Potty training problem

[CALVINS MOM]

I just received an email from someone. She has apparently mistakenly trained her grey to only poop outside of the cage. It was totally unintentional and she's extremely concerned, as am I. He will only go when she takes him out of the cage and will hold it for hours and hours. His appetite is decreasing and she describes his face as "gaunt".

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how she can "untrain" him? I told her to try to make him go before taking him out. Didn't work. She said he finally just started shaking all over since he had to go so bad, so she gave in and took him out.

[Lisa B]

Actually no...I havent heard of this. My guys will hold it to go outside the cage when they can, but wont hold it forever. They will poop inside.

[kp_in_scott]

Jesse my TAG will not poop in his sleep cage EVER, but that isn't a problem as he is only there at night from around 9pm until 6am in the morning. She needs to take the bird out frequently and maybe find a separate place/cage for the bird to be kept safe during the day. Maybe with a different cage during the day, it will not feel inclined to "hold it", but go when it needs too. If she can't do this and the bird still looks very gaunt, she needs to have it vet checked.

[cfulhage]

My CAG will hold it as long as possible in her regular cage, but eventually will go when she really has to. However, when she is in her travel cage she won't hold it. She goes every 30 minutes or so. Maybe this woman could try getting a different smaller cage to put the bird in when she can't be home to let him out??

[CALVINS MOM]

thanks for the suggestions. Lisa - it's Leigh with Buddy. He's all of the sudden started this. I spoke with her late last evening. I told her to try to keep him in his cage as long as possible this morning until he goes. Knowing Leigh, she is probably "looking" for things, so the "gaunt" look may not be as bad as she says. Her husband had him poop before going back into the cage last night. I suggesed not doing that. Am I doing the wrong thing?

[jimpierce7]

luckily my fids only hold it when they are on me. I am interested in the answers for this one.

[mamalovesrico]

Kathie,
This is just a thought. Does this woman have any other pets in the house? I'm not saying that the bird isn't trained how you have specified, but it's just a thought, but what if the bird isn't pooping inside his cage where he feels safe and comfortable because he's afraid of drawing attention to himself from another predator within the house? Therefore only pooping outside of the cage. I'm sure you are aware of this, but in the wild, birds will not poop where they sleep due to drawing attention to themselves from their predators.
Just a thought the woman might want to pay attention to. Let us know how it goes.

[Ainon]

I would advice that she'll train him to poop (lots of praise and treats, but absolutly no commands) on a small T-stand.
When he has learned that, she'll put it in the cage and hopefully he'll continue.

[Quito's Qage]

I've read of potty training gone awry when the owner continually tries to get the bird to go when it doesn't have to, causing intestinal distress in the bird, but not this.

Just an idea.........When potty training, it's suggested that when you notice your bird lifting its tail to defecate, say "no", and move her to an appropriate location and give the potty command. Well, could this be used to sort of "reverse train"? When you notice the bird is getting ready to go, say "no" and move her back to the cage and then tell her to poop? Perhaps it would cause stress and confusion, but maybe only initially? I can see where this could really get to be a health problem unless addressed, maybe she should consider consulting a behaviorist?

Another thought.......would it perhaps help to put some already soiled newspaper in the cage to help give her the idea that it's ok?

Ok, one more stupid idea and I'm done........if there is a designated "pooping spot" like a wastebasket, how about moving it closer and closer to the cage, perhaps ending up with it partially under the cage even?

[MiniMama]

Darn.. my birds crap all over the place. I tried the potty training thing, and now they say 'Peh peh...' (can only get the P sound out) while they do it. Sometimes they even chuckle after a crappin. Why don't we get all these birds together and see what happens?