Daisy Dilemma

[bonnie]

Everything is still going well. I just have a concern that Anna and I have been discussing privately. I've decided it's time to take it on board and see what everyone else thinks.

Miss Daisy is very cage agressive. Because of this, she spends more time in her cage than Chicken does. Any time I put my hand in to step her up she sees it as an invasion. She is not this way on her perch. Now that we have the good play gyms I've considered just moving her to that rather than putting her in the cage. I can keep the cage I have for when company is over and what not, but when it's just us, I really see no reason she can't just stay in the living room on her perch. This is how Peggy Sue lives and it is the way Daisy lived at Anna's.
I really want her to be a more interactive part of our lives. It takes so long for me to convince her to come out that she is only out for a few hours a day. Chicken goes to the play gym then back to his cage then back in the livingroom again, he just goes everywhere with me while she sits in the kitchen.
I really think it would be a good thing for her. I just want to hear everyone elses ideas and input before making a decision.

[birdie]

I would say if she will stay put and be happy on the play stand leave her there.
Have you tried getting her to come out for a treat? Maybe it's the cage? or the location of the cage?

[Cheryl]

I don't have any advice but I am interested in the answers you receive.

[bonnie]

The cage is about the same size as the one she had and I don't know where else I could put it. Anna told me she was cage agressive, so it's not a new problem.

[too&me]

You can try it. What happens if you wait for her to come out on her own? Then step her up? Would you still cage her at night? Would the Chicken be safe?

[Dot]

Susan Friedman addresses that in one of the articles we have permission to post here. Larry, could you post the article or the link again?

You can use positive reinforcement to change that behavior. We need Peggy to help you here.

[bonnie]

You can try it. What happens if you wait for her to come out on her own? Then step her up? Would you still cage her at night? Would the Chicken be safe?

If she stayed on her perch Chicken is in the kitchen and she would be in the livingroom. If I wait for her to come out she just does the same behavior on top that she does inside.

[bonnie]

I was emailing with Daisy's former owner this morning and it turns out Diasy hasn't been locked in a cage for 7 years. So now it all makes sense, she always slept on a play gym.
We tried letting her sleep on a play gym last night and she has been in the best mood today. I suppose that is how it will work. I'm still going to get the bigger cage and see what happens with that. But for now, it seems like the gym works for her.

[birdie]

That's always a good thing to know. I think I would still put her in a cage when no one was home, but if she is use to being out all the time, she was trying to tell you she wasn't happy.
It's good you are getting to comunicate with her previous owner and learn some things 1st hand.