I want something flighted in my house (realistic expectations?)

[psittac]

(ok so this is a novel, sorry)

I would love nothing more then to have petrie able to fly around my house but have always been afraid of her getting away. Previously in my parents basement it wasn't a possibility but now that I have my own house I want to look into it. I just saw a post about covering the front door and I have a little foyer type thing that could be covered with full length curtains. I'm going to do this even if she doesn't become flighted. But having that has made me wonder about letting her fly.

Petrie is never more then an arm's length from me, if she comes out the end of a blanket by my feet she's amazed at how far away she is and quickly comes up to see me. Perch's and the top of a cage are out of the question, she just screams until she is on my shoulder.

Before I saw the idea of covering the door I was thinking about getting a budgie pair (still am) for petrie to have some company while i'm gone. I was thinking about letting them become flighted in my house but could never get around the fear of them getting out.


Ok so my real question here is what to expect.

My main floor is wood floors so poop can easily be cleaned up. What other concerns are there to consider? My main floor is just a living room and kitchen/dinette area.

I'm asking because many years ago I had two rats that I didn't cage in my parents basement, it was absolutely beautiful to be woken up in the middle of the night with my rat yanking on my lip to see if I was awake. So many experiences I wouldn't trade for the world.

With that being said, There were a lot of unintended consequences. They chewed up a lot of things, got into the walls and probably got to wires, escaped a couple times into the back yard then luckily returned in the sliding door where our golden at the time would protect them from the cat until we came and got them. And worst of all at some point one of my rats must have fallen and got hurt, it went un-noticed and her teeth grew real funny and she had something go wrong with her intestines, she had to be put to sleep and that was the worst day I had or have had in a very long time.

So going anywhere from some budgies flying around all the time, anywhere to occasional free time..... what advice can you give me?

If they're bonded to eachother will I even be able to get them back in their cage? (the whole point is get a pair to bond so they don't need my attention and i'm free to be with petrie)

 

[ZoeS]

My birds go back to their cage, no problem. I've played "catch the bird" once or twice, but 99% of the time they go back without fuss. I do have a stick I use for Libby to step up - she is cranky at night and a finger is likely to get bitten!

My birds have a few favourite spots in the house - on curtain rods and cupboards, mainly. There's a turkey roasting pan up there with the lid half on that they go to sleep in if it gets too late. So I always know where they are, and I can hear them if they move. They rarely go anywhere else in the house and they never go into the basement.

I am very careful with doors as well, and my friends and family know to be careful as well.

They do poop everywhere... My curtains are a mess. Yuck. But what can you do? Cables do get chewed, usually my iPad charging cable. I have to buy them in bulk as my rabbits are also drawn to them. But other than that, no damage!

 

[jugoya]

My birds are all flighted; and they are in the main room near the door.

None of my birds have ever flown out.

It is simple maitenance and dilegance.

Keeping an eye on them at all times. I also would recommend the Budgies...

A budgie pair if well socialized make for a 'flock' for any other smaller bird and I've had wonderful experience with rehabilitating problem birds that had been neglected with my little budgies. Simply because with those little chatter boxes.. no bird can ever feel alone, even if alone in a cage.

 

[MonicaMc]

It's very easy to get birds back into their cages if you put food and treats inside!


If Petrie was flighted, then she may learn to fly to you from various locations rather than waiting to be picked up.



Chewing will be a potential issue - in any place a bird can land! When I had a flock of 5 budgies, they enjoyed chewing on the wall around the windows as well as this one particular corner of the room which was half sheet rock! Don't know if they were missing something from their diet or not since they were good eaters! But man, can they chew! They can be like flying mice! They once chewed a wooden dowel in half (was sad that I wasn't there when the perch broke in half! LOL) and I used to make them "boxes" out of slotted popsicle sticks...

Growing some grass/bird seed in a container and providing fresh branches for them to destroy is a great way to keep them busy!