Thank ya'll for the great advice. I'm gonna try to let him know whose boss. LOL I am gonna try my best to keep him from being so clingy because I know it's not healthy. And Illusive, you're right, there is a difference between being clingy and out of cage time. Too bad he doesn't know the difference yet! LOL I'm gonna follow everyone's advice and I will update when or if there is any progress.

I just got back from Michael's (craft store) I got some hemp string and some wooden and plastic beads, chinese finger traps and bells. I've made him two toys out of the beads and hung them with the clips. (key chain hooks like the one on the swing in my signature pic) I put a bell on one and loose hemp string (about 10 pieces around about 1 inch long) on the other so he could chew and preen.

I wish I had some batteries so I could take pictures. I'm proud of myself! I also put a chinese finger trap through the bars of the cage.

So now I know he will have something to keep him busy when he's in his cage.

Oh and I finally got a rope perch!!

He's becoming a spoiled birdy all the way around!

20 minutes and he has taken to the bell toy I made. He's over there just playing by himself. Good sign, I hope!

He seems to like his rope perch too! He likes to hang from the top of his cage and reach to get back on it. LOL

Geeez you're right about the straws illusive. Duh..i wasn't thinking. I guess that means larger beads too so they're not choking hazards.
Niice job on the toys Kim!! 20 mins huh? Cool! Now ya know he likes bells..run with it. lol
Playing by himself is a goood sign. Yesss!
A new rope perch to boot..HAPPY FEEET!!!
He'll adjust and be just fine once he learns mom can't hold him 24/7. You have 2 kids so you probably knows what happens if they get used to be held too much.

Yep, his beak is a little bigger than a parakeets and he can do a little more damage with it. I got bigger beads and no straws!

He hasn't begged for me since I let him out for about 30 minutes and put him back.

Now if I approach the cage, the begging will begin so I am staying back for a bit.

This is a really good thread for me to be reading as my breeder said my bird is a total attention hog. She even bugs the other cage mates for attention. She assures me she's not paying attention to her all the time! Kim, I'm learning ahead of time not to let her get too attached to me thanks to you and Yoshi.

Plastic zip ties are also good for keeping those sliding doors from being moved. Remember however much attention and time you initially give your bird is what they will come to expect so if you are having him out and on you 5 hours a day and then suddenly start school or work of course they will not understand why they are no longer getting that time. My conure loves to sit on me and although she has her playtop area she prefers my lap as a perch, she doesnt fly to me (although she can fly) but will climb down the side of her cage and sit at the bottom seed guard which is only a foot from the couch. When I do put her back in her cage I usually give her a small treat like a sunflower seed so she associated going back into the cage as a positive thing not a punishment.

I'm glad I can help. I've only had Yoshi for 3 weeks and he bonded with me within days. I was excited at first and let him be that way but I know that it's unhealthy for the both of us.

Thanks for the cudos, Illusive about me recognizing the clinginess before it has went too far.

I almost missed your post Siegel! Must have been posting about the same time.

Thanks for your story.

Oops! Almost missed yours too, Cetan! I actually asked my husband to get me some zip ties from work yesterday. We were thinking alike!

Reward for going into the cage? Sounds like a good idea. He would associate a treat with going back in the cage after time out!

If only I could figure out what his favorite treat was! He likes a lot of stuff but it seems like he doesn't have a favorite yet. He does love red pepper flakes but that would be hard to feed him by hand. Could I put it in a treat dish and place him in front of it?

Cetan! My Goffin's Cockatoo gets an almond every time she goes into her cage. One during the afternoon and one at bedtime! She's learned that going into her cage is a good thing! I'm busy too sometimes! :] Haa!

Plastic zip ties are a wonderful invention LOl Soo handy for many things. They WOULD work well for holding those sliders closed...as long as you don't USE the slider doors often..then they would be a pain in the neck.