Gettin' Beetle out of the cage...

[Eliza]

...is becoming a bit of a dilemma.

Back story: Beetle is a DNA sexed male lovebird approx. 5 months old. He's a happy chap: chatters and squawks away all morning, eats well, doesn't bite. When he's out of the cage he's rather playful: he'll play on his gym, run up one arm to hang out on my shoulders or back, hop about on the couch, etc. He's VERY good with his step-ups (finger or perch) and is comfortable being handled (cupped in my hands, for example).

Lately, however, I've had a HECK of a time getting Beetle OUT of the cage. I don't want to chase after him w/ my hand or perch as I think that's cruel. When I try to get him out I make a point of being slow and deliberate with my movements so I don't frighten him but Beetle will often run to a corner or hide in the coils of his boing. Sometimes, however, if I'm placing food/water bowls in the cage he'll hop out on his own, which is always rewarded with playtime.

Other than patience (which, admittedly, is not my strong suit) does anyone have advice? I imagine that this is a situation that patience and persistence can help remedy but still...

Thanks so much!

-e-

[Alika]

Has he always had trouble coming out of this particular cage? What kind of cage is it? What is the set-up like inside? What kind of door does it have?

Has anything about you changed recently (new hair, new glasses, etc. etc.) or has his environment changed?

[Monica]

One thing I found is that with my budgies, if they are placed in a large cage with a small door, they wont come out... But if placed in a small cage with huge doors, they get too cramped up and end up coming out on their own. In a bird that refuses to come out of the cage, it's best to be sure that they first of all have a big enough cage with a big enough door that can easily be left open.

You may want to consider changing the cage around, and moving it to another spot...

[Eliza]

Oops! Good points that I forgot to consider...

1) Cage: Rectangular (upright as oppsed to a flight-style cage). Dimensions are... 18dx18wx22h, I believe.

2) Doors: The right 2/3rds of the cage opens like a door. There are also 3 guillotine-style doors (2 for food/water bowls) and one in between (which I do not use).

3) He has a variety of perches: cholla wood in the upper left, branch in the mid-right and a small branch perch in the center of the door. He has a swing (he LOVES swings), a boing (he's rather fond of that, too) and over the branch, he has this toy with knots, beads, dowels, etc -- Beetle likes to take things apart. He has chomping chains over the branch by the door. And rings by the cholla perch that can be destroyed by his evil beak.

4) Changes: no changes on my part, although I'm due for new glasses and a haircut As for Beetle? The cage is in the same location as when he came home nearly 3 mos. ago. He did get the cholla perch, large branch and the swing as gifts all at once on Christmas (in addition to other toys but they haven't been put in the cage), although he did see them beforehand Beetle readily accepts new things in his environment; ie he's goes right to the new toy/perch/swing to explore. I do keep new toys in Beetle's site for a week or more before adding something to his cage. More often than not he gets to play with something on the couch before it makes its way in the cage.

5) As for has Beetle always been reluctant to leave the cage? In the beginning? No. For the first 2 months that I had him he would step up on my finger from a perch fairly readily. Admittedly, however, the last month has been someone rough on me (I know, selfish) - we were non-stop here at work, one of the sec'y quit, the holidays, etc. I didn't have as much time in the AM to play with him before leaving for the office. Once he's out (which for the last few weeks I've let it be one his terms) he's fine. When it's time to go back to the cage, he steps off of my finger/hand quietly onto whatever perch I place him near.

I don't have Beetle in my living room yet, which is where I'd like him to be (he's in the computer room now - the computer isn't working so I'm usually in the living room).

I do think it's a case of me slacking off a bit... and perhaps Beetle becoming a bit protective of his home? Although he's not aggressive when it comes to me trying to get him out. He doesn't hiss or screech or even attempt to nip at my hand.

-e-

[Nasal_Tufts]

I prefer to let mine come out on their own instead of sticking my hand in the cage to get them to come out, it's kinda an invasion of privacy. Once my birds come out of the cage, which is almost seconds after I leave the door open and tell them to come out and play they will step-up onto my hand. I only put my hands in the cage really if I'm changing things up, cleaning, or taking out the fresh food cup. I always have the bird out of the cage when I'm cleaning it or moving things around, it's just safer, except for removing the fresh food cup. I leave the birds in for that. Except for that those are the only times I put my hands in the cage really, that I can think of right now anyways.