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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:VIDEO::PULSIFER
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:942
Total number of notes:6016

505.0. "Bedtime Blues?!?!" by AYOV27::FLETHAM () Wed Feb 27 1991 05:56

    I've now had my silver cockatiel (Josey) for just about two months
    and she's taming really quickly, starting to talk a few sentences
    and we're really pleased with her.
    
    One small problem though - we're both at work all day and when we
    come home at night (4 pm) we let her out until about 8 o'clock each
    night.  She either sits with us or on a stand we made her (or 
    wherever else she feels like going!).  What we find difficult is
    getting her back in her cage at night.  We can be sitting holding
    her for ages and as soon as we try and put her inside her cage
    she squaks and flys in every which diretion but her cage.  What we
    did try was putting out the light and this worked for a while but
    then she got smart and now this doesn't seem to work.
    
    Honestly, some nights we spend up to 20 minutes trying to put her
    in - does anyone have similar problems or can give me any suggestions?
    
    
    Frances
    [Ayr, Scotland]
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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505.1Same hereSPCTRM::SECURITYACT POLICE AND STATE YOUR CODEWed Feb 27 1991 11:066
    I have a parakeet that does the same thing.  Even if we back him
    in he takes off in some crazy flight pattern like he's had too much
    to drink!  What we do is take him into the bathroom and shut off
    the light then grab him and put him back into his cage.  Not the
    niceset method but it works!
    Lisa
505.2BRIBERY!CSOA1::DIRRMANWed Feb 27 1991 12:3916
    
    	Bribery! My tiels (all 5 of them) love Millet spray. So - I put a
    	small branch in at night when I put them to bed. We have the same
    	problems - as we both work all day. So when they do get out - they
    	want out for as long as possible. They love a rice mixture I make
    	so sometimes I will put that in - but always 1 hour before turning
    	out the lights - to give them a chance to chow down.
    
    	We also have a Blue Crowned Conure - He is a little more difficult
    - so play Peek -a-boo after he is in his cage. Ok - so we are trained
    	well by our birds!
    
    		Anyhow - give it a try and let us know if it helps!
    
    
    				Dora 0^0
505.3I suspect that this will generate flames, but....AVIAN::KIRSCHBAUMHave You Hugged a Parrot TodayThu Feb 28 1991 12:5313
	
	Clip the birds' wings and you will not have to chase (and stress) the
	bird.  The additional benefits of the wing clip are numerous, to 
	state a few:

	The bird will be a better pet.
	The bird will respond to training easier
	The bird will get less stressed
	The owners will get less stressed
	Should a door or window accidently remain open, you will still have
	  a pet bird.

	-dick
505.4I agree with .3ALCTRZ::MAPPES_DOThu Feb 28 1991 14:385
    I agree with Dick. Clip the wings Spot she loves to fly away
    from you when it is bed time. 
    But after her wings were clipped she just hopped right onto our fingers.
    
    Donna
505.5I must be luckySALSA::DEFRANCOFri Mar 01 1991 14:3712
    I must be very lucky!  Both Rosie and Sunny are unclipped and I can
    always get them easily and they give me no problems with bedtime or
    cagetime.  In fact, if I try to take them out too late at night, which
    is any time after 6:30pm for them, I usually end up playing this game
    of "I take bird out, bird sits on shoulder for a split second and then
    jumps right back into the cage".
    
    They must feel very secure with their home/cage.
    
    
    Jeanne
    
505.6Viewpoint from both sidesSWTHRT::RIVES_JFri Mar 01 1991 15:1221
	I agree with the wing clipping even though I believe it is the birth 
right for the bird to have flight.I speek from having a flighted bird as well
as having a yellow fronted Amazon that has had her wings clipped from the very 
beginning.The flighted bird loved to be out.She became very demanding and was
VERY unmanageable.To get her to bed at night was so stressfull for the bird as 
well as us that it took alot of the enjoyment away from the whole experience.By 
the same token all the attention we gave this bird made me wonder if we weren't
doing something that she enjoyed.We ended up giving the bird to a friend who had
a mate as well as a giant aviary for them and it worked out best for all.
	Our Amazon on the other hand says'want to come out' first thing in the 
morning.I take her out and she stays on her perch all day.The key here is lots
of toys.If she isn't occupied she really isn't happy.At night she gets very 
cuddly,wants her head and neck scratched as she says'very good'and then asks to 
go to her cage by saying 'night night'.
	Coming from where you are this must seem like a dream come true.The wing
clip is essential as well as the cage must not be a bad place.Also patience is
really important.Good luck



				Calliope's Dad