Taking Birds for 'walks'?

[Logan]

I was wondering if anyone here ever takes their bird outside to explore and go on walks with them? I got my Cockatoo a couple weeks ago or so and I've been wondering if taking him outside would be a good idea?

He's really curious and he's wings are newly-clipped so he can't fly at all; I wouldn't leave him out of my site but it'd be my front yard if I did take him outside, as I have dogs and stuff in my backyard.

His name is OZ and he's a Triton Cockatoo.

Any advice? Answers? What do you think?

 

[natalie]

A lot of birds enjoy being outside very much. Clipped birds can safely join you in your yard and on walks. ... as long as you walk in a quiet area.... cars can be scary and dogs can come from nowhere ... so as long as you are in a safe area, walks are great. I have a lot of land that runs along the side of the road, Holly joins me on an occasional walk up the road along our property. She loves it and gets really excited. Neighbors enjoy seeing her too.

I also have a stand that rolls out onthe porch for her, where she sits with me each morning. In the yard, she has a few places to sit .... on a metal trellis in my flower garden, on the top of my garden swing, and she can also walk along and play on my little rock wall in my garden. She likes the flowers and enjoys watching me while I play in the dirt. I think being outside helps to socialize them and open their experiences to more things than being inside ever does.

the downside is a bird who enjoys being outside also has to remain clipped and cannot enjoy flight. So you need to balance out which one seems more important to you to offer your bird. There is also the idea of building a flight cage outdoors, and of course, wheeling your parrot's cage outside whenever you can. Holly's cage sits in front of a big wondow so she can always see outside. She gets a lot of the outdoors in her life, and I, myself, like it that way....because I'm an outside person.

 

[Bobby34231]

This is another one of those topics that have people divided, I don't have a problem with it, I would suggest though to try and harness train your fid(fid=feathered kid) it may cut down on some possible unforseen accidents, one of the more popular and better constructed is the AVIATOR bird harness, you can google it for further info.........

 

[Mrspy]

Do you live in the City or the Country. See i'm in the Country and Peeps LOVES it outside. There are no polutions, stray dogs, or huge apartments or building that he can fly onto. Even so I like to put him in a small carrior. I'd advise you do the same but it's your choice. If you want to take the risk that's up to you. I agree with Bobby, you should get a harness, they're kinda spendy, about 30$. But hey would you rather spend 30$ on a harness and not risk losing your bird or be heart broken and spend 300$ on another parrot.

 

[Spiritbird]

Like others say just be careful because clipped birds can still fly some, especially if they get spooked.

 

[Mrspy]

Especially the bigger ones they can catch more air. My parrotlet however cannot fly very far at all when he's clipped, only like 10 feet and he can't go over 2-3 feet.

 

[Logan]

A lot of birds enjoy being outside very much. Clipped birds can safely join you in your yard and on walks. ... as long as you walk in a quiet area.... cars can be scary and dogs can come from nowhere ... so as long as you are in a safe area, walks are great. I have a lot of land that runs along the side of the road, Holly joins me on an occasional walk up the road along our property. She loves it and gets really excited. Neighbors enjoy seeing her too.

I also have a stand that rolls out onthe porch for her, where she sits with me each morning. In the yard, she has a few places to sit .... on a metal trellis in my flower garden, on the top of my garden swing, and she can also walk along and play on my little rock wall in my garden. She likes the flowers and enjoys watching me while I play in the dirt. I think being outside helps to socialize them and open their experiences to more things than being inside ever does.

the downside is a bird who enjoys being outside also has to remain clipped and cannot enjoy flight. So you need to balance out which one seems more important to you to offer your bird. There is also the idea of building a flight cage outdoors, and of course, wheeling your parrot's cage outside whenever you can. Holly's cage sits in front of a big wondow so she can always see outside. She gets a lot of the outdoors in her life, and I, myself, like it that way....because I'm an outside person.

Great point, with the balancing thing. In my front yard, we have a little pond, with huge cement type of rocks around it, so he can't get into the pond and then tiny rocks all around that. So, my 'too could play in the rocks, or sit on the deck with me!

I DO live in the country, somewhat. In a town of nearly 10k; and the road I'm on there are no houses across the street but about every 30 seconds there is a car driving by: He can only leap about 5 feet, so I could easily catch him if OZ decided he wanted to make an escape!

I'll bring him outside tomorrow and see if he enjoys it and I'll post his experience outside and take pictures... "OZ's first time outside...A whole new world!" Lol, I'm really excited to see how he reacts!

I also think it'll calm him from his screaming, plus sunlight is good for birds and them being only inside is like us never leaving our house, or just living in a small town and never going anywhere else: they might feel like they are in a prison...

Unfortunately, I can't wheel his cage outside, it'd be too much of a hassle and I couldn't see us building something outside; most of our birds are content inside. OZ gets the special treatment! :41:

Nice to see everyone's opinion and thanks everyone for your suggestions and etc! Keep in touch!!

 

[Logan]

Do you live in the City or the Country. See i'm in the Country and Peeps LOVES it outside. There are no polutions, stray dogs, or huge apartments or building that he can fly onto. Even so I like to put him in a small carrior. I'd advise you do the same but it's your choice. If you want to take the risk that's up to you. I agree with Bobby, you should get a harness, they're kinda spendy, about 30$. But hey would you rather spend 30$ on a harness and not risk losing your bird or be heart broken and spend 300$ on another parrot.

That's so true! I wouldn't wanna spend around $1200 to replace my OZzie, and broken heart. I do live in a small town, really no stray dogs or buildings...at all! I'm sure we'd stay in my yard anyway!

Thanks!

 

[natalie]

If you think Ozzie can manage any kind of flight....then get him a harness or something.
With my macaw, I feel she is safe because she flies as nicely as a rock. There is no lift for her, she is just too heavy. If she could soar and I ever felt like I'd have to go find her or retrieve her .... I WOULD NOT TAKE HER OUTDOORS. that is my most honest answer. It's not worth losing her. ..So judge it by Ozzy's abilities, not by what I can do with my own bird....it is 2 separate things...and I should have stated that above. cockatoos are a lighter weight than macaws, so your experiences may be different outdoors. Safety first...always!

 

[_Cass_]

I remember when my sister lived with me, she had a brown-head poi named Aree. My sister took Aree out for a 'walks'.
She didn't really think that even if she was clipped, she could go FAR.
One day, on one of these ritual walks, a bee flew by her, and POOF! There goes Aree.
We spent two days and all night looking for her in a thunderstorm. She got pnemonia, and almost died.
Not trying to scare you, but you should really use a harness.
Just in case

 

[Logan]

If you think Ozzie can manage any kind of flight....then get him a harness or something.
With my macaw, I feel she is safe because she flies as nicely as a rock. There is no lift for her, she is just too heavy. If she could soar and I ever felt like I'd have to go find her or retrieve her .... I WOULD NOT TAKE HER OUTDOORS. that is my most honest answer. It's not worth losing her. ..So judge it by Ozzy's abilities, not by what I can do with my own bird....it is 2 separate things...and I should have stated that above. cockatoos are a lighter weight than macaws, so your experiences may be different outdoors. Safety first...always!

I did take him outside, and we have him clipped, so OZ cannot fly. It was a good experience, I didn't leave my front yard; I walked around the deck outside, set her down in the rocks. OZ started throwing around rocks and stuff, it was funny, lol.

But it was fun for the both of us, he really wanted to just perch on my arm and just chill and observe. Pictures coming soon - not too much to see anyway!

 

[Logan]

I remember when my sister lived with me, she had a brown-head poi named Aree. My sister took Aree out for a 'walks'.
She didn't really think that even if she was clipped, she could go FAR.
One day, on one of these ritual walks, a bee flew by her, and POOF! There goes Aree.
We spent two days and all night looking for her in a thunderstorm. She got pnemonia, and almost died.
Not trying to scare you, but you should really use a harness.
Just in case

Oh, sorry to hear! Yes, I'll be getting a harness; OZ can't fly at all with his wings being clipped, but just to be on the safe side, ya' know? I took him outside today, he didn't fly once.

 

[sullivanrio]

I would be so scared to take a bird outside without some sort of restraint. Seven years ago as a clipped heavy Amazon baby Sullivan ( Who had been outside several times ) got spooked and flew in the neighbors yard. He was the same color as the grass. Very hard to find. Since then he has never left the house without a flight suit. He enjoys bike rides, the car and walks. Can hold the leash and he can fly if he choses as well. Does sound like Oz had a great time outside

 

[HRH Di]

Logan, the biggest con I can think of is raptors. I'm in North Texas and we have A LOT of hawks here - even in the city. That's my biggest concern and one of the reasons I don't take my birds out.

That said, the breeder we got Jade and Ruby from free-flies her Scarlet and 4 of her RFMs with no trouble. And she's actually in the country.

 

[Roccocrew]

I walk my B&G 4 miles everyday. We live at the beach in Southern California where the weather is quite nice year round, and Rocco loves it! In fact he demands his walks by repeating "out" over and over if it takes me a little longer to put my walking shoes on. I really thinks he loves the social aspect of it. He meets new people and has plenty of friends. Humans and dogs. I have been walking him since he was 6mths old. He is now 5. And of course his wings are clipped.

 

[Beak334]

Like the other answers for me it's yes and no.
True, your bird will love being down on the ground in the yard. My clipped rainbow lori loves to nibble on the grass and especially loves being put in one of our grevillia bushes for a taste of fresh nectar from the flowers. What could be more natural.

BUT .. once your bird experiences this he will pine for the outdoors all the time.
I used to cary my lorri on my hand from the house to his avairy in the back yard but since "walking" him it is now too much a risk because now he will take every opportunity to get down onto the ground.
Although he is clipped he will run for it once on the ground and is surprisingly fast. I've had a few heartfelt moments where he has disappeared completely into the garden and through into the neighbors yard.
Ive tried harnesses also with little success.
Have you tried laying the cage on it's side in the long grass? Birds love to nibble on grass seeds. Also in summer put your garden hose on fine mist and give him a shower. My lorri hangs upside down with his wings outstretched, he loves it.

 

[khaiqha]

Clipped birds can fly. There is a thread here with pics of a severly clipped alexandrine flying with a harness outside. Please don't think that a clipped bird can never fly. Wind can easily carry away any bird not used to it.

I take my Alex on walks in a bird pak. He's flighted. Walks are good for socializing and desensitizing a bird to strange things. It's also great for mental stimulation.

 

[LoveMyParrots]

Clipped birds can fly. There is a thread here with pics of a severly clipped alexandrine flying with a harness outside. Please don't think that a clipped bird can never fly. Wind can easily carry away any bird not used to it.

I take my Alex on walks in a bird pak. He's flighted. Walks are good for socializing and desensitizing a bird to strange things. It's also great for mental stimulation.

Yep, thats me

Here's the link to the photos
http://www.parrotforums.com/alexandrines/28022-photos-ozzie-clipped-alexandrine-flying.html

And khaiqha is right, taking parrots for walks is great! But remember to always get them to wear harness, at the right time and the right place, a clipped parrot can fly with no problem at all! Ozzie is clipped, and also harness trained. He always wear his aviator harness when we go on walks, so I'm sure he won't fly onto the road and get hit by cars or fly in someone's backyard and get eaten by their dog.

And I can tell you on windy days, Ozzie can fly up to about 5 meteres off the ground, which happened once.

Alexandrine have very long tail feather, which give them a more lift then some other parrots. That's why Ozzie can fly so high even when he is clipped. So for the safety for you parrot, please get them a harness if you decide to take them outside!

 

[goalerjones]

I take mine out once a week in his birdie backpack. He has food, water, protection and portability. He wont fly away, or be unprotected against all those "surprises" like trash trucks, screaming children, phones going off etc.

Here is the link for reference:
Celltei Pak-o-Bird Small Size Parrot Carrier

 

[Peeker]

My birds love to go outside. I have a smaller cage I can wheel out onto the front porch for someone to get an outdoor experience. I just bought the Aviator harness and have used it on Tina to take her for walks. Tina is the only one of my three that would tolerate a harness right now. The other two will need work to get them to accept it. I'm really happy with the Aviator. It's pretty lightweight and very well made!