Caitnah
Active member
I could really use some advice on handling a difficult situation with my Pineapple Conure. He is 2 1/2 years old and he resides in a large cage with toys, boings, perches, etc.
While working (before pandemic) I would usually let him out every other day for a couple hours, on a very large/elaborate playground. When time for him to go back I would have him step up and place him back into his cage...no problem.
Since pandemic, Iāve been home since mid March and let him out early afternoon till dinner time with food/water available outside the cage. BUT, he would get wise to me wanting to put him back into his cage and avoided me after a couple hours. I would have to wait until he got onto his boing on the playground and then quickly get up, disconnect the boing and bring him to the cage. He would then go in easily and drink/eat.
He has now become wise to THAT trick and when I want him to go back into his cage, he avoids me at all costs.
My goal is that I want him to go in/out of his cage on his own when he needs food/water and then when time for him to go back for the night, to do it easily like before.
I put a food dish on his door which is open and sometimes he would eat there and I would then close the door. I didnāt like this since he will avoid the door knowing itās a trick. So now, he will eat at the door and I donāt close the door.
A couple times he actually went all the way in (on his own) and ate/drank and came back out...which was great. But this is rare.
Last night, I couldnāt get him back until late at night and had to chase him around the room. This cannot happen. And this has probably exasperated the problem. I do not yell or get mad at him and just talk friendly.
Today, I tried an experiment and let him out at noon with no food and water outside. His cage door is open. It is now 6:00 pm and he refuses to go back into his cage. It seems that he would rather starve/thirst then go into his cage. And this also cannot happen.
Every time I try to get him to step up he refuses and flies off (fully flighted) and I cannot get him at all.
When I finally get him in, he dives into his food and water.
Putting his favorite treats in his cage has accomplished nothing.
Heās so smart that he knows the first hour or so he will let me handle him any way I want knowing he isnāt going back in that quick. But a couple hours later, forget it. He avoids me at all costs.
Maybe clipping wings? That would make him easier to catch but not really what I want to do.
What I want is for him to know that he can go in/out of his cage for food and water AND be able to come right back out. Then at dinner time, to get him back into his cage EASILY for the night.
Any ideas? Thanks.
While working (before pandemic) I would usually let him out every other day for a couple hours, on a very large/elaborate playground. When time for him to go back I would have him step up and place him back into his cage...no problem.
Since pandemic, Iāve been home since mid March and let him out early afternoon till dinner time with food/water available outside the cage. BUT, he would get wise to me wanting to put him back into his cage and avoided me after a couple hours. I would have to wait until he got onto his boing on the playground and then quickly get up, disconnect the boing and bring him to the cage. He would then go in easily and drink/eat.
He has now become wise to THAT trick and when I want him to go back into his cage, he avoids me at all costs.
My goal is that I want him to go in/out of his cage on his own when he needs food/water and then when time for him to go back for the night, to do it easily like before.
I put a food dish on his door which is open and sometimes he would eat there and I would then close the door. I didnāt like this since he will avoid the door knowing itās a trick. So now, he will eat at the door and I donāt close the door.
A couple times he actually went all the way in (on his own) and ate/drank and came back out...which was great. But this is rare.
Last night, I couldnāt get him back until late at night and had to chase him around the room. This cannot happen. And this has probably exasperated the problem. I do not yell or get mad at him and just talk friendly.
Today, I tried an experiment and let him out at noon with no food and water outside. His cage door is open. It is now 6:00 pm and he refuses to go back into his cage. It seems that he would rather starve/thirst then go into his cage. And this also cannot happen.
Every time I try to get him to step up he refuses and flies off (fully flighted) and I cannot get him at all.
When I finally get him in, he dives into his food and water.
Putting his favorite treats in his cage has accomplished nothing.
Heās so smart that he knows the first hour or so he will let me handle him any way I want knowing he isnāt going back in that quick. But a couple hours later, forget it. He avoids me at all costs.
Maybe clipping wings? That would make him easier to catch but not really what I want to do.
What I want is for him to know that he can go in/out of his cage for food and water AND be able to come right back out. Then at dinner time, to get him back into his cage EASILY for the night.
Any ideas? Thanks.