Travel Carrier Training?

[itsronni]

Hi all,

I have a 5 year old GCC named Beepers. For the past two years that I've had her, she's hated travel carriers. At first, I used one of those backpack ones, which she just despised. I thought maybe she would like one that looks more like a cage - and she kind of did - until I dared to take her out in the backyard with me to get some sun, and now she refuses to get in it at all. Which... is quite baffling to me, because she had been to the vet twice in it with little issue, but something I thought she would enjoy I guess she ended up not liking, because now she refuses to go into it at all. I started her off slow... I thought... by putting millet sprays and toys in there (although she doesn't really like toys...), and she would hang out in it and eat the millet, but even with millet in there now she refuses to go in. If I try to put her in, she runs up my arm and to my back so I can't reach her, or flies to her perches on top of the play area on her cage.

I've been target training her and I can kind of get her closer to it, and occasionally she'll perch on top of it, but it's been really slow going. I guess the biggest issue is she seems to be super human oriented, and isn't really interested in doing much else besides sitting on me or my boyfriend. I can get her to hang out on her play area for awhile with some millet, which she doesn't get now unless she successfully does her training for the day, but she gives up on that really easy and would just rather sit with her humans. She's also just terrified of most things, which is understandable since she's a rescue and stands a mighty five-ish inches tall lol.

I'm honestly a bit frustrated as I get very anxious thinking about emergencies where I'd need to take her to the vet or evacuate the house, and, perhaps selfishly, I would like for me and my boyfriend to be able to board her so we can actually take a vacation for once... as one of us always has to be home to take care of her right now. I see these other birds that are so calm and love training and toys and going places... At the end of the day, I just feel like a terrible bird mom!

Anyways, does anyone have any tips for me to try? Thank you all in advance!

 

[expressmailtome]

Bump.

 

[itsronni]

Thanks for the bump!!

I was a little emotional when I wrote this! Sorry about that.

Figure I'll update in case anyone is having a similar issue - we have made some progress! I haven't gotten her in the carrier yet, I'm going really slow, but she is getting better at target training close to the door. What I've been doing is putting my arm in the carrier with her on my shoulder, and ever so slowly moving the target closer inside. We're right outside of the door at this point and she is going for it! So I'm hopeful.

I also did something a little strange and laid my head and shoulders in the carrier so she would see it's "cool" (albeit very uncomfortable! ) to be in there. It's a BIG carrier, bar size is fine for a conure but I could get my upper body in there pretty easily, so I kind of just... hung out in there for a few minutes, lol. That made her jealous and she sat on my back while I was still halfway in there, minding my business on my phone.

Anyways, thank you all for reading and if anyone has any advice feel free to chip in.

 

[SillyGoose]

Good job Making progress ! It sounds like to me you have a very close bond with your GCC! that's amazing and a wonderful start.. i would start with other tricks ( Like wave, Step up, and Freeze or place) keep it consistent 10 min every day. have the carrier out and next to you for periods of the day as well. If you're having trouble getting them to independently play outside of the cage i would focus on that as well ( You tube has a bunch of great resources to teach birds to independently play) Once your bird starts to play independently (Or if they are already) Put their foraging toys on top of the carrier. Try to normalize the carriers as much as possible. Keep treats inside the carrier at all times and just keep it as an extension of having the bird out! Make sure to not close the door the first handful of time so they feel it is in their control.

You're doing a great job !! These things take time. Be kind to yourself