Cage Top Trouble

[TonyM]

In the past, I've allowed my Scarlet, Zuri, to climb on top of her cage. But recently, I bought her a double macaw cage. The thing is huge and she loves it, but my issue is that she wants to climb on top of it. If she gets up there and decides to go to the back corner, I have no idea how I will be able to get her down. Any ideas on how I can keep her down off her cage top? Thanks!

 

[weco]

In the past, I've allowed my Scarlet, Zuri, to climb on top of her cage. But recently, I bought her a double macaw cage. The thing is huge and she loves it, but my issue is that she wants to climb on top of it. If she gets up there and decides to go to the back corner, I have no idea how I will be able to get her down. Any ideas on how I can keep her down off her cage top? Thanks!

It might help if you posted pictures of the in-place cage & how it's placed in the room.....kind of hard to offer suggestions on something we can't see ! ! !

Is this your house or do you rent?

 

[Flboy]

Start using a stick for her to step onto. That is how I get my guy down from areas I can't reach.

 

[Dopey]

Sometimes us short people have to use step stools.
You can also use treats to get her to go back into the cage. (My dog loves treats. )
My birds really do not like stepping up onto a stick. I use my arm and after a couple of weeks it is really starting to work. They still give me the stink eye from time to time but we are all learning.

 

[Flboy]

Another advantages for stick/pole training,
Handling a nippy bird.
Having someone who is afraid of your bird be able to interact in a less stressful manor. If you step out of the room for a moment, this could be a life saver!

For this to be effective, it requires the bird being completely comfortable with the stick and not seeing it as a negative? My wife's Bongo, full attitude, very well manored on a stick for everyone! Ya, Bongo has a problem that need correction, but everyone, other than wife, is afraid of him and he knows it! I only see him every few days and the training is slow.

 

[Minimaker]

Yeah the stick method is working for us too. We've had trouble with our new macaw biting our hands/arms when we try to pick her up without a stick because she came to us very unsocialized. We have a wood perch that we use to lift her up and then we are able to get her onto our arm without biting. It should work the same with a bird that goes to a higher place than you can reach. Somehow instinctively they want to step up on a wooden perch when it's presented to them. That may be the quickest and easiest way to get your bird down. Quicker than a step stool. Otherwise if you want to block it off completely you may want to put a clear plexiglass panel up there to prevent her from going up at all.

 

[Allee]

If you have the room for it, maybe a play stand next to her cage would be tempting enough to keep her off the top. I use a step stool and an offered arm to get my Too off the top of her cage, but I can usually bribe her to come down on her own with toys or treats.

 

[jugoya]

...I have porter trained in a funny way.

If I go MMMMMMM and act crazy over a piece of food.
It takes a minute or so before he flies to me and looks for the yummy xD

Another good thing I accidentally trained all my fids..
The word 'bedtime'.

The moment I say it.. they all perk up.. make a racket and then wait patiently for me to pick them up and take them to bed xD....

Despite the budgies not being tame... they will sit still for bedtime.