Out of cage time

[alcmene]

I see guidelines everywhere for the min amount of out of cage time various parrot species should have. Is there a max amount of time?

I can see it going either way- the more time out with the family, the better. Or too much time out could turn them in to feathered tyrants who refused to ever be caged

 

[RavensGryf]

It's hard to give a definitive answer, but I'll try... What you read about are only guidelines to get people to realize they can't be just caged and forgotten. Some species are inclined to live up to their stereotype of needing and demanding more hands on interaction than others. The exact amount of minutes or hours really can't be said.

When I was very ill some years ago for a month and had to go out of my apartment where I lived alone (with my RB parrot), I had to have my mom take care of me at her house. My dad would pick me up twice a week to say hi to Robin while my dad cleaned his cage. I was too weak to say hi to him and hold him. Robin got practically no attention for a month. He got through it unscathed, and was fine. Then he went back to being a real cuddler like nothing happened. Oh, I just re-read your post and realized you were asking mainly about TOO MUCH out of cage time. I'll leave my example of the opposite above for reference.

This would be similar to asking how much one on one time is too much to spend with your very young child before they get spoiled rotten? As far as becoming a monster from having too much out of cage time, it shouldn't even be an issue with proper behavior training and giving the bird clear guidelines. Look up behavior articles by Sally Blanchard. Barbara Heidenreich - Good bird inc.

It's good that you have these concerns and questions, but honestly, don't worry too much

 

[Maria_Metropolis]

I think it also depends on the cage. If it's very small, and not enough toys, perches, I think it's essential to give the parrot out of cage time more than one that lives in a spacious cage with lots of toys, perches and interactive objects. I know some people might be angry with me for this, but I don't think there is a large enough cage for a large macaw or a very large cockatoo. I would think the very large birds need out of cage time even more so because of their size. A nice play gym or more would be optimal. I would love an aviary for a large macaw or cockatoo, or a room that is bird safe.

Of course, you don't want to "spoil" the bird either, but I think with proper socialization, a parrot should know when cage time is important and when it's not.

 

[RavensGryf]

I also think it's most ideal for a large parrot to have access to an aviary gym.
Of course small guys would enjoy it too! I wish I lived where I could have one built. Maybe one day.

 

[getwozzy]

My galah spends virtually all day out of her cage but gets put back in when I have to leave and can't supervise her, or if it's bed time. Sure, she doesn't like going back in her cage because she knows I'm leaving but when she IS out she spends a great deal of her time self-entertaining....she doesn't rely on ME to be her main form of entertainment, therefore she's not very needy.

 

[gizzygirl]

We vary our days so we aren't spoiling them, too much! On average our flock is out on a variety of play stands for 10 hours per day. Some days we do less and we make sure it's varied days so they won't freak out if it's not the right day. Same with showers. One day our boys will get them and hopefully we will have them be laid back birds. :-D Hopefully we're not screwing them up either! LolWe could never own a grey with our lifestyle.

 

[alcmene]

I'm a SAHM who's also an extremely introverted homebody. So aside from random errands, I'm home pretty much 24/7. I bought a large play gym for each of the birds and a couple of smaller table top ones too (i know i know, probably overboard). Since i have the little moveable tabletop ones though, there's no where in my house the birds can't go with me and still be supervised. So i've been leaving them out all the time, just putting them in their cages for bedtime.

But then i was worried that that might be too much free time.

 

[gizzygirl]

What does SAHM mean?

 

[getwozzy]

What does SAHM mean?

Stay-at-home-mom

 

[gizzygirl]

Yeah, we have 1 java wood tree, 1 standing dragon wood, 1 tabletop dragon wood, 1 manzanita tabletop, 2 different tiel playgrounds, and a cage playtop. We will soon be adding 2 more java tree's. Our mac's need more time apart and are bored with the dragon wood (even though I have as many toys and chains as can fit), and our goffins need to stay seperated and also love the java tree so they get their own and will get the dragon wood floor stand that Annie really loves. The tiels will also have the option to share the java wood tree with the goffins with their own chains. All of our types of birds stay seperated at all times and the goffins stay seperated so Annie doesn't pluck Gizzy (she thinks she's preening :-() . We do a TON of rotating and it works for all of us, plus they don't seem bored! Lol

 

[Kalidasa]

All day long, whether someone is home or not....and someone usually is. But if not someone will be home soon I like them to fly as much as possible. It burns off alot of energy.

 

[gizzygirl]

Oh lol SAHM, Lucky! I love snow days cuz I get to be with the kids more.

 

[getwozzy]

I'm a SAHM who's also an extremely introverted homebody. So aside from random errands, I'm home pretty much 24/7. I bought a large play gym for each of the birds and a couple of smaller table top ones too (i know i know, probably overboard). Since i have the little moveable tabletop ones though, there's no where in my house the birds can't go with me and still be supervised. So i've been leaving them out all the time, just putting them in their cages for bedtime.

But then i was worried that that might be too much free time.

I am also a SAHM and a homebody, and I don't think there's really anything bad about a lot cage-free time....the more they're out, the more interactions and socialization they get, more exercise, more playing, hanging out with their "flock", etc.

Now if you were to have a sudden lifestyle change and for some reason they had to be IN their cages for longer periods than they're used to, that might cause problems. But that's a case of being IN the cage too much.