People with "free range/roaming" parrots

[Kiwibird]

We are moving this weekend. This will be Kiwi's 4th move with us in 7 years and he has never been one to be 'upset' or 'depressed' over moving into a new environment or anything. In fact, the last 2 moves, he's seemed to not care one iota or even really notice even when we moved halfway across the country (the first move was when we brought him home, 4 hour car trip, new people, new environment, first time in an appropriate sized cage with perches in many years and sick with an URI to boot. He was distrusting of us but not phased by the new home). He is a really laid back and fearless bird.

This is his first move after becoming "free range" and not locked in his cage during the day. My husband works from home as do I, so we are around most of the time. I am just wondering how long in the new place should we wait before trusting him to be out while were gone? I don't think he's going to respond too kindly to being caged again. Have you ever had issues with moving to a new home with your free range bird? Should we just continue with business as usual of letting him out after breakfast and not closing the cage again until bedtime? Any other tips or advice? Thanks! I know I haven't been on the forums a lot because life has been a real clusterfudge lately. Hope to be back more regularly soon!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Firstly lots of luck with that move!

Play it by ear with Kiwi and see how he goes in the new place. It is better he is caged but safe initially. By the sounds of things he will take it all in his stride as you say he is fearless, you can take him on a tour of the house as soon as you think he is happy to and take it from there. Good luck.

 

[khaiqha]

My alexandrine has never been caged and i moved 5 times with him so far. In the first two weeks of a place i always keep him confined to a room when i'm not home. He also has several playstands and rope perches that have states with him his whole life, so even in a new environment he recognizes those as his safe areas.

 

[SailBoat]

Our DYH Amazon came to us in late February 2014 (rehomed). Within the first 24 hours, he had removed the screws that held the cage frame together and had been free range/roaming ever since. That late August we moved to our new home (open concept design). Kept him in the cage until the doors finally closed that early evening.

This last November, we moved the stored stuff at our home to the newly built (had a sanitary pipe fail and had to start from a new hole in the ground) family cottage. So, that was a load-up, drive to, unload and take in. Same story, with his new cage (which sat next to his home cage for a month prior to the move) at the family cottage.

In both cases, once things settled down took him on the 'Real Estate Salesman' tour of the house. Full tour, looked at everything, both high, middle and low. Also, different lines of sight around the house. Targeted where his cage was, his stands and his tent with all his floor toys are kept (at least for a couple moments each day). This each day for the first three days. Still do it every now and then, especially if something new shows up.

So, Julio (Who-Lee-O) (18) gets to free range/roaming at both places. Three moves in side of two years, not a record, but outside of most parrots comfort zones. Amazon's Rule!

 

[Kiwibird]

Thanks. I'll probably just keep a close eye on him then for a while and go from there. I really don't want to have to go out and buy multiple padlocks to keep him from being able to remove the door and get out of his cage (plus the fact he'd likely start hollering and annoy our new neighbors, if confined). I found a baby-proof plastic hard cover for the thermostat directly behind his cage so we will have no worries there (I could see him fiddling with that thermostat and taking a while to accept it is not his to touch).