Time for a redesign?

[TheBirds]

I welcomed our dusky pi into our home about this time last year. Turns out he's a lovely guy if a bit timid, but 1) has an aversion to flying (either laziness, or just doesn't have much confidence) and 2) is not keen on toys.

He's currently in a 32" x 22" x 36" space, with two java perches and a dowel perch so as not to crowd him too much. However. Seeing as he is SO sedentary, I'm wondering about re-designing it with more perching surfaces so he can climb about without having to go up and down the cage bars to get around. His lack of activity makes me anxious as I hate to think he's bored, and don't want to rely so heavily on foraging toys all the time to keep him busy (too many seeds and nuts).

I used birch branches in the walk-in aviary we made for him outside and I like how they've been working out; so am considering making another set of varying widths to kinda criss-cross his cage - using hanger bolts on both ends to support the weight (the java perches in there now tend to sag a bit when he sits on them as the cage bars are only 2mm gauge). Adding some (bird-safe) fresh greenery from the garden will also add to the tree-top vibe. This will take up more interior space but I'm thinking he'll be able to use this more effectively than what he's got available to him now. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[kadeconure]

Since he's not going to need flying space in his cage, I think adding more things in the cage is a good idea. A tip I know for amazons (famously perch-potatoes) is to put the food and water far apart to make them climb a bit more. If the only natural branches are java wood so far, I would add some more branches with bark for a rougher surface which means better grip and more confidence (from experience with a very anxious amazon who's prone to falling).

 

[TheBirds]

Great point re: branches with bark. I was going to pull the java ones out entirely but am having a hard time sourcing birch branches - perhaps just introducing some variety (with the one I found) is enough.

 

[conurehrdr]

My white-capped pi is the same way! She's a perch potato, but she loves to explore if food is involved. She loves her perches... especially ones with multiple branches so she can choose where to sit.

Good luck finding something that works for you guys!

 

[TheBirds]

Success! I added a birch branch .. although he could care less about it, honestly .. and made a sisal rope perch for even more variety. The cage looks fuller and he seems more comfortable in it as he'll sit on one of the lower java perches now instead of remain in one spot at the top of the cage. I also ziptied a couple of glass vials to the outside of the cage so I can stick leafy branches through the bars (a reliable source of foliage is yet to be identified because I can't take off too many in my own yard!), so the space really has a forest vibe.

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions, much appreciated.

 

[patchyjoon]

I know you said he doesn't like toys... my Dusky conure also used to be like this. I found most success by hiding his favorite treats (safflower seeds) in the toys. From all my reading, all these guys do in the wild is shred and rip stuff up on the search for something to eat... so I thought I'd give that a go and it worked. He now plays with them and rips them up.. he just needs that reward.

Patchy is also a lazy chewer. I can't get him off balsa wood. Maybe try getting a few toys with different wood types and see what takes? Also, before I introduce new toys I always make sure to play with them in front of him, it usually peaks his interest...

Anyway, just a couple things that might work.

Also, for flying, we got Patchy clipped and he was also sedentry even after his wings regrew... the way we got him moving is through recall training. We call his name, and when he flies over we give him a safflower. Idk if your guy is very food motivated...but that's what worked for us.

 

[TheBirds]

I know you said he doesn't like toys... my Dusky conure also used to be like this. I found most success by hiding his favorite treats (safflower seeds) in the toys. From all my reading, all these guys do in the wild is shred and rip stuff up on the search for something to eat... so I thought I'd give that a go and it worked. He now plays with them and rips them up.. he just needs that reward.

Patchy is also a lazy chewer. I can't get him off balsa wood. Maybe try getting a few toys with different wood types and see what takes? Also, before I introduce new toys I always make sure to play with them in front of him, it usually peaks his interest...

Anyway, just a couple things that might work.

Also, for flying, we got Patchy clipped and he was also sedentry even after his wings regrew... the way we got him moving is through recall training. We call his name, and when he flies over we give him a safflower. Idk if your guy is very food motivated...but that's what worked for us.

Thanks for the suggestions! Yes he IS food motivated, it's the only way he'll fly to me -- and he has to SEE the reward before he'll even consider flying over. So it's less recall and more bribery Most of his "activities" involve finding treats stuffed in foraging balls, or digging seeds out of a container of hay. I try not to overdo it with too many; it sure is a balance keeping him busy without giving him access to too much "junk"!

Part of the problem is he's so timid, so anything - playing with toys, flying to me - must almost be intimidating. He seems to like corrugated cardboard, but only for a short time. And then he's over it and the toy goes untouched again until it's replaced with something maybe more interesting.

I guess my goal is to engage him somehow beyond the toys, however, even stuffing leafy branches (bird safe!) into his cage doesn't elicit a reaction. My conure, on the other hand, will chew them all down until they're twiggy stumps