I live in the real world. In my world, people have jobs, bills, other family members, furniture and limited available space. In my world, with laundry to do, dishes to wash, kids to tend after, etc etc etc, having a bird can't be the main focus of my life. I know this concept is controversial, but as I said, I live in the real world.

The Play Cage. Take your existing cage, and turn it into a Play Cage. For most of you, this won't require much. However, here's the difference. Hang things from the ceiling, install cage top stuff, everything. I recommend Bottlebrush, and actually offer a Cage Package designed to completely set up a cage with Bottlebrush everything. If your cage has Manzanita or wooden dowel perches going across the cage, leave them. They are OK for easily getting across the cage, as long as comfortable perches are available for standing and playing on. Your bird will need lots of chew toys and stuff they like, and his cage needs to become his favorite place, just like my Play Gyms are designed to be. Now, here's the secret.

You will need another cage for use as a roosting cage. Nothing fancy, nothing large or expensive. Basically, all they are going to do here is Roost/sleep. Food and water should be provided, (This is the only place I recommend using Pellets), and this cage can be in the same room as their cage, or another room entirely. Here's how it works.

At bed time, you tell him Time for Bed, or Good night, or whatever works for you. I carry my birds around and let them tell everyone goodnight. They find this great fun, and love to show off. I bring them to their cages, put them in and lock the door. After a final good night, I cover them and leave them alone. Usually, within 5-10 minutes, I hear beak grinding, and they are asleep. 

Here's what you are doing. 

First, by putting him is a separate cage and covering him, and you are duplicating the natural roost your bird would choose in the wild, that being a protected area, with lots of branches, leaves, etc, so if a predator attempts to ambush him, he would know it and be able to escape. By it being a separate place, other then where he has spent his day, he feels safe and secure there, allowing him to get a good nights sleep and wake refreshed and happy. A word to YOU here. You DON'T have to turn off the TV, turn out the lights, and tiptoe around because your bird is sleeping. First of all, I put my birds to bed when I go to bed, and wake them when I get up. If they are tired, they can nap during the day, as they do anyway. Think about them sleeping in the Jungle at night. Those noises they hear are mostly predators, yet they sleep fine, because those predators don't know where they are sleeping. 

In the morning, you wake and uncover them. By having them covered, they will learn that their roosting cage is quiet time, and not Call/Scream for YOU at sun-up. You uncover them when it's convenient for you. 

Now, you bring them to their Play Cage, after you allow them to DROP, or Poop on the way. This is a perfect time to Potty Train them if they aren't already Potty Trained. You see, once they consider their Roosting cage exactly that, they will likely not Poop there, once again, they don't want to tip off predators as the where they sleep. I can't stress enough how important a proper Roost is for your bird. 

At this point, you bring your bird over to his play cage, and his day begins. Over time, he will become more and more comfortable on his Play Cage, and less and less neurotic and defensive about it. Initially, you will need to lock him in during the day, but the more he likes it, and the more he realizes he isn't going to Roost there, the more he will happily stay there. Once it's his favorite place to be, and he is free, and not defending his nest, he will happily stay there. 

Please consider my Bottlebrush Toys, perches, etc. Your bird will love them, and happily enjoy them, and YOU will save a small fortune, after all Bottlebrush LASTS. 

This can really change your birds life.

Wayne