Sorry it took me so long to get back. Wednesday night was an absolutely horrible night at work. One of those that I equally love/hate what I do. By the time I got the kids fed and the kitchen cleaned I was beyond wiped out.
When we first brought Sonny and Cher home their cages went into a small bedroom upstairs for quarantine from Cody. We spent a good deal of time up there every day. Each would get large chunks of out time with us just watching tv in there with them. When we first brought them home you could not actually look directly at Sonny without him just coming undone. It didn't take long for him to decide that he was interested in my dd, and not much longer before he was taking treats from her. Since it was a small-med sized room and it had a door I could leave him out for fairly long periods without getting too stressed about it. I tried to make sure I wasn't going to need to be anywhere on a timed schedule for his out time. Cher I could handle and put up....(most the time)
Since I typically pellet in the afternoons and he is a pig, he would usually go in to eat when I pelleted so that helped a little, or I would pop out a pistachio or nutri berry in his dish since he is highly bribable.
It wasn't until later we discovered that the command "get your door" is their signal to go back, lol. Not that it works on the first 8-10 times but typically he will go back in if asked several times. Now Cody bird tells him to "Get your door." After quarantine was over we moved Sonny down to the living room and he has flourished since then. He loves being in the middle of all the action. This, the bird I was told when I brought him home would probably need to be put in an outdoor aviary and left alone because he was a problem boy.....
Don't get me wrong we have had issues along the way, but mostly related to the fact he is in cockatoo puberty and has had two major life upheavals in just over a year. Now he is a part of our family and is enjoying coming to the supper table on his playstand like Cody bird does. So far he at least stays on the playstand and isn't terrorizing everyones plates like a certain chubby little grey bird....he just likes being in there with us. Step ups are sporadic at best, but is has only been 8 months and the changes have been big. We will just keep working.
Not sure how your bird room, or house, lol, is set up. Is he at all bribable with food? I am wondering if you can try out time while he is a little hungry and ply him with treats to wither relax or go back in.
