My macaw is suddenly afraid of his cage

Bentley has had same cage since he came from breeder. I am 2nd owner and had him 2 years. I also only cage my birds at night to sleep, otherwise they are on large java playstands. Cage came with cement perch which I didn't like, and introduced rope perches instead. He has a rope boing on his play stand that he loves. Well he freaked at the rope perch and would only cling to the bars. After 3 nights I went back to the cement perch. He was still upset. After reading advice that I shouldn't force a parrot to do anything he didn't want, I let him sleep on top of the open door of cage for several months. This can't continue, it's bad for his feet and sleep cycle (blinds and curtains still let in some light) so I've been trying to get him in cage again. Short visits during day, treats while inside, toys. Last 2 nights he settled down after hours of climbing all over the bars and I found him on rope perch in the morning. Tonight he started trembling right around bedtime before I even took him off perch and was very aggressive. He did NOT want to go to cage. I had to towel him to get him even on the cage. Should I just keep being persistent or am I psychologically scarring him??? Any advice would be great.
I've been a macaw parront for a decade now and this is a new issue for me.

Is it possible something living got in the cage and spooked him, and he's anxious about the same thing happenign again?

I had a large Natural wood perch in BB's cage . Ran the full length. His feet were getting a little red on the bottom and I worried it was that perch that caused it. He did roost on it.

He hung to the side of the cage for two nights. Like you if we were home he slept outside of the cage. I don't like him sleeping on the door or top because I don't think the tubing / outside area of the cage is good for his feet.

I have 4 different types of Perch in his cage but had to bring in one at a time. Other wise he was scared. I can't image what he would have done had I taken all of them out at once and put just rope in. He does not like Rope perch at all.

Quite a few people on the Forum have cage free birds. Mark and April both have cage free.

How about installing a Perch on the high part outside his cage .
BB does sleep outside of the cage if I don't have to work the next day. He either sleeps on his Playstand that is wood or on a Beachsand Perch I have outside part of his cage.

Bentley is perhaps more sensitive to cage changes than other birds, possibly more than expected.

Wonder if returning the concrete perch for a few days, then concurrently reintroducing the rope perches might help? As creatures of prey, parrots are extremely aware of any change, even an existing item moved just a bit! You are correct in respecting his comfort and sleep cycle, all crucial to a great relationship!!

There's a manzanita perch, rope, and the original darn cement one inside. Attempted the cement one outside near door opening, he wouldn't go near it. I may hAve scared him with the removal and addition of all the perches in an attempt to finally get the right combination. I'm going to leave all as is and hope he settles.
It was the trembling tonight that concerned me, I feel so bad he's scared to go to bed.

Maybe stay near the cage after you put him in. Let him know there is not boogie man . Macaws can be chickens lol

I don't think so, no mice in apartment. Occasional moths sneak in with pellets and nuts, but they don't concern him normally.

Ruby won't use anything BUT cement. I got her a Polly's Twist cement perch and rotate it every few days ever so slightly. This keeps the part touching the foot from remaining the same for too long.

I say choose your battles. Try the Twist perch and see if he likes it. I agree with starting on the outside of the cage and slowly working in. Toweling him and making it scary likely will only terrify him and set you way way back.

I had this perch fear thinghappen with my little Marley (Du Corps Cockatoo). I added a cement perch to try to work on her nails and it scared her so much that she fell and hurt her foot trying to avoid getting near it. I removed that one and once she was feeling better put in a smaller one and probably after about 2 weeks, she slowly became willing to use it.

I have two Cement
Two Beachsand
Three natural wood ( Soon to be replaced with Dragonwood )
I had two clay but well one got shredded fast so only one and he likes to sleep on that this week.
I really really believe they need all kinds of texture .
The outside of his playstand is wrapped with Sisal Rope. That is the only Rope he gets on.

I am working on a Corner Platform Perch just to see if he will use it.

You've received some outstanding suggestions already.

Perhaps try the approach: Less is more?? Remove everything in there except one or 2 natural perches (preferably with bark)?

Do you have a photo of the cage, perhaps?

My B&G loves sleeping on his rope perch, however, once a month I have to remove it because it will make his feet pink. He's NOT happy when I take it out for up to a week, but I won't allow him to develop bumble foot from that particular perch. He, too, will shake when it's not in his cage at bed time, and will cling to the bars and give me 'those' looks. But he gets over it after a while. :54:

I was just wondering if perhaps there is s bottom grate on your cage that you could remove and then pull out the shelf that catches the seed and leave these to one side for a week or so and place a paper on the ground for that time so your floor doesnt get soiled and every now and then step into the cage when you get a chance letting Bentley see you in his cage with no harm coming to you....you may have success with some of the other great tips you got but if you are still having problems after trying them it could be that something in the cage frightened Bentley and if he sees that you are okay in there then maybe he will begin to feel his cage is a safe place again too .