Lovebird refusing to go back in cage

marija_jazz

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Apr 2, 2020
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Hi everyone! I hope that I will get some useful advice, because I'm desperate :) I got a Fischer's Loverbird a month ago. They told me it's a 4 months old male. It is not tamed. I started letting him out of the cage 2 weeks after I got him (as recommended). It had no problems getting back in cage, and I had no problems closing it for a week.

But these days, he simply doesn't want to be closed. He still gets back in the cage, but really quickly, just to get some food or to drink little water and immediately rushes out if he notices me moving. He doesn't want to step up on my hand. He likes to eat from my hand and he steps up on a perch, but as soon as I get the perch close to the cage, he flies away. I tried putting some treats in the cage, but he is not interested.

Last night we had to grab him (I know how wrong this is, please don't judge) to put him in the cage. He seems okay today, doesn't seem traumatized and is not afraid of us.

Today he is out again, he gets in the cage, but we can't close him, because DAMN he is fast. I really don't want to grab him again and force him in. But should I let him sleep outside? Is it safe? I don't have other animals.

Please share some tricks of getting a stubborn lovebird back in its cage! Thank you, sorry for the long thread :rainbow1:

P.S. His wings are not clipped and I would like to keep it that way :)
 

wrench13

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This is often a problem, along with trying to teach No Bite, with a new fully flighted parrot. They just fly away when it comes time for training. As much as you dont want to, a light clip ( so he can glide to the floor, not more than that) may be indicated, it;s what I would do. Step up is like the very first thing a parrot has to be trained on, so its almost a reflex action when you ask for it. Not only for every day stuff like nite nite, but in an emergency where he has to be put in his cage ASAP. Grabbing him every night is certainly not the way to go. You can try using a treat to try and train him to stay in place, but that takes quite a bit of training and you have to have patience and be 100% consistent and use the right training techniques. Good Luck! Lovies are stubborn!
 

SailBoat

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FYI: Food = Motivation! Assure that the only food is available inside the cage! Assure that you follow that rule 100%.

Note: As stated above, Step-Up is the foundation of all interactions with your Parrot! It is more important than anything accept your on-going bond development.

Parrot 101: Only good things happen when Humans are around. Grabbing the Parrot: Not a Good Thing!

Parrot 202: Change your Vantage Point!!!
- Its always the fault of the Human!
- Its never the fault of the Parrot!
- The quicker you apply this, the quicker you will come to understand what your a are doing wrong!

Well, okay, but understand, I'm old and old folks judge! Life's reality: I learned this one from my Grandfather and have found that if I know it's wrong, upfront! Don't do it. Because you never have to be one bit concerned about doing the right thing! It's easy to do what is, well easy. But doing what is right, that's one of life's secret to a happier life! And guess what -- that's called changing ones Vantage Point!
 
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marija_jazz

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Apr 2, 2020
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Well, I completely agree, I don't want to grab the bird either, that's why I asked for advice :) But what should I do if he doesn't let me close the cage? Should I just leave him sleep outside? Should I not let him out of the cage until he learns to step up on finger? These are my questions :)

By the way, he slept outside for the night, I checked him a few times, he was sleeping on the cage, everything was fine. He went in the cage for food this morning and we managed to close him, but it was stressful because we had to be fast! I don't want to have to crawl on the floor or run to shut the cage every single time I let him out.
 

SailBoat

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Our Amazon is 24/7 full walk about and fully flighted. We leave the cage door open and he goes in for the night. Since you do not have others in your home, you can leave him out and not be concerned about the door being closed. Thus the fight over closing the door at night goes away.

This is not the common way to approach this issue but in your home, you can try it. If he sleeps on the cage, consider that good. When there is no stress regarding the cage door, all the drama goes away.

Warning: Like stated above, this is not a common approach and take care as to his being out as the Humans must know where he is at all times. One of the many down falls is his not coming to you at all. So, the on-going efforts to develop a trust bond becomes ever more important!

Note: If over a couple of weeks, your bird continues to fly away from you even when providing food. You're going to have to consider a very light primary feather clip to slow him down to a long soft glide to the floor.
 
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