I've never had to chase 3 birds around a small room at once before tonight, and I really don't fancy doing it again... But at the moment, it looks like it could happen again at any second!

I decided to start "step up" training with my 3 red rumps this week, and things seem to be going reasonably well (except for today, they decided NOT to participate at all). So the will now step up onto the perch (not my hand yet) pretty much every time I ask.

Well, as I said before, today they decided to gang up on me, and not one would do it! They sat and pushed against the perch, turned their backs, and flew all around the cage. It was pure chance (so I think) that Mickey flew right through the gap where I had the door open (it's a fold down one) and into my face! Naturally I got startled, dropped the door, and the others made a run for it! So I've just spent the last five minutes going around and around the room trying to get them back in! I got Piper and JubJub in, but Mickey keeps doing loops, and is now resting (quite proud of himself, I'm certain) on top of the curtain. Giving up, I opened the door again, and left the room! I can still see them, they're just sitting in the cage and on the curtain watching me, waiting to see what I'll do next. They'll get tired or it'll get dark enough and I can catch them and put them all home .

So now I'm left wondering, what now? Mickey seems so proud of himself for escaping, and really doesn't want to go back. JubJub couldn't wait to get back into the cage when I got him near it. Piper wants to come back out, and is pacing in front of the open door, deciding what to do....

Aah, all I can think is "lucky Josh is at work till after 1 am today"

Go ahead, laugh at my misfortunes . I'm sure you're all picturing me running across the room, trying to guide 3 crazy RR's into their cage

Ok, they're all back out now.... Sigh...

Yep, you are in BIG trouble I fear!

It sounds to me like they're playing a favorite Parrot game called "Let's see if we can tire Mommy out!" LOL!!! That game get's played here every once in a blue moon, and you would think it would be easier with two big birdies like my two,NOPE!!! They still can outsmart me, LOL!!!! What little rascal's!!!

They are definitely smarter than we are. lol.But that had to be funny you chasing them around the room. Next time set up the camera. lol j/k. I'm glad they are all back in the cage.

Bribe with treats to return or wait for dark. It is a bad idea to frighten an untame bird. Tame birds don't get frightened by this game because it is a game.

I've sort of trained Winston to go back into his cage by himself because he does not step up onto a hand or perch (he'll fly to my hand no problem, but he'll never let me start walking or move my arm much when he flies to me though). I've basically developed a routine that we tend to follow, it goes like this:

I pull everyone's food dishes a least an hour before I want them to return home. Winston is very food motivated and he watches and waits for me to start prepping their snacks for when they're back inside the cages. Once he sees me prepping the food he'll fly back and forth from the kitchen to the top of his cage. Then when I actually put the food cups in his cage I tell him to Go Home. He'll fly down to the door, then he'll fly down and into the cage and I praise him like crazy.

Basically when he's had a workout of flying and he knows that food is on the way, that is motivation for him to return on his own. He usually flies in within a minute or two of when I put his food in the cage. Sometimes he'll take a few minutes longer, but not very often.

Hope this helps you in some way

I agree with Sarah - I'd take their food away - even 2 hours before you let them out. Then the food is the key to their return to the cage - they will find it enjoyable. My 2 actually rush to see who gets inside first - not only is their food in there they also get their nighttime treat.

Having said that, you probably will have a few months of this at the worst, until they get into the groove.
The taste of freedom is not easily given up. + I find that they just enjoy the flying time.

In Rio's case I encourage him to fly around & around - if he's not ready for bed. He burns off extra energy + he realises there is only one answer to the woman who insists he exercise . You just have to let them know it is a game & not something scary. We say 'Fly', gesture & laugh.

For Rio it will be a fun game, because he is tame and trusts. My terrible 2 I have to trick one into my shirt or cage, the second one is easy or they fly like hooligans, or wait for dark. The budgies return by themselves, they don't have water or food outside the cage.

Well, it took me most of the night (they escaped at about 8 pm, I finally got them back at 11:05pm!) but they're home and safe. They're a little upset, and didn't want anything to do with me today. They quite literally threw out every piece of food treat I offered them toady, without tasting it, so I think I'm in the bad books .

Got some picys of them, though. You can see Piper in the cage, and Mickey and JubJub sitting comfortably on top of the curtain rod . Don't they look pleased with themselves?



I can't remember who it was, but someone posted here about putting their bird back by turning out the lights... THANK YOU! Lights off, birds freeze, little complaining as I picked them up one-by-one and put them to bed, but no more flying and chasing games .