Getting conure into cage

[jen194]

Any suggestions on how I can get Tuki my GCC into her cage in the evening?
I let her out a couple of hours at lunchtime and she went in herself. Then let her out around 7pm and want her back in by 10pm. Had to dim lights and she flew towards me, held on to curtains and finally on to my fleece cardigan, low enough to put the cardigan next to cage so she could step in and I cld shut it. But that was just luck.
But I'd rather she'd climb in herself.

I must mention that I only have her for a week and she's not hand tame.

[Cedardave]

Try placing a small snack inside the cage.Be sure she's watching.She should be curious enough to head in on her own.Praise her and say something like bedtime when you put the treat in.It shouldn't take to long before she realizes theres a reward for being good.Make sure it's a very small, light treat since it is bedtime.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

The first time Casper saw his new cage he was very reluctant to go in, despite it being like a palace compared to the one his previous owner kept him in. Now he's like a kid at bed time most days, always wants to stay up late. The other day though, when I was busy working and didn't realise the time, he was in the cage up on his sleeping perch shouting for me to come and cover him up.

[Lady]

I sometimes have the same issue with my Lady. If she doesn't want to go to bed I also dim the lights very low and after a few minutes she will climb up the rope I have attached to the side of her cage and get right in. Treats work well too, and sometimes a new block of wood for her to chew up. Other times, I have even decided to just go to her cage and put my hands on her favorite toys as start playing with them and she will come down from her play top and want to chase me away from her things.

[spiritbird]

I do not know what your schedule is but I suggest to you that by 7 pm birds naturally want to roost. Is your bird getting at least 10 hours of good sleep? Can you change the evening out of cage time to be earlier than 7 pm? I cover my birds cage at 7. Sleep is important for a birds health and good behavior.

You may want to use a night cage. Play time and sleep time are best when they are balanced. [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

[PlaxMacaws]

A pet bird's unwillingness to return to the confinements of its cage from a period of freedom is quite a common issue. Enticements work in many cases, as has been suggested. My Green-wing Macaw, Salsa, will do nearly anything or go nearly anywhere for some popcorn. If I put some popcorn in one of his cage bowls, he'll immediately scurry to get into his cage as quickly as possible to get at it! But there are also certain times each day that Salsa goes back into his cage on his own, simply because he's in a mood to be in there. When he does this, he may decide to remain in his cage for a couple of hours or so (while the cage door is open). So it's clear he's not objectionable about spending time inside of his cage... he merely likes to choose the times himself... and, of course, he wants to feel that his freedom of choice is intact. At certain times when I need to leave the house for errands and I happen to be out of popped popcorn, if Salsa hasn't already entered his cage by himself I simply have him step onto my wrist and then manually place him into his cage. And yes, he's often objectionable when I do that. But sometimes there's no other option.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

I do not know what your schedule is but I suggest to you that by 7 pm birds naturally want to roost. Is your bird getting at least 10 hours of good sleep? Can you change the evening out of cage time to be earlier than 7 pm? I cover my birds cage at 7. Sleep is important for a birds health and good behavior.

You may want to use a night cage. Play time and sleep time are best when they are balanced. [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

Haha... we don't all get up at five in the morning. Casper is grumpy if we get him up before 9am so we close him in his cage around 9pm and then he has his supper until about ten. When he is ready he goes up to his sleeping perch by his cosy and whines if we don't notice until we cover him up.

[Mare]

Our Sassy Goffin's is the only one with issues. She's a snapper when she thinks she's going back in when she's not ready. She loves to cuddle in blankets so when it's time for her bedtime, we cuddle her up and slip her in, onto a perch. It works for us without getting bit :)