Advice needed: geting non-hands-on cockatiels back in the cage and how to help my "third wheel"

[Grammy]

Well, quarantine is over for the two little sisters Nimbus and Cumulus (recently adopted) and I've introduced them to Stormy. I wasn't positive about Stormy's gender, but t turns out that my sweet little birdie is definitely a male a very horny, and now very happy male. As is the way of nature, Stormy and Nimbus have formed a very close pair bond very quickly , but unfortunately, as I think is also the way of nature, they are both being mean to poor Cumulus. When I take Stormy away, he and Nimby chirp painfully nonstop until they are reunited. This morning I tried putting Cumey in her own cage and all three of them wailed pitifully until I brought her back! Everbody is fine when they are outside the cage though, which brings me to my second problem.

Stormy steps up beautifully and easily but Cumey and Nimby are petrfied and frantic are really, really hard to get back in the cage at night, to the point that I'm afraid they are going to get hurt. I don't want them to be stuck in the cage all the time, but I don't want them to get injured either.

Grateful for any suggestions on either issue!!

[Featherpaws]

hmmm.. as for the one left out, maybe either spend more time with her or maybe even try to find a compatible friend for her?

have you tried turning the lights off and putting a blanket over them to catch them? works for some if you can get the room dark enough. is it possible to bribe them back into their cages? for nimbus maybe catch stormy and have him go in the cage first, she may try to go back in.

do you have a spare cage for cumulus?

[zoo mom]

No advice but I love the names.

[Grammy]

I've tried using a towel, Casey but not turning the lights off. I'll try that tonight. I do have a spare cage for Cumey, but they all got so upset when I put her in it I took her right out. I thought of getting Cumey a friend, but I'm afraid my family will stage a hoarder intervention. I was at my absolute limit three birds ago!

Thanks, Elaine. I thought the names were cute, but they were too formal and the girls became Cumey and Nimby right away.

[Featherpaws]

ah yes if its pushing your limit then dont get a friend.

hm.... maybe a mirror will help her. i know some people dont agree with mirrors, but i find in some single bird situations it can provide a "buddy" if worst case scenario happens, its worth a try and spend extra time with her since she may become lonely without a buddy. three is a crowd in birds, but theres no reason you cant be the fourth

[Ziggymon]

IME, if you have a couple, then it really is best to get a friend for the odd man/girl out. It's just easier, and makes for a happier flock. Numbers aren't everything, if one more tiel makes it easier/better.

Have you tried a natural dimming of light to get them back into their cage? Turn off any interior lights in the room (other than whatever night light you use - I always have a night light for the tiels, because of night frights) before it starts getting dimmer outside. Most of my birds take the natural progression to dark as a signal to start settling into their night time roosting spots.

[glittersparkles]

Food!!!!

Tenchi isn't hand tame either. I'm lucky if he'll let me stroke a tail feather and until recently I couldn't get within a foot of him without him flying off

But sooner or later he HAS to go back in his cage because he is hungry mwahaha

If we need to get him in sooner we've tried pestering him with our presence in the 'undesirable' area and slowly motioned him onto the cage. He see's the cage as safe place but it's still 50/50 if he'll go in - however he doesn't really get stressed this way as it's still largely HIS choice.
If we REALLY need to get him in because we have to go out or something then we have done the lights off and catch in a blanket routine before but it's obviously more stressful for them.

[TikiLola]

Will they step up on a stick? Works for most hands off linnies, might be worth a try.

[Anne & Gang]

it may be that they never become hand tame....just let Cumey have her separate cage and maybe house them right next to each other...also you may have to resort to towelling them when you want them to go back in the cage...keep an eye on them when outside the cage as if the two are bonded, then they might gang up on the other one...it would not be anything too major though...if you do happen to turn the lights off, cover on three sides only and leave a night light on as tiels are very prone to night frights.

[Grammy]

Leyla, food does work, but you've caught onto the problem. I don't always have an hour or two to wait until they feel hungry!
Sometimes extending a stick (not exactly a stick - more like a ladder) has also worked, but not consistently. I'm going to try the room darkening thing. You're right, Anne, Nimby stands by her man when it comes to ganging up on her sister. I've definitely been watching. Heidrun, I have a definite sinking feeling that a short dark stranger (with an orange cheek) is in Cumey's future.
Two things happened this afternoon that make all this craziness worthwhile. First thing: Cumey stepped up!! Ok, she was exhausted and desperate after fluttering around the room but she went on my shoulder and stayed there for 10 minutes. Second thing: look at this clip of the honeymooners. Don't worry - it's G rated. It's tough to stay mad at them for being bullies. It makes me laugh though. Stormy is putting his head down for her to scritch the way he does for me. He shows her what he wants by scratching her neck but she doesn't really get it yet. She's too busy preening. At least that's her story.