Snapdragon
Member
- Dec 26, 2019
- 112
- 8
- Parrots
- Tashi, almost-2-year-old female moustache parakeet, Indian subspecies (Psittacula alexandri fasciata)
One of the GC conures in boarding at work is EXTREMELY cage-aggressive.
Our 'tiel and small conure cages don't have removable grates, so while I was able to change the newspaper, I wasn't able to scrub his grate today. To further complicate things, he is such a talented escape artist that we have to put those carabiner-shaped things that are screwed closed (what are they called, btw?) on each door. The moment he sees you start to open the carabiner things, he rushes over to bite your fingers repeatedly. Once you take the carabiner off, he tries to open the door, and bites your fingers if you try to hold the door closed. Upon attempting to put food or water in, he alternates between grabbing the bowl and attempting to wrestle it away from you (he managed to douse himself in water in the process this morning) and trying to bite your fingers when you try to get the bowl properly seated in the door and close the door. Then it's back to more biting as you reattach the carabiner. (I have to admit that however frustrating it can be at the time, I admire his determination!)
Unfortunately, I don't dare put my hands into Plucky Pants' cage to scrub the grate. It wasn't a problem today - he hadn't made a big mess -- but of course it will very quickly become a problem.
Keeping all of this in mind, how do you suggest I clean his cage without stressing him out unnecessarily? I will definitely ask my coworkers as well, but I suspect the answer will be "towel him". I would hate to do that; I'm trying to AVOID frightening him and becoming the enemy. Being away from his flock is stressful enough as is.
Our 'tiel and small conure cages don't have removable grates, so while I was able to change the newspaper, I wasn't able to scrub his grate today. To further complicate things, he is such a talented escape artist that we have to put those carabiner-shaped things that are screwed closed (what are they called, btw?) on each door. The moment he sees you start to open the carabiner things, he rushes over to bite your fingers repeatedly. Once you take the carabiner off, he tries to open the door, and bites your fingers if you try to hold the door closed. Upon attempting to put food or water in, he alternates between grabbing the bowl and attempting to wrestle it away from you (he managed to douse himself in water in the process this morning) and trying to bite your fingers when you try to get the bowl properly seated in the door and close the door. Then it's back to more biting as you reattach the carabiner. (I have to admit that however frustrating it can be at the time, I admire his determination!)
Unfortunately, I don't dare put my hands into Plucky Pants' cage to scrub the grate. It wasn't a problem today - he hadn't made a big mess -- but of course it will very quickly become a problem.
Keeping all of this in mind, how do you suggest I clean his cage without stressing him out unnecessarily? I will definitely ask my coworkers as well, but I suspect the answer will be "towel him". I would hate to do that; I'm trying to AVOID frightening him and becoming the enemy. Being away from his flock is stressful enough as is.