taking conures outside

[djdancer]

Hi All -

I live in New England and would like to take my birds outside during the day on nice days. Would like to hear from others who take their conures outside in the cage or flight suit of course. What temps, how long, full sun or partial shade? Light wind or not?

Any other advice would be great, thank you!

 

[FreddyCheeks]

I have Fred clipped. Put him on my shoulder and wander around outside. If it is prolonged or real hot I gear more towards hanging in the shade.

 

[EAI]

I think it's great to take your bird/parrot outside regularly and I highly recommend it because you can't replace the sun when it comes to the nutrient and vitamins.

I don't live in England, so i have no experience with the temperatures but around 70 degrees (75 would be a lot better) and higher is ideal. I usually keep my birds out for one or two hours, occasionally three in their travel cages that are kept both in the sun and shade so they can choose what they like.

If your birds are harnessed trained, it would be great to take a walk around with them. If it's windy, I would advise you take precaution in bringing them outside in a harness.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

We just got a pak-o-bird! I can't wait to take the birdies out (one at a time, due to jealousy issues).

We used the Aviator for a couple of years, but they absolutely loathe it and hawks are rampant around here.

It has been way, way too hot (central, south Texas) to go mid-day or evenings, so we will have to limit our expeditions to the wee morning hours.

You probably would fare much better, weather wise in New England? Pick out a good shady place. Any sign of panting means they're getting overheated and immediately need some cool water to drink & cooler, indoor temps.

 

[Doublete]

New England weather isn't that bad. I grew up in Maine.
Anything 70 or over. If super windy just be careful the wind can't get your bird away from
You

I
Would never take a bird outside without a harness even if clipped. They can still fly.

 

[Xraysrrad]

I use a flight suit to take my Bodhi outside and go on walks.

My family spends quite a bit of time at the beach, and it is usually quite windy and I have not had a problem.... yet. We live in a small community on the sound side, I have never taken him to the actual beach because of the seagulls, but we go to visit friends and in the late afternoon to the pool to watch my son swim. (My flight suit does have a leash)

Bodhi likes to go on short errands as well. He rides with me to pick up my son from school regularly. This is the last day of school, so I guess I will have to find a new outing for him during the summer.

 

[Flboy]

My JoJo loves being outside, in his travel cage, He originally lived with a variety of birds and loves to talk back in forth! Loves the breezes! FYI, even a clipped bird will get lost in a breeze!

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I normally use 60 degrees as the minimum (60 and sunny with no wind is fine for my bird. I don't even heat my house above 67 in the winter, so a 60 degree sunny spring day is fine for him). Gilbert seems to mind heat more. If it is sunny and warm, he gets hot quickly and I move him to shade.


On warm days/summer, he loves the wind on the beach. Gilbert doesn't mind the seagulls nor do they seem to mind him. He enjoys the beach for flying because the wind helps give him a lot of lift and he can use an extended lead (because there are no trees to tangle in and the sand doesn't create any drag on the line like grass.)


In fact, I'm dying for a beach day with the little guy but it's been too cold these past few weekends.

 

[djdancer]

Wow these stories are amazing. Thank you all for your feedback!!

Ruffled feathers you said that your bird loves to fly with an extended lead, how does the bird know when he's reached the end of his lead? I would think that would pull him back?? Have you been doing this since he was a baby?

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Wow these stories are amazing. Thank you all for your feedback!!

Ruffled feathers you said that your bird loves to fly with an extended lead, how does the bird know when he's reached the end of his lead? I would think that would pull him back?? Have you been doing this since he was a baby?

Not really since a baby. I started harness training him at about 8 months. He tried flying a bit at about a year old but didn't get the extended lead until closer to 2 years old. It is shock cord, so he feels the end of the line and it pretty gently pulls him back. The length of the line itself adds a bit of weight so it took him a little practice to build strength but he likes it.

 

[StarryEyedGirl]

I live in Connecticut and have taken Harley out a few times. Usually 70 or higher. He's a very good boy. Sits on my chest (sometimes nests himself in my cleavage for whatever reason, I don't know) but he is either there or on my shoulder preening my hair. We go in the sun and I'll sit in the grass or if it's too hot for him I spray him with cool water and we go sit under the canopy where he gets something to snack on (usually an apple or pear, fresh of course) and some cool water. I put crushed ice cubes in there because he loves chasing them around the bowl and crunching on them. I don't use a harness or flight suit with Harley because he's so attached to me so he stays with me. But whatever you do keep a close eye on them no matter what. Because all it takes is (even if the wings are clipped) one good gust of wind and they get take off. That happened to my friends sun conure and thank God she was calling out fo her owner/mommy because that's the only way my friend knew what tree she got stuck in.

 

[djdancer]

Rufflledfeathers I have flight suits for them but not the extended lead. Where can I get that?

StarryEyedGirl is your bird flighted? I have a little green cheek that is so I'd have to have him in a harness or a suit.

My Sun Conure still can't fly. The vet said he didn't have his flight wings. I can't figure out why though because he's 4 years old. When I got him 2 years ago his wings were clipped and have no idea if they'll ever grow back. I'm so sad for him.

 

[Mariar]

Where can I buy a harness? I would love to learn how to use one! My doolie was allowed outside but in a cage..to learn how to teach my severe to free flight with a harness would be awesome...loving the idea!

 

[FreddyCheeks]

Where can I buy a harness? I would love to learn how to use one! My doolie was allowed outside but in a cage..to learn how to teach my severe to free flight with a harness would be awesome...loving the idea!

I got mine off amazon. I've also seen them at the LBS.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

You can get the harness on different web sites. I use the aviator harness and their extended lead. I got mine from the Drs Foster and Smith website but they do sell them other places (I have seen them in some bird stores too). Some birds are easier to harness train than others but I would guess if your bird wears a flightsuit the transition wouldn't be that hard. (My bird had a flightsuit first too but he doesn't like wearing it.)

 

[ruffledfeathers]

A photo of Gilbert using the full flight line (flying from my friend to me with the camera) last summer on the beach. He loves it....he is way less bratty when he can go out and see the world.
https://flic.kr/p/o5wTHV

 

[Kalel]

ruffledfeathers, those pics are absolutely stunning! They're so beautiful! I loved them! It makes me want to grab my little brat and just shove the harness on him and take him outside lol I have been trying to train him to wear it for over 2 months now and making progress baby steps at a time. By the time he will accept it it will be below freezing and I'll have to wait months for summer to return! That's IF he accepts it

 

[djdancer]

Thanks for sharing the pics Ruffledfeathers. I think they're so awesome!! I'm definitely going to get harnesses. I'll try one with my Green Cheek as he has the most energy.

Does anyone know if my Sun Conures flight feathers will grow back? The vet said he didn't have any but he should because he's 4 years old.

 

[GreatBlue320]

Thanks for sharing your photos of Gilbert, Ruffledfeathers. He looks so HAPPY to be outside and flying!

I am determined to train my next bird to wear a harness. I hope I can make it happen.

Did you find it difficult to train Gilbert? I've head that smaller birds are not as receptive to harness training which is one reason I hesitate to get a Hahns macaw.

 

[Doublete]

My gcc that I got at 11 weeks wears a harness.
My amazon who was 4.5 when I got her reallllllly doesn't like it.
I've kind of given up but will try again.