Fool Me Twice, Shame on Me...

      We lured Chiquito into the small cage two days ago with his breakfast bowl.  We lured him into the small cage yesterday with a mere raisin (granted, one of his favorite treats).  But there was no fooling him a third time today.
      His breakfast sat untouched in the bowl on the floor, as did the bread, peanuts and raisins (barely visible in the photos) on the ledge.  And the brand new enrichment ball that's supposed to entertain intelligent primates hanging in their cage with treats inside?  Chiquito established a new level of enrichment when he stretched his arm through the chain link to hook a hole with one finger, pulled the ball within reach of both hands, shook the shelled peanuts out, and then climbed down and retrieved them from the floor.  Okay fine.

I think I can reach this...

...and shake the peanuts out.

      Plan B was human interaction.  Chiquito loves Oscar and Eladio, who have been building a carport within view of Chiquito's cage for several weeks...and providing hours of entertainment.  But no amount of coaxing by Oscar or Eladio (Chiquito spent his first two years in a Spanish-speaking home so English is his second language) would entice Chiquito into the small cage.  In fact, he retired to the top of his crate and reclined in a comfy position to watch their antics.  Nevermind then.

Eladio tries to coax Chiquito.

Chiquito makes his move.

Then gets comfy to watch the humans.

"The Thinker." With a tail assist.

     Plan C was to wait Chiquito out.  We locked the small cage, left him in the big cage, and went about our business for an hour.  Then we opened the door to the small cage again, hoping he was hungry enough.  We did this twice.  And conceded victory.   
     Tomorrow I'll try to figure out another way to safely put Lolita outside to play with Chiquito.  
     Who knows, some cage time might be good for me...

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