick, where he has to place a foot toy in my hand to get an almond slice.

Such a social birdy. Any tips for keeping him content IN his cage?

Unisyst

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