Free flight bird doesn't go back to cage for food or sleep

[mona]

Hi there!

We shifted to a new place two months back. My birds have never been out of cage ever. I brought them home from a local shop, where they were kept in cage since they were born. I have bird proofed a spare room in my home for them and have let them out. They are super happy and excited. However, they don't come back to cage for food, water or sleep at night.

For food or water, all they do, is make contact calls to me and keep staring at me with those little 'come here and help us' eyes. They land on the window railings (they recognize that there's a window and they don't bang into it). I have cervical and shoulder/wrist issues, which is making it difficult for me to feed them 4 times a day with my hands, even though I love it. Tried leaving them to explore and find food on their own yesterday, but they didn't go down to the cage. They just kept calling me for food.. I cannot watch them worried for food for long, so I end up feeding them from my hand. I read somewhere that if they are afraid, they will starve instead. I have hung up the veggies on the railing today, which is good for them and thinking about fixing a food bowl there too, for them to feed without being dependent on me.. I am assuming that it will take them some time to be used to the lower half of the room, since it's been just 3 days they have been out. Their cage was earlier in the same room too.. Should I place their cage at height? They were super comfortable in their cage too earlier..

During the day, otherwise they are super comfy, preening, chirping, singing, playing with each other, flying around in the upper half of the room, me being around them.. I am hoping it will just take them some time to realize that the room isn't dangerous for them.

They refuse to go back to the cage in the night too. Nothing works right now, neither the treats or holding cage up.. I am worried about them catching cold or being frightened at night and banging themselves into something at night. Yesterday, they didn't sleep for long and slept on the ceiling fan. They would start freaking out as and when I leave the room. So, I remained in the room for long with a bird relaxing music and talking softly.. I don't want to grab them and put them into the cage as well. I am worried about them and completely confused on what to do..🤦‍♀️

[blue48]

Maybe they are eating and drinking when you are not watching? Budgies only take small sips of water which can be easy to miss. If you are feeding them out of the cage they cannot learn where their food is.

I do think for their well being they should be back in their cage for a time, just to relearn that the cage is their home, their safe place and where their food and drink is. Ideally they should be flying round the room but returning to their cage.

Will they allow you to take them to their cage using a long perch or piece of dowelling? If not maybe you should get help to gently catch them in a face cloth and take them back to their cage.

[missmel123]

I do hope all is well for your birds! This happened to me a while back when I let my 2 year old budgie duo out of their cage with my baby budgie duo. They flew to the top of my ceiling fan and got super scared to leave. It lasted for about three days and I tried everything (lifting cage up, waiting about 2 days while feeding them some food up there, using long dowel perch, etc). My father decided to carefully grab them and put them in their cage. They aren't scared of me but instead scared of hands a bit more. If you mind that risk, then I suggest try using a cloth while the lights are off so they can't see you or ask another bird owner you know that can gently grab them!

[Morgan]

Try putting their cage up higher and maybe a perch or two near the door of their cage so they have an easier time finding the entrance. Put their food just outside of their cage too to lure them to it, or maybe on top of the cage to start with, and then move the food inside. Don’t give in to their calls for food so easily - the won’t starve in a single day. If they still haven’t gone down for food by an hour before their bedtime, you will have to catch them, but I would find this to be very unlikely. Catching them with a cloth in the evening, and in relative darkness so they cannot see you, is the most direct method for getting them back to their cage. If they cannot see what has caught them and you are gentle, they should not freak out or become afraid of hands. Good luck!

[Hezz]

Have their cage well up off the floor all the time, not just when you want them to go home. Budgies feel safest up high (that's why the curtain rod and ceiling fans are the first things they find) so not surprising that they don't want to go down into a cage that is sitting on the floor of a strange place. Have a play gym or perching station on the top of the cage as well so they can become accustomed to being around the cage. Train them to step up onto a dowel if they won't come near your hands. I agree that the safest place for them to be during the night is in their cage, in case of night frights. It also helps them settle into a routine.

[mona]

Thank you for all your valuable inputs 🤗

I was planning to put the cage on top of a cupboard in the room, but the other advice to not respond to their calls worked for me. I didn't respond to their morning calls to feed them today and stayed out of the room, for them to come down to the cage top to eat. Their regular time for morning breakfast is around 6.30 to 7am. They kept calling me till 8.15am. It was difficult to ignore, but I was super happy to see them come down from the fan on cage top to eat. It was my fault to respond to their calls earlier. Seems to be working this way. Yayy 😍😍

The cage isn't on the floor, but also, not at the same height as curtain rod. There is no playground on top of cage at this point of time, but I am getting that next week, either diy or purchased. Also, planning to diy a tree stand (with safe tree wood) near their cage with a lot of toys there. However, they are scared of all new toys and take time to get accustomed. So, planning to get everything done, but move it once they are a bit settled here. I don't want to scare them off to the ceiling fan again 🤦‍♀️🙈

I have handled them earlier to put them in cage when it's dark, but that stresses them out. Don't want to do that, unless there's a real threat. I think and hope that given 2-3 days and some more patience, they will learn going back to the cage. I will try raising it higher than it is right now.

I don't have any pet bird owner friends. It's really very helpful to get advice from you all guys. Thank you so much. Really grateful.. 🤗 I will keep working on these advices..

[Morgan]

mona Good job! It is really hard to ignore their calls, and of course we don’t want them to ever feel ignored at all! But how else will they learn to do things for themselves sometimes?

It sounds like you are doing your best to make them feel comfortable and to care for them properly. Feel free to keep asking any questions you have in the various topics here - there is a lot to learn, and you might also have some experience to share with others!

[mona]

Sept 26, 2020 4:34:00 GMT Morgan said:

mona Good job! It is really hard to ignore their calls, and of course we don’t want them to ever feel ignored at all! But how else will they learn to do things for themselves sometimes?

It sounds like you are doing your best to make them feel comfortable and to care for them properly. Feel free to keep asking any questions you have in the various topics here - there is a lot to learn, and you might also have some experience to share with others!

Thank you.. 🤗 My birds finally are getting familiar with the room, coming down to the cage top to eat. Just giving them a few more days to get used to, before moving their food inside. Don't want to them to feel continually stressed out (Please correct, if I am wrong). Today morning, they were playing on the top of the cage, eating, drinking water and singing loudly. I have never heard both of them chirping and singing so loud! It feels as if I have four birds in here, instead of two. They must be comfy, to be able to express themselves.. I guess that's the difference when you let them out of the cage.. Feeling so elated at their happiness! 🥰🤩

[mona]

Just an update. My birdies are all singing, playing, running around and have started their quarter goals for finding and chewing toys around the room!❤

I love this forum, where everyone is so helpful and polite.. I am glad I found this forum and thank you for helping me with my naive little issues!! 😍🥰

[willowsmum]

I'm glad your buds are happy mona.

I agree that this is such a great forum, everyone is so helpful and no one minds answering any questions you may have. It's lovely to know that there are other like minded people out there and it's been a great source of support, especially during these strange times. I think we are very lucky to have each other - and our buds of course