How to get an Untaimed Parrot back into its Cage

BlueBudgie

New member
Nov 11, 2019
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0
Hi everyone!

I'm going to get a pair of budgies in the next few days. I've been trying to think of everything that could happen, so that if it does I am prepared. :)

I'm hoping to target train my birds as early on as I can, so that I hope I can get them back into their cage easily. But, if I have taken one or both of the birds out of their cage and they won't go back in, what should I do? I'm worried that I will have to throw a towel over them and catch them and that will make the experience of being out of their cage a negative one. Has anyone had this problem before, or know how prevent it or handle it? Thanks for any help!
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
You can try waiting for your bird to get hungry and then dimming the lights.
 

itzjbean

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Jan 27, 2017
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Iowa, USA
Parrots
2 cockatiels
You can use a butterfly net or a washcloth to capture them and then return them to their cage.

I just don't have time to 'let birds get hungry' so that they go back into their cage, if you wait for this it will take literal HOURS for them to fly back to their cage.. It's just not ideal or realistic to do that when I need them back in the cage NOW to go do other things or leave the house. If you are home all day, great, but for most of us who work or run errands and need birds to be secured on our schedules, it's important to find a way that's quick and works for you.

You can also clip their wings to keep them from getting lift while flying and just capturing them gently in your hands to transport back into the cage, or you can also clip them and then use your hands to entice them back into their cage while using your hands as barriers to get them to move to where you want them to go (like onto a perch that makes them walk back inside).

Another option that some budgie owners utilize is getting their birds a large flight cage and letting them fly in that rather than out and about in the house. It gives them plenty of space to fly from side to side up and down and get exercise but keeps them contained. You can also consider a small aviary to keep them in.

Good luck!
 
Last edited:

Laurasea

Well-known member
Aug 2, 2018
12,593
10,702
USA
Parrots
Full house
Hang millet just inside door. Turn off all lights shut shades. Put a bright light over cage. They will fly to the light
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
You can use a butterfly net or a washcloth to capture them and then return them to their cage.

I just don't have time to 'let birds get hungry' so that they go back into their cage, if you wait for this it will take literal HOURS for them to fly back to their cage.. It's just not ideal or realistic to do that when I need them back in the cage NOW to go do other things or leave the house. If you are home all day, great, but for most of us who work or run errands and need birds to be secured on our schedules, it's important to find a way that's quick and works for you.

You can also clip their wings to keep them from getting lift while flying and just capturing them gently in your hands to transport back into the cage, or you can also clip them and then use your hands to entice them back into their cage while using your hands as barriers to get them to move to where you want them to go (like onto a perch that makes them walk back inside).

Another option that some budgie owners utilize is getting their birds a large flight cage and letting them fly in that rather than out and about in the house. It gives them plenty of space to fly from side to side up and down and get exercise but keeps them contained. You can also consider a small aviary to keep them in.

Good luck!

Just to clarify---I have always worked and I also went through a period (1-2 months) of not being able to touch my unclipped bird. I also run errands and have to leave the house before it's light out each day. I am not trying to sound snarky-just saying that catching a bird can damage trust and just because you work doesn't mean you can't find alternatives...Also, not saying your way is wrong (it just wasn't for me).
 
Last edited:

LaManuka

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Aug 29, 2018
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Queensland, Australia
Parrots
Fang ({ab}normal grey cockatiel), Valentino (budgie), Jem (cinnamon cockatiel), Lovejoy(varied lorikeet), Peach (princess parrot)
My budgie Val is not tame. He generally spends most of his day either sitting in his (enormous!) cage because thatā€™s where all his food and toys are, or heā€™s tagging along pestering Fang. He is a pretty smart little bird and usually pops himself back in his cage come sundown, or he will follow after Fang if I pop him in there like a lure :)

Val is pretty trustworthy and doesnā€™t chew stuff so if I do have to leave the house for a short while and heā€™s out I donā€™t bother trying to catch him because it stresses both of us out! Very occasionally I do need to manhandle him back into his cage at bedtime. Itā€™s actually quite easy in the dimmer light as budgies donā€™t have very good night vision so I can just cup both hands around him and cage him with minimal fuss.

Your budgies may tame down beautifully and you may not have these issues but if you donā€™t make food or water available outside the cage I think youā€™ll manage them quite well.
 

Betrisher

Well-known member
Jun 3, 2013
4,253
177
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Parrots
Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
Teach your bird to target (instructions are in our training forums). That way, you can ask your bird to go anywhere and he will! :)
 

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