My Quaker refuses to stay in its cages; should I just leave him in there?

Pisco1412

New member
Jan 8, 2015
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My Quaker only goes inside his big cage to eat or drink; when I try to leave him in there by closing the door on him, he constantly tries to open the door and makes this loud, annoying screeching sound while banging the cage walls. After about a few minutes, he flips over the water and food trays, climbs along the cage walls complaining nonstop.

He will concede to sleeping in his smaller budgie-size cage, but only during nighttime when he's sleepy. As soon as he wakes up the next day, he's screaming and banging the cage walls. I've only had him for a few days, and I kept him outside, because he didn't seem to like being inside a cage, and now he's even afraid of my hands thinking that I'll force him inside his cage.

Should I just leave him in the big one for a few days and ignore his complaints? My room's furniture and floor is literally covered in his poo, and I have a dog too and my dog sometimes lick it out of interest, although he knows he's not supposed to, and I don't want my dog to get sick from it by eating bird poo while I'm not looking.
 
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Taw5106

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Mar 27, 2014
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I am not a seasoned expert but I can tell you he needs to learn that his cage is his bed unless you and he are ok with him roosting elsewhere. My Buddy stays in his cage but the door is opened always. He does come out and he and I hang together. You two will have to learn about each other and have a routine. Buddy is on my shoulder do the poop is contained to me... Lovely right? We are working on potty training, we are making progress but slow.
 

flyingron

Member
Jan 3, 2015
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2
Chantilly, VA
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Bacca (Quaker)
Our quaker doesn't like the cage if he can hear us around. He's very social (and we feel bad for him because his former owners NEVER let him out). Still we've got times we put him away and just have to ignore him like you would ignore a child when you put it in it's crib when it's fussy.

As for night time, we read him his bedtime story and put him away with the cover over the cage. He might squawk for a short time but he settles down.
 

Dopey

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Apr 18, 2014
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As for night time, we read him his bedtime story and put him away with the cover over the cage. He might squawk for a short time but he settles down.
Wow - that is so cool. I've never thought of that. How sweet. I used to read to my birds but only until they got used to me.
 

Ann333

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Jan 8, 2015
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New Mexico
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--PUMPKIN - male YS GCC. Hatched Halloween Day 2014. Came home Jan. 4, 2015. Started talking in July '15!

-BUTTERNUT- female TYS GCC Hatched in late Jan. 2016 and came home March 14, 2016
I've only had my green cheek conure for 9 days and he is just now getting to the point where he isn't crying to come out of the cage to sit with me. I think it's all the stress from moving into a new home. I left him in his cage for the hours I will soon be in school and let him out for the hours I will usually be at home. He was angry with me at first but now he knows what to expect things are much better. Set a routine for your birdie and stick to it. That's working really well for me.
 

PetoftheDay

Member
Dec 27, 2010
967
1
Boston area, MA
Should I just leave him in the big one for a few days and ignore his complaints? My room's furniture and floor is literally covered in his poo, and I have a dog too and my dog sometimes lick it out of interest, although he knows he's not supposed to, and I don't want my dog to get sick from it by eating bird poo while I'm not looking.

You definitely need to let him get accustomed to being in his cage more, and by resounding to his complaints, you are being trained, not training him!

Steal yourself for a few days of complaining, but he is definitely still adjusting to his new home, new circumstances, new family members including a dog - all this is pretty overwhelming, so establish a routine, and be firm about it, and things should settle down.

By the way, dogs are omnivores, and in generally eat all sorts of stuff, so licking the poo won't kill him! Getting is cleaned up quickly is easier on you, though, and once he is okay being in the big cage for long periods, it should lessen his pooping outside!

When he is in his cage, sit near him and chat with him when you have things to do like homework, or reading, etc., so he is not just lonely. Does he have toys in the cage?
 

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