Why won't Houdini come out?

[Lovelyloribeth]

I adopted Houdini the sun conure in the spring. He never comes out of the cage. Ever. Ever. The door is open from 9 am or so until 10 ish pm. He never comes out. Chichi is out all day all up in people's business. But Houdini is not. He'd assume stay on the cage squawking at everyone.

Chichi is now fully flighted and very disciplined. Flies to me often. And we hang out a lot. Houdini on the other hand was clipped shortly after I got him because I didn't know his flying habits. Then after we learned more about him I flighted him again. Which he is fully flighted now. Never flies, never comes out.

He will hang out with me of I go get him tho.

Any ideas?

 

[antoinette]

Perhaps more one on one time is needed with Houdini

To gain your trust could take days, weeks, months even years. Each and every bird is so different. Leaving the cage door open, offer him treats through the bars at first. When he willingly accepts them, try placing a treat near the open door. Eventually he will starts taking the treats from the door, make no attempt to touch him. When he does come out, he will probably climb around on the cage. Let him explore in his own time. To get him back in, place a treat inside the cage, making sure it's visible.

 

[thermodynamic]

I agree - Houdini, regardless of reason, is shy and will need a lot of time to adjust. Using treats is a great way to get them to like people. It is about creating a sense of trust, and it's easier if the bird is shy and naive around people than being preconditioned (read: abused) to be actively fearful or hating of people.

When I adopted Rosie, it was an impulse buy - but for a seemingly decent reason. When, at the store - which I will rename to "PetStupid" to protect the guilty, the so-called "handler" told me of a number of things they did to catch the bird -- chasing it around with their hands, cornering it... right then I knew things were very wrong. They had also put in a webcam at night because the bird would just sit there all day, but metallic objects would keep vanishing. Rosie collected metal things, and - at night when nobody was in the store - she would do somersaults as entertainment.

After the clerk told me of what they did, I decided the bird had to be taken out of there.When I got to the cashier, she (who still worked there 2 years later) told me of the same things, especially the hand-grabbing.

As a result, Rosie was constantly terrified.

However,


After six months, she started to do somersaults for me - solely to get my attention and laugh. As I laughed, she would do more. That was a good sign.

After a YEAR, Rosie felt comfy enough to take millet treat from my hand.

After almost two years, she would say "I love you".

She often does run and hide in her happy hut, but can be just as brave at other times.

At times, she will reluctantly acquiesce and perch on my finger, and I will sometimes scritch her neck in the bathroom (an isolated environment). Not for too long because I can tell when her anxiety builds up (when she starts chirping in a yelping tone, that means it's time to put her back). And I know it's not due to me personally, but that she is scarred for life. She is up to 10 minutes of being out of her cage and allowing me to let her perch (and occasionally scratch her neck), but it's been slow going and due to how the PetStupid people treated her, there is no way she can be fully adjusted. Not ever.

But her somersaults and "I love you" - I know she understands... and the somersaulting to me whereas she would only do that in the store when nobody was around, I know she has a slight bond and in her own unique way. And maybe that's why Rosie tolerates me at all. I understand her, and can relate in some ways...

As a result, I howdied* Scooter, a green check who is roughly 3 1/2 years older - they (amazingly) get along, so they cohabitate. Rosie still does her somersaults, Scooter still readily hangs out with me, and they get along and preen each other (since I know Rosie prefers Scooter scritching her neck).

* howdying; a process where multiple birds are introduced, slowly, via having them see each other from their cages, and later given time outside together. If any aggression is noted, they would be separated but Rosie and Scooter bonded fairly quickly, with Scooter (the shy one) needing more time, but it worked out amicably.

 

[MonicaMc]

I would suggest to start clicker training, starting with targeting. Find Houdini's favorite treat and for a week, click (using a clicker, a pen, your tongue or any other object that makes a distinct sound) then hand Houdini a treat.

Then, using a skewer, small dowel, straw or other object, get Houdini to touch the end of the object for a reward. You can do all of this from inside his cage! Once he gets comfortable doing that, you can then slowly work on targeting him to come out of the cage.


If you don't have one, it may help to have a perch on the swing out door (if his cage has one) with a treat cup, so if he's sitting on the perch, you can open the door and provide a treat immediately.

 

[thermodynamic]

I would suggest to start clicker training, starting with targeting. Find Houdini's favorite treat and for a week, click (using a clicker, a pen, your tongue or any other object that makes a distinct sound) then hand Houdini a treat.

Then, using a skewer, small dowel, straw or other object, get Houdini to touch the end of the object for a reward. You can do all of this from inside his cage! Once he gets comfortable doing that, you can then slowly work on targeting him to come out of the cage.


If you don't have one, it may help to have a perch on the swing out door (if his cage has one) with a treat cup, so if he's sitting on the perch, you can open the door and provide a treat immediately.

Seconded! The stick training method helped me with Rosie (and Tybbi) as well.

 

[Lovelyloribeth]

Ok just to clarify, he steps up readily and comes out when I bring him out. He hangs out on my shoulder and gives me kisses. Talks a lot and always wants in my food. But he won't voluntarily come out of the cage. If I take him out and shut the door he climbs on it. But if its open he just walks right back inside. He's never bit, never flew away from me when on my shoulder. Always willing to take a bath and walk around the kitchen counters while I'm making their breakfast.

I just want him to come out and initiate socialization. If I didn't know any better I'd leave him it here all day and think he was the easiest bird to have. Lol.