Conure HATES going back in cage

[Mm6393]

Hi everyone ! I’ve had my two year old sun conure, Mari, for a little less than a year now. We have formed an extremely special bond and it seems like she has picked me to be her favorite human haha. She is aggressive towards other people. I have tried to discourage that behavior but I guess that is how she is and I have learned to just be very careful around other people. The issue is, sometimes I’ll have my younger niece over and I’ll have to put Mari back in her cage for an hour or two. What I’ll do is ask her to step up and when she does I give her a treat. I put my hand in the cage and she will climb up on my arm so that she stays on my shoulder. But when I tell her to step up again, she bites, and it’s pretty hard. A couple times she has even drawn blood. So what I will do next is use a perch and then she will be forced in her cage. So my question is, is that okay what I’m doing? I don’t want her to hate me for basically forcing her into her cage but I do that for my nieces and Mari’s safety. As soon as I can, I go back and let her out of the cage. Does anyone else have any other suggestions I can use to help get her in the cage and make it even a PLEASURABLE experience? Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing your responses

 

[Sunnyclover]

I think that is a job well done. Maybe even offer a treat when she is stepping off your shoulder to see if she learns to stop biting but using the perch is a good solution. As for making it a pleasurable experience, that might not happen but you can try giving her a tiny piece of a treat every time she is returned to her cage for a while or give scratches when returning to her cage, whichever she prefers. I did that with my birds and I stopped giving them treats every time (because they would be unhealthy) but i do every so often say "oh you are a good boy, you went back in your cage like a good boy" then give a small treat as a reinforcement. I also do that for potty training, i give them a treat every so often when they go on command to reinforce. Hope this helps!

 

[GaleriaGila]

My darling is flighted and fearless, and has been indulged all his life, so I just have to admit that I have exactly the bird I deserve! Fortunately, I'm okay with it, and I've found ways to deal with him. FORTUNATELY, he loves green chiles more than he loves anything else... me... freedom... flying...
I toss a big chile in his cage and in he flaps.
Is there anything you could use similarly?
Good for you for reaching out. You sound like a great parront.
We'd love some pictures!

 

[Mm6393]

Thank you! I just uploaded a picture of her. And luckily she absolutely adores apples so sometimes I’ll use that to lure her in her cage lol. Never a dull moment with parrots ��

 

[GaleriaGila]

Apples!

If they become your cage-bait of choice, you'll never want to run out. I have sent my husband out in a snowstorm to get green chiles, and he gladly went, knowing that the errand was the only way his nemesis would be in the cage again. By the way, my husband enjoys these forums, too, and his ID is "Rival of the Rickeybird".

 

[Inger]

You could try target training her. When Bumble doesn’t want to come off my shoulder to go back in her cage, I can target her up my arm and then she’ll usually step up for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LordTriggs]

My conure wasn't best pleased sometimes going back into his cage. What I began doing was showing a treat to him, then placing it into the cage in a spot where he can clearly see it the whole time going in the cage. Then once in the cage his mind was on his treat, I'd then give him another through the bars to let him know he's a good boy.

As another more long planned solution try whenever she and you are playing take her over to the cage and place her in keeping the door open and even play with her in the cage, right now the cage is getting associated with being separate from you which of course she wants to be with you constantly.

 

[Mm6393]

Thank you so much for your replies! I’ll give it a shot today and try and make us both happy lol

 

[Flboy]

Yes, cage-treat! Also, any visitor is to give a simple hello, an a treat!