Is this a genuine concern: bird room to a cage

[chris-md]

I have at my disposal a room gathering dust in the basement that has potential to be a bird room. I've given thought to converting it. But I have a huge reservation: what if he needs to go back to a small cage for a time?

My mom watches Parker when I'm traveling, and that cage is 2x2x4. Good enough for a temporary vacation home. I'm really worried if I spoil him with a large room to run free, come cage time he will really rebel and act negatively. He does well with her, I'd hate for a spoiled bird to spoil the welcome.

Is this really a concern?

 

[itchyfeet]

Where is his current cage? Is there a way you can trial it before converting it? Because that may make it a non - issue.
I thought I was the bee's knees converting our office into a bird room for these three. It felt like the pinnacle of bird ownership. But Henry got rude, Marley got scared and Ethyl sulked. Moved them back into the living areas and hey presto - happy birds! More goes on out there I guess. I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, but are you sure it's a win for Parker?

 

[DexMom]

Could you do freestyle in a bird room for awake time and time in the cage for quiet/sleep time? That might work, if his sleep cage is the actual same cage you send him to your Mom's house in.

It might even be more comfortable for him staying with her, if he's in a familiar "home" cage. Does she let him out at all when he's staying with her? Can you work with her handling him, so that he can have free time while visiting with Grandma?

 

[itchyfeet]

Could you do freestyle in a bird room for awake time and time in the cage for quiet/sleep time? That might work, if his sleep cage is the actual same cage you send him to your Mom's house in.

It might even be more comfortable for him staying with her, if he's in a familiar "home" cage. Does she let him out at all when he's staying with her? Can you work with her handling him, so that he can have free time while visiting with Grandma?

This makes far more sense than what I said!

 

[RavensGryf]

I'm thinking of the same sort of thing for Griffin and Raven. I'm thinking a room with a hard floor would be so much easier to clean then individual cages, and it would greatly benefit Griffin who doesn't let me touch him. I can get him in his cage with voice commands, so I know I'll never have a problem getting him in. I would still have the cages in the room in case they want to go in there to get food, relax or do whatever,in their own pad. I'd also put them in there at night to sleep. That way, they never truly get completely away from being used to a cage.

They're in a bedroom right now, but it's not an aviary room so obviously they can't be out of their cages when I'm not home or too busy to check in on them every 20 mins or so. I just wish I could leave Griffin out more because he's so super active, and it's a pain having to be responsible keeping him away from Robin to avoid another injury. Robin and the budgies would not be in the aviary room. I did think about the concern you have, and I do think it's valid. I think a lot of how they'll take it comes down to individual personality. Do you want to go completely cage free?

 

[Anansi]

Could you do freestyle in a bird room for awake time and time in the cage for quiet/sleep time? That might work, if his sleep cage is the actual same cage you send him to your Mom's house in.

It might even be more comfortable for him staying with her, if he's in a familiar "home" cage. Does she let him out at all when he's staying with her? Can you work with her handling him, so that he can have free time while visiting with Grandma?

I agree 100% with this post! This was the exact method I initially used with my ekkies to ensure there wasn't a crisis every time we had to travel or go to the vet. They had their daytime cages, and then at night I moved them to their nighttime cages... which also happened to be their travel cages.

This is no longer necessary, as they will go wherever I ask, now, but it was definitely an effective tool earlier on.

 

[chris-md]

Julie, that would be my basic idea, yes. Cage free. But Dexmoms suggestion is brilliant. Out during the day while we're at work, back to his regular cage at night for sleeping.

Dang y'all are smart . I'm a long ways from doing this, and this room at this point isn't bird friendly (cable back up battery is in there. Cords galore!)

Itchyfeet, it's a good question. I don't know the answer to that. He's proven to be relatively even tempered, as he's s lazy boy. But he became a brat when I came back from a week long European vacation (which I'm not totally convinced didn't have a hormonal aspect). So change can affect him.

 

[Taw5106]

When he stays with your Mom, how is their relationship? Does he come out of his cage? From what I saw with your postings (correct me if I'm wrong), they get along famously. If that is the case, it sounds like they are well associated. I point this out because I have left my fids with my parents. My Amazon, he's moody, my Ekkie, she's easier and is more accepting of people.

 

[Birdman666]

I can only go by mine.

Mine are out 24/7, which is to say they have cages but the doors never close.

Every once in awhile, like vacation and long weekends and such, I have to cage them so that the bird sitter that comes in can take care of them.

None of mine particularly like it, BUT they don't die from it either. In fact, for the first few days I'm home they are a little EXTRA appreciative.

If it's not going to happen all that often, it shouldn't be a problem, and having more out time and a happier bird 90% of the time, is better than, oh well, this way he doesn't have to adjust to having a little less freedom every once in awhile.

He has less freedom all the time? Is that giving him the better quality of life?

So, that's how I look at it.

 

[chris-md]

Mark/Tracey, thanks for your replies. Partners gone for a few days so I'm pulling triple duty right now. Should have some time tomorrow to dive into your replies.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Where is his current cage? Is there a way you can trial it before converting it? Because that may make it a non - issue.
I thought I was the bee's knees converting our office into a bird room for these three. It felt like the pinnacle of bird ownership. But Henry got rude, Marley got scared and Ethyl sulked. Moved them back into the living areas and hey presto - happy birds! More goes on out there I guess. I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, but are you sure it's a win for Parker?

I applaud you for wanting to improve on Parker's living space and having a spare room suitable for this is fantastic and offers great potential but I feel that itchyfeet has a point. It would be a huge waste of time and resources, to go to all that effort and at the end of the day Parker's a bit nonplussed about it all.