|
|
Post by donna on Feb 4, 2014 20:02:23 GMT
So here we go! Going to seriously give the tent thing a try, I just have a couple of questions. Number one, has anyone else done this before? Number two, can I pay someone to do this for me (only kidding). Number two, should I cover his cage till I get him in the tent and then uncover it? Won't that in and of itself freak him to pieces? Last if I cannot get him back into the cage, do I leave the tent and hope when I'm out he will go back to eat in his cage? When I put the tent together, I sat in it, both hopeful and thinking this is never gonna work! I am picturing him flutterig about madly while this 45 year old gal is attempting to get off the floor after 1/2 an hour!!  Can ya dig it?!! I knew thacha could  Thanks gang! |
|
|
|
Post by luvsanimals2 on Feb 4, 2014 20:27:26 GMT
no idea what you are talking about.
|
|
|
|
Post by dianapalmer on Feb 4, 2014 20:38:53 GMT
Go Donna!
I think this is a wonderful experiment, and I think you will be the first on this forum to actually try this. However, a few of us have been interested in it. I actually purchased a tent myself, but it turned out to be too big. I had to pack it back up and take it back. I was so exhausted I never got around to getting a smaller one. I will be Very Eagerly waiting to hear how it goes!
I think, if you have trouble getting him back in the cage, you could leave the tent and check on him periodically. He should go back in before too long.
I just hope he will actually come out of the cage when you get into the tent.
As far as covering the cage, I would follow your intuition. You know your bird best. If it were me, I think I would cover it while taking it into the tent, and then very gradually uncover it.
|
|
|
|
Post by kmic on Feb 4, 2014 23:12:27 GMT
I'm planning to have something similar in place soon and I can really relate to feeling 'hopeful and thinking this is never gonna work!'
I'm changing a previously unused room into a (as much as possible) budgie-safe & friendly room (it'll be completely theirs). The main aim is to give them out-of-cage time, but I'm really hoping it'll help in training them.
My biggest issue is how to manage to get them from their main cage into a travel cage (not possible to take the actual cage to the other room) but getting them back is also still a huge mystery.
Re covering the cage or not, I think it depends on 1) how far the cage's usual location is from the tent (if distance is short I don't it's necessary) and 2) how much you think he'll freak out when the cage is moving.
|
|
|
|
Post by rdkntriker on Feb 4, 2014 23:28:21 GMT
Start with moving the cage a little at a time, like to a table, across the room etc.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pammy on Feb 4, 2014 23:47:37 GMT
Donna, I am so eager to hear reports on your experiment! Please keep us posted. YAY for you!!
|
|
|
|
Post by lisamarie on Feb 5, 2014 17:01:22 GMT
If you bring his cage with you I to the tent, I think that he will easily go back into his cage without an issue. Good luck!
|
|
|
|
Post by donna on Feb 5, 2014 22:34:32 GMT
Went into the tent today with Pickle for the first time. Just as suspected, kinda awkward, legs were hurting (mine not the birds), and he flew out of the cage when I made a noise with the zipper and stayed out. I turned the lights out in that room after I somehow wriggles my way out of the tent door after about 40 min. I guess this was really the ice breaker. At one point he sat on top of the cage and looked at me. I tried to talk up a storm in a sweet voice and not make super sudden moves. Hopefully he will go back to his cage for his night time sleeping.
Talk atcha later
|
|
|
|
Post by dianapalmer on Feb 6, 2014 0:39:25 GMT
It sounds like it went well. Sorry about your legs. As a sometime meditator, I know that feeling. I really admire you for trying this.
|
|
|
|
Post by donna on Feb 6, 2014 19:00:46 GMT
Hey ya'll, day two under my belt, but I wanted to ask if you thought it best if I keep all of my posting/updates and comments under this post, or if I should start something new every day? Today was a little different and a little less stressful. Did the same as yesterday and covered the cage and carried it to the tent, got in and zipped up, opened the door. He wised up a little today and stayed in his home. I let him and talked whistled, sang, etc.. Then I said ya know I just gotta try so I brought millet in. His body language was tense and he wouldn't take it, but he didn't fly away or out. then I went back in just my hand to see if he would step up, he stepped over and as I went toward him put a foot up to climb. I continued to talk and brought my finger back and angled it against the cage and he stepped up, I proceeded to bring him out of the cage. He sat on my finger a couple of minutes and I brought him back in to his perch and said perch but he didn't get off so I brought him back out. After a couple of minutes, I went to move him to my shoulder, and he flew off first on the floor, tried to get him to step up from there, but he flew onto his cage. I offered him millet there and he wouldn't take it, body still tight. Put my finger up and he backed up for a bit but the stepped up and I brought him back by me. Then I moved him to his perch in the cage and said perch and he got on. That was day two. I have to be careful, tomorw I will spend a little more time in there with him so hopefully I can start to allow him to relax around me with his body. But I was thankful that he stepped on my finger and sat with me, way better that yesterday.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pammy on Feb 6, 2014 20:13:57 GMT
This sounds like great progress over yesterday, to me! Good for you two!!
My opinion is for you to keep posting updates in this same thread so that people who haven't kept up with reading all the posts will know what you are taking about.
|
|
|
|
Post by dianapalmer on Feb 6, 2014 20:57:59 GMT
Good going, Donna.
|
|
|
|
Post by rdkntriker on Feb 6, 2014 21:12:10 GMT
your doing GREAT!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by kmic on Feb 6, 2014 22:35:23 GMT
Veryyy good for day 2!! Well done!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Sarah on Feb 7, 2014 17:20:58 GMT
Good progress! Please do keep posting.
I have used similar tools as a tent with my budgies, including using a small bathroom or a large propped up blanket. They do seem to work quite well, because the bird rapidly realizes that it cannot escape, is totally vulnerable to you, and you still aren't killing and eating it. The more time you can be in physical contact with your bird every day, the better. He will start to trust your smell and touch as time goes on. Best of luck and I can't wait to hear how it goes!
|
|
Can ya dig it?!! I knew thacha could 
Thanks gang!
