Maggie won't stop digging!

[Chris and Matt]

Maggie is about 12 weeks old and she's clipped. We have 3 kids and 2 dogs already so neither of us feel safe keeping her flighted.

I'm pretty sure she only does this when she knows someone is home and she wants out of her cage, but she goes to the bottom of her cage, right to the corner, and digs. She'll just stand in one spot and scrape her feet over and over like she's trying to dig out of her cage.

If we're home we usually have Maggie out with us but sometimes we just need her to be in her cage, for her safety or our sanity (she goes back in her cage when she's being especially screechy).

When she scratches should we take her out? I seem to read different opinions as far as the reinforcement of negative behavior. Should we leave her in her cage until she stops scratching and then take her out? Any suggestions or opinions are appreciated.

[Birdnut]

This digging behavior is just normal grey baby behavior. I have seen others state that it is a nest cleaning instinct.

[danmcq]

Birdnut is spot on. It is normal baby behavior. There is no need to try and control it. It is not a behavior issue at all.

 

If you think about it being a natural behavior, the driver behind it, is they are in the nest that young, they poop in the nest etc. Scratching moves the yucky stuf out of the way so they can sit back down on a nice clean spot.

[judygram]

Josey still does it on occasion but it is usually when she is out of the cage and she wants me to come get her, as she is not flighted she cannot fly to me so she digs.