Not Understanding a Behavior

[Khaiqha]

My irn has started not liking going back to the cage. It's not so much the cage really, it's the fact that in the mornings I have to leave for school work. When I put her up in the morning, I extend my hand to her. She'll climb from my shoulder, "bite" me (it's quite firm, doesn't break skin, hurts for like a split second), pin her eyes, fluff up, and be mad at me.

What I am not understanding is that I am not forcing her up, she's stepping up on my hand. I can rest my hand at my waist, and she'll climb down my shirt, bite, step up, and wait to be put in the cage.

I used to give her a treat everytime I put her up. Now she'll fling the treat back at me. I've taken to not feeding her in the morning until I have to leave. This has helped, but the same ritual of hand, bite, step up happens.

I should point out that she doesn't freak out if I put her up and stay in the room. Also, as the sun sets, she'll want to go to the cage, even climbing up the stairs to it if I'm being slow. However, even at night the hand, bite, step up ritual persists.

I'm wondering, is she biting because she doesn't want to go in the cage, or is she biting because she wants to in the cage and thinks that's her cue?

[marie83]

Have you tried going back to basics and retraining step up? Or at least get her to do it at various other points in her time out so she doesn't associate it with always being put away? I do think retraining will be the best option though to get her out of the biting habit.

[Michael]

Yeah, sounds like a case of not wanting to go in the cage. I'm coming out with a new video/article about this very soon (have the footage, just gotta process it) so stay tuned. But realize that you're doing something wrong. The bird should want to go in the cage instead of having to attack you to avoid it.

[Khaiqha]

Yeah, I figured going back to the cage was negative for her. Other than food management, I'm not sure how else to make it fun for her.

She steps up fine any other time. Funny enough, she gladly goes inside her travel cage, because she knows that means a road trip.

[Michael]

Food management.

[liz]

If her bites don't break skin she is just mouthing you. Since she doesn't know all the words that is her way of voicing her opinion that she doesn't really want her cage door closed.

She is trying to train you.