Refuses to "go" in his cage.

[gerewolf]

My Timneh African Grey refuses to poop in his cage. He is now a year old and he is done this from the beginning. It's as if he thinks his cage is sacred, but our rugs, floor, chairs, etc. are not. We have also tried to train him to poop in the toilet. Every morning we take him right to the toilet and let him sit there until he goes, then give him a treat. But I think he's too young for potty training. Any advice?

 

[BirdSquawk]

He must really like his cage if he refuses to go in it! I personally wouldn't try to potty train him, it might have caused him to think his cage is a bad place to go and 'holding' until a toilet is available can be dangerous to a birds health. Try leaving him in his cage in the morning, that is when he will really have to go and might allow himself to, then praise him like crazy, but if he really refuses it, take him to the toilet for health's sake.

 

[gerewolf]

Thanks Birdsquawk. We'll give that a try. He's very stubborn though. He can wait a long time before we take him out!

 

[U2gal]

Cages are often percieved as their nest. Their safety zone. Many birds won't poop in their cages. Especially that morning bomb!

 

[lotosha]

Mine tries to avoid pooping inside the cage as well. Some times she'll hold for many hours, but when I take her outside she'll poop every 10 minutes or so.

 

[csperkins3]

I kind of deal with this with Ozzy. He does go in his cage but doesn't really like to. His biggest thing is the huge morning one. He really hates to do that in his cage. I read somewhere and I wish I had saved it because I don't even remember where but according to the article they said that Grey's do not poop where they sleep in the wild to avoid predators knowing where they sleep. I do not know how true this is but it was interesting to read as it seemed to make sense.
I have not experienced this with the B&G only my Grey.