Cage free, who does it?

[Timneh]

Does anyone here keep their larger parrots successfully on play trees and not in cages, how does that work for you?
Maybe you just put your parrots in a cage at night for a sleeping cage and on a foraging tree during the day?
Cages seem unnatural and all the macaws I've seen in cages always hang on the bars and scratch of the paint, almost in frustration.
Please share your experiences, I'm getting a GW macaw and thinking of keeping her cage free on a manzanita tree and a sleeping cage at night, any advice's? My only concern is the feeding and water dishes on the tree, those dishes are hard to work with, maybe I can somehow bolt on a large glass water bottle with SS nozzle or something like that, and a metal box I can bolt to the tree that keeps the food dish secure, I have an old cage I can steal parts off of.
Any ideas and advice's appreciated.

Thank you and Happy New Years!

 

[Flboy]

For food dishes in the tree, pick up PVC end caps! Get them in a size that will hold your stainless steel bowl! Bolt these caps to the tree and then put your food bowls in them!
This link is only for reference, any hardware store will have what you need!
https://www.supplyhouse.com/PVC-Sch...NgvQ9N-1wpZVw4pXXDK9Ydc3U0WgitqBoC1OMQAvD_BwE

Lowe’s carries a large assortment of stainless Steel hardware!

 

[clark_conure]

Honestly clark lives basically in a condo as in he was only in his cage when I day slept for a few hours. (I work at night). Usually he sleeps inside the headboard, then walks to get some dinner. Later he may hang out in the cage or go play around our bird proofed bedroom climbing inside a drawer and playing fort etc. till I get home.

Since my new conure came along about a week ago he's (read both conures) in the cage more because I want to keep tabs on the new addition till I figure out how irresponsible/responsible he/she is, and I want clark to always be able to get to food, water, protection.

If I did away with the cage and just had a stand it probably wouldn't matter much to clark. But I mean don't get rid of a cage or don't fail to buy a cage because there are times you will definitely need it to keep them safe for this event or that thing etc.

 

[ChristaNL]

Nope, not here, with those 3 hooligans I would have no house left!
Unfortunately they have to be caged (also for their own protection) when I am away - I would love to give them a birdroom annex outdoor aviary of course, but they also cannot be trusted to 'play nice' together, so I would need a castle or a large farmhouse to start with... so they can have one a piece...).


Japie divebombs both the ladies lately...so there is no place safe for them (except a closed cage)

 

[charmedbyekkie]

Cairo is out of his cage if we are home. So he's cage-free on the weekends and most of the time during the weekdays (when my partner isn't caught up in work). But when he's cage-free, you also have to keep an eye on him. He will play by himself at times at his different play areas or chill out with us on our chairs, but other times he loves exploring and testing if things are bite-able or edible. He's fearless, so he'll try to check out the floor or a drawer. It just means that when he's cage free, my brain is like a parent - constantly thinking of what my fid is up to (if he's silent, it's not a good sign). If I accidentally fall asleep into a nap, I jolt awake when he flies because he might be up to mischief.

And when I say mischief, he's interested in dangling off of and chewing electrical cables, putting shiny things into his mouth (not good when your partner works with 3d printers and IOT stuff), beaking my clothes that have buttons or textures (one broken button and one shredded bra later....), etc. I'd say 75% of the time, he's cool, but the 25% really keeps you on your toes!

 

[Kiwibird]

I consider Kiwi 'free range'. He has a cage, which he does opt to spend time in during the day, but is never locked in during the day (he is at night since he gets covered). He uses the bird door (breeder box door) on the side to come and go as he pleases all day long. It's actually very cute as he likes to close his door behind himself and bursts out it full of....birdie doom He has his play tree right next to his cage and a boing on the ceiling and a featherbrite light, so he has a nice little bird area. He also enjoys sitting near the window, though as a non-flighted bird he doesn't get over there of his own accord.

Some birds are able to be 'cage free' or 'free range' but most are not good candidates. I would never 'plan' on a new bird being able to be cage free, rather allow it to develop organically if the bird is calm enough and well behaved enough. Cage free is something I feel has to be earned and if I got a new bird today, it would take years to build the confidence and trust in their behavior while unsupervised for it to have the same level of freedom as Kiwi does. It took about 6-7 years before Kiwi started being allowed out unsupervised for longer and longer periods. Here is his area. The shower curtain hides the thermostat, light switched and the cord+outlet the lamp is plugged into (which we have on a remote on/off switch). Kiwi isn't a fabric chewer, but for birds who are even more thought would need to go into bird proofing:

 

[Timneh]

For food dishes in the tree, pick up PVC end caps! Get them in a size that will hold your stainless steel bowl! Bolt these caps to the tree and then put your food bowls in them!
This link is only for reference, any hardware store will have what you need!
https://www.supplyhouse.com/PVC-Sch...NgvQ9N-1wpZVw4pXXDK9Ydc3U0WgitqBoC1OMQAvD_BwE

Lowe’s carries a large assortment of stainless Steel hardware!

That's a good idea, thanks!

 

[Timneh]

I consider Kiwi 'free range'. He has a cage, which he does opt to spend time in during the day, but is never locked in during the day (he is at night since he gets covered). He uses the bird door (breeder box door) on the side to come and go as he pleases all day long. It's actually very cute as he likes to close his door behind himself and bursts out it full of....birdie doom He has his play tree right next to his cage and a boing on the ceiling and a featherbrite light, so he has a nice little bird area. He also enjoys sitting near the window, though as a non-flighted bird he doesn't get over there of his own accord.

Some birds are able to be 'cage free' or 'free range' but most are not good candidates. I would never 'plan' on a new bird being able to be cage free, rather allow it to develop organically if the bird is calm enough and well behaved enough. Cage free is something I feel has to be earned and if I got a new bird today, it would take years to build the confidence and trust in their behavior while unsupervised for it to have the same level of freedom as Kiwi does. It took about 6-7 years before Kiwi started being allowed out unsupervised for longer and longer periods. Here is his area. The shower curtain hides the thermostat, light switched and the cord+outlet the lamp is plugged into (which we have on a remote on/off switch). Kiwi isn't a fabric chewer, but for birds who are even more thought would need to go into bird proofing:

Nice set up for your BFA, I like the floor covering, the shower curtain and the cage next to the play tree so he can come and go as he please.
Is that a special bottom to the cage to collect mess?

Thank you

 

[Kiwibird]

Nice set up for your BFA, I like the floor covering, the shower curtain and the cage next to the play tree so he can come and go as he please.
Is that a special bottom to the cage to collect mess?

Thank you

Thanks! Kiwi likes it too

Lol, no there is nothing besides a grate and tray to collect the mess (and the floor protector). The stuff under the cage you see is a roll to hold a giant roll of newsprint paper and I also keep a basket his nighttime covers go during the day and a bin of toy parts under the cage too. That way everything stays neat and in his area

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

wow
I really love Mr Kiwi's set-up April!

The only way I'd feel comfortable with either Amy or Beebers "cage free" is if I had some kind of VERY large bird room/aviary. I would be unsettled though with Amy. Even though he can't fly he sure knows how to climb! And if he and BB were out Amy would make a B-line to BB (I'm sure a lot of folks here saw the bob bob bob of the head I posted) Amy will just NOT stay away from fluffboy
Sure BB is now an excellent flier and I think he is smart enough to flapflap away from Amy,even though Amy has never shown any aggression towards him. and now with Uncle David getting both of them Cozy Covers I truly believe the both of them like the safty and coziness of their houses.



Jim

 

[HEEDLESS]

She is flying around freely.

I got home one morning. My Altar got knocked out... Flowers pot/cups of water all on the floor... nothing broken.


She got busted and she flew to her cage hidden.


I have someone came over and create a daybed into her playground. things hanging on ceiling so she can fly there and play. Foods only in her cage so she can go eat and sleep..

Her cage has toys surrounding from inside and outside..


SHE IS A SPOILED BRAT... and I LOVE HER



​

 

[SailBoat]

Julio is, to use Kiwi's mom's words, 'free range'!

- With great clarity, I do not recommend 'free range' lifestyle for everyone. It is very demanding and can be seriously dangerous for all.
- Regarding a cage; I do not recommend a true 'cage free' lifestyle as I believe that the Parrot needs to have a place to call their own and it provides a central 'Food Island and Poop Place,' which helps as a part of keeping the place clean.
- As a foundation, everything is earned! As you are aware, A strong bond is the foundation for near everything. Trust is just as important, when it comes to 'free range' status. The Adult Parrot has a proven pattern of a self-guided lifestyle. To get to this point, the Human(s) have over a long period of time provided a World that provides on-going activities and the Parrot has and continues to take great advantage of keeping busy and safe.
- A Parrot Safe Home. This is one of the most missed consideration when Humans start down this road.

The list goes on and on! The reality is that what you feel is natural and what you and your Parrot are ready for is likely very different.

 

[Timneh]

Cage free, not free range.
I know for a fact that a young macaw can be taught to stay on a manzanita tree all day and not leave it, as long as the tree has everything it needs. My future tree will have security, space with many branches to climb, foraging toys and toys, a way to climb up in case it accidentally flies down, foods, water and more.
Then at night my macaw would go to a roosting (sleeping cage) cage in a separate room where it's safe, warm and quiet.

I just have to figure out how to attach the water and food bowls to a manzanita tree to make it macaw proof. I am trying to get ideas and advice's from this forum's members about keeping parrots cage free and how to secure the bowls and water bottle.

Many years ago these 2 young and happy macaws stayed on this tree and would not leave it. In fact they stayed on this tree while I went on a 1 week vacation with no problems. Their cages were arranged one on each side, doors bridge to the branches and I hired a trusted pet sitter that stopped by twice a day. Believe it or not these macaws were surprisingly quiet (except for once a day), healthy and happy

 

[Scott]

Cage free, not free range.
I know for a fact that a young macaw can be taught to stay on a manzanita tree all day and not leave it, as long as the tree has everything it needs. My future tree will have security, space with many branches to climb, foraging toys and toys, a way to climb up in case it accidentally flies down, foods, water and more.
Then at night my macaw would go to a roosting (sleeping cage) cage in a separate room where it's safe, warm and quiet.

I just have to figure out how to attach the water and food bowls to a manzanita tree to make it macaw proof. I am trying to get ideas and advice's from this forum's members about keeping parrots cage free and how to secure the bowls and water bottle.

Many years ago these 2 young and happy macaws stayed on this tree and would not leave it. In fact they stayed on this tree while I went on a 1 week vacation with no problems. Their cages were arranged one on each side, doors bridge to the branches and I hired a trusted pet sitter that stopped by twice a day. Believe it or not these macaws were surprisingly quiet (except for once a day), healthy and happy
View attachment 21870

That is a magnificent and likely expensive playpen! You should, with advice given and creativity, adapt it to hold food, water, treats, etc!

 

[Scott]

Four of my birds are free-range. Three goffins and one TAG live in a bedroom converted to aviary. There are 3 cages always left open, 2 playpens, and "resources" in three locations to avoid competition. The only time any of them are locked in a cage is for a brief behavioral "time out." Thus far they have proven extremely trustworthy. (at one time there were six, so fairly large numbers can co-exist well)

 

[ChristaNL]

LOL, trees are made of wood .. so just use stainless steel screws and the sky is the limit in what you can hang in/on them.


No bird will behave itself for ever- and macaws do not 'testbite' or 'nibble' like smaller birds: they go clean through anything electrical etc in one go.
A half eaten/demolished couch is a nice wake-up-call, a deep-fried / thouroughly shocked bird is not...


==


I am all for birdrooms instead of cages, but unsupervised in the livingroom...not a good idea.
Get her an aviary

 

[Squeekmouse]

Mine are only in their cages for sleep or when we have to leave them home alone. I work from home so they are mainly out of the cage on playstands or trees.

Be careful about leaving them unattended. Macaws can and have chewed through drywall, and easily destroyed windowsills and wood trims. And one bite on an electrical wire is all it takes...