Moe won't stay on his cage

[JennMoe]

Hello eveyone, I'm new to the board and have a question about my CAG. If you could give me your suggestions I'd appreciate it. Moe is about 18 years old and I've had him for all but a year of that time. In the last year he has developed the habit of climbing down off his cage and wondering over to "visit" us while we are doing our usual stuff around the house. Its really my boyfriend that he is interested in, Moe loves him. Coincidentaly this started happening around the time we met. Before he started doing this I would leave his cage open and he could be out whenever I was home. Now I'm worried that he's going to get into trouble or get hurt. Will you please give me your suggestions about how I can keep him on his cage or playpen? Thanks

[judygram]

Didn't you know you have a perpetual 2 year old in your house, if not you do now:laugh: :woohoo:

 

Seriously I am surprised he has not done this before, greys are naturally curious and want to be around or in the middle of everything going on. You mean all this time he has either stayed on top of his cage or on his playpen, what do you have on his feet? Glue?:lol:

 

Moe has chosen your boyfriend as either his favorite or his mate and wants to be around him all the time, and yes if he is wandering around outside his cage then he is going to end up getting himself in some trouble or get hurt.

 

If you are saying he is still out or allowed out even if you are not at home then that will have to stop, he needs to be caged when no one is home to keep an eye on him, too much they can get into and either wreck or get harmed in some way.

 

Others might have some other ideas and suggestions for you but I have one request, please introduce yourself in the welcome room and tell us some more about you and Moe.

[JennMoe]

No he has not been the perfect angel for 17 years. He is naturally curious and gets down every once and awile, but now he's doing it constantly. Maybe I've just been spoiled with a grey with "roots" all these years and am expecting too much. No,I don't leaving him uncaged while I'm not home. I just like him to have as much freedom as possible when I am home. Thanks for your response. I will intorduce myself in the welcome room.

[LisaM]

My CAG is 14 y/o and the only time she leaves her cage or playstand is if she is startled, so I guess I am very lucky also! :-) I do, however, have two Ekkies that periodically will decide to not stay put (either on their playstands or cages).

 

Do you have a playstand that is relatively mobile so that Moe can at least be in the room with you wherever you are in the house? We have the Parrot Tower playstands and there is a tray on them so if they want to come down, they have to "fly" or jump down, not just climb. I think that discourages them coming down more.

 

All our parrots are in cages in our front room (with two giant saltwater aquariums - each 6ft long). Usually the only time they are in their cages is if we are in there cleaning them, rearranging them, putting in new toys, etc., or when the kids are on the computer (also in that room but in view of the dining room table), we're sleeping or not at home. Otherwise they're on their playstands in the family room, which is "open" with our kitchen and dining room. The stands have wheels so if the family is in our bedroom watching a movie or something, the birds are wheeled in there also. My kids will wheel one of them into their rooms when they're cleaning the rooms just to keep them company sometimes also.

 

They do get holding/cuddle time each day, but if we're wanting them to stay on their playstands and they keep coming off, we will put them in their cages (door shut) for a few minutes. They don't like that because they're away from the family/other birds. After a few times they "get it" and will stay on the stand.

 

Lots of people have made their own stands (as I did also, but I just found I didn't like it as much as the parrot towers).

 

Just one idea if you don't already do that.

 

Lisa

[JennMoe]

Yep, I have a stand that we use occasionally. It's just a t-stand and doesn't really have any place for toys. Maybe I need to get a more elaborate stand. I have tried the "Putting him in the cage for a few minutes" method and he doesn't seem to get it. He's very persistant. It's hard to get upset about it because he's so cute. He's very sneaky about it and does it very slowly 'cause he knows he's going to get in trouble.

His cage does not have anys skirts on it. Does anybody know if the cage skirts might deter him or do you think he can he get around them easy?

[LisaM]

Hmmm...I don't know about the cage skirt. He may just learn to fly down, not climb down. Maybe others will have had experience with that.

 

I know what you mean about it being hard to get upset with them...particularly when you know it's just because they want to be with you! :-)

 

A more elaborate playstand may work, but if you're already taking him into whichever room you're in to be with you (on the t-stand), it may not solve the problem. Ours hardly ever play with the toys that are on their stands and almost always just sit on the top perch anyway (like a t-stand). I sometimes consider taking the other perches off because all they do is get pooped on anyway:S . They just want to be in the room with us and get some "ambient" attention (we talk to them, play the "blinking game", whistle to them, have them just sit on our arm/leg for a few minutes, etc.).

 

hopefully some others will chime in with other ideas...good luck to you!

 

Lisa

[Irishchicky]

Mine is starting to do that now too. I dont mind her doing it when im at home i just make sure the cage is locked when im out