how to catch a slippery conure...

[EnglishMuffin]

Hi everyone! I haven't been around in forever! I hope everyone is doing well...

Sootie is getting on for about 16 months old now and her hormones are well and truly kicking in! So far it's everything I'd expected it would be but there is one issue I'm having trouble keeping under control.

She's so worried about missing out on the action that sometimes she makes it VERY difficult to get her back in her cage. She's fully flighted now and she's so quick, I just can't get near her. She will step up happily from wherever she is but as soon as I head to her cage she flies off, and we end up chasing each other around the house.

I never shout at her. In fact I don't even speak to her while we're doing this. I don't run around, I just walk calmly after where she has flown to, put my hand out to step up. She will step up and then immediately dive off my hand and to a new location.

Usually this goes on and on until she's literally too exhausted to fly anymore and she ends up on the ground, where I can pick her up and finally put her in her cage. But it's such a traumatic drama every time, I don't want her to feel like I'm chasing her down until she's too exhausted to fight. But likewise, I don't want to have to start grabbing her around the body (not that she gives me much opportunity to, she's so fast) or towelling her every time I have to put her away.

When I finally do get her back to her cage I tell her she's a good girl and give her a treat. But it doesn't seem to deter her the next time! Does anyone have any tricks to try and encourage better behavior in returning to her cage?

 

[Minimaker]

It can be so hard, I know how that goes with my budgies. They really don't want to go back up because freedom is so nice. I try to herd them into a smaller room where they are easier to catch and then a hang a sheet up with clothespins on two nails I have on that door way. That keeps them in the smaller room. Basically once that sheet goes up they know they're had and let me pick them up from there. Nothing else really helped. I tried a cage up high on a shelf and they still refused to go inside no matter what I put in there for treats. I had to use a towel a few times because my male is really stubborn about it and makes me chase him longer. But I really hate doing that because it causes them to fall to the ground usually and I fear they'll get hurt. But sometimes that the only way I can catch him. He's so fast! Otherwise, what can you do? Clip their wings, otherwise I don't know.

 

[gracebowen]

With my budgie I just take the cage to him. Other than that I don't know.

 

[Flboy]

My JoJo was that way. I started always hugging him when I hold him, and always treat him something special when I put him in the cage!

 

[thekarens]

My JoJo was that way. I started always hugging him when I hold him, and always treat him something special when I put him in the cage!

This! When my sennies are being difficult I have them step up and then bring my hand close to my chest and gently cover their back with my free hand.

 

[JamesC]

I do something similar to thekarens with my blue crown Rosco. I get him to step up, bring him close and let him tap his beak on my nose then move him down close to me and put my chin on his head and then cover his back with the other hand. It used to be a necessity but lately he has been more and more accepting of just staying put so that I can put him inside.

You might want to try daily handling of your bird so that she gets used to the idea of a hand covering her. Do it when you are not putting her away but calmly sitting and interacting with her so she does not connect such behavior with being put in her cage. Praise and positive reinforcement and treats. Carry that on for a while then try moving around with her held like that. Finally make trips to the cage then walk away a few times for more play time. Then try putting her away.

Rosco came to me as a semi-tame rescue and every day I work with him. Cupping my hand over his back, flipping him over, spreading his wings, rubbing his belly and feet. I get some protests from him about it but over time he has come to accept such contact and that allows me to carry him around with no bother at all including time to go in. If he protests about that now it is to fly over to the playstand while I wait patiently by his cage and he comes right back most of the time. After that flight he steps up and right in he goes.

 

[EnglishMuffin]

When she's being good she is a very malleable bird! She'll hunker down in the palm of your han and open her wings and let them dangle off the side of your palm so your fingers are cupping under her wings, she lays on her back...she even struts over while i'm typing on my laptop and shuffles herself under my hands to let me know she needs a pet. But as soon as she realises it's time to go to her cage you'd think she was an abused bird, you just can't get near her. It it's nighttime I have to turn off all the lights and TV so she has to light to fly by and get her then! She's a sneaky thing