time outside the cage

[crismeza]

So my question is how much time should i let my cockatiel spend outside its cage, he seems to like to be outside all day xD i put some toy in his cage but he wont play, he only wants to be near me, when im with him, he's playing when i try to leave the room he goes crazy, and always wants to leave the cage..

So like 12 or 8 hours per day is okay?? im asking because i dont want a spoiled bird
thanks

 

[friedsoup]

Yea 8 hr a day out of cage time is a bit much unless you work from home and can keep an eye on him (they like to chew and electric cord look tasty) mine is happy with a half hour in the morning and then one or two hrs in the evening now on the weekend it's anything goes even to an all day car ride to the park or flea market.

 

[henpecked]

I guess it most depends on how you raised your bird. Most of us make the mistake of spending lots of time with a baby bird and "cool" off as they mature and the "shinny" wears off. Being able to train your fid at an early age will help them to entertain themselves and not make them so "needy". Out of cage time has little to do with them having to be with you. Well socialized and adjusted babies grow into pets that can be out on their own. I have 6=7 amazons who only go into their cages at night, and even then they're still open. Out of cage time depends on how well your fid is adjusted to life in your FLOCK. Yes flighted birds bring a new twist to the equation but it's still in the early socialization that sets the tone of the relationship. A little independence is a good thing.

 

[crismeza]

mehh i did that mistake too , he's 3 months old tho xD i've been with him 1 and a half month so far, so I'm still in time to make him independent?
im going to keep trying new toys until he finds one interesting.

and Friedsoup he's outside the cage not the whole 8 hours alone, sometimes 1 hour before going to college then when i come few more hours and so, sometimes i leave him alone in my room, because i cant work around with him, he wants to chew everything i have xD, he's funny tho.

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

mehh i did that mistake too , he's 3 months old tho xD i've been with him 1 and a half month so far, so I'm still in time to make him independent?
im going to keep trying new toys until he finds one interesting.

and Friedsoup he's outside the cage not the whole 8 hours alone, sometimes 1 hour before going to college then when i come few more hours and so, sometimes i leave him alone in my room, because i cant work around with him, he wants to chew everything i have xD, he's funny tho.

Only three months old, you have nothing to worry about! Every bird is an individual and no two are alike. Some would have learned to play with toys by now but likely not too many. You need to play with the toys and show him how to play with the toys. It can take quite a while for them to learn to play on their own. The best way I found for my two GCC's was to teach them to play with a ball by stuffing their favorite nuts into it and they would push it around the room. Also I started them on balsa wood toys and over time worked them up to pine wood. If they cannot see progress in their efforts they will likely give up. You have plenty time.

 

[crismeza]

Only three months old, you have nothing to worry about! Every bird is an individual and no two are alike. Some would have learned to play with toys by now but likely not too many. You need to play with the toys and show him how to play with the toys. It can take quite a while for them to learn to play on their own. The best way I found for my two GCC's was to teach them to play with a ball by stuffing their favorite nuts into it and they would push it around the room. Also I started them on balsa wood toys and over time worked them up to pine wood. If they cannot see progress in their efforts they will likely give up. You have plenty time.

wow that's a nice idea, haha yeah he's still a baby
thank im going to try that

 

[Kiwibird]

Between 6-8 hours a day is a good amount of time for a parrot to spend outside of their cage each day (not necessarily glued to you that entire time). I'm not real experienced with how baby birds develop mentally, but 3 months sounds a tad young yet to start taking a serious interest in toys/playing. I bet in another few months, he will probably start getting curious by himself and that will be the time to start teaching him independent play (how to entertain himself) while you aren't around or able to be with him. It is also important to get him into a routine, so he knows when to expect time alone and time with his "flock". When we adopted our BFA Kiwi, he was 10 y/o, but was still like a juvenile parrot. His prior owners had never taken him out/interacted with him, and he also was never offered toys to play with either. With him, we immediately got him on a schedule (when he got to come out, when he was alone during the day, when he got fed, when he got put to bed/woken up). With toys, we started with simple foraging toys (basically toys that challange the bird to retrive a treat) because he didn't understand that toys were for him to play with, but he did understand the concept of eating. It didn't take him long to start playing/destroying other types of toys too. And while some may disagree with doing this, we did teach him that when we said "no" he needed to stop what he was doing while outside his cage (we touched his back to distract him while saying the word no, and he caught on quickly that no meant he couldn't do that). This is useful because birds don't inherently understand that things outside their cage aren't for them to chew and play with. Kiwi rarely gets in trouble anymore, he's learned we won't bother him if he's just gently exploring with his beak, but will get on his case if he starts chewing or picks something up outside his cage. It's best to start teaching them young or when their new to you. Best of luck, and remember that the initial training of a parrot isn't easy, but if you put in the time and effort up front, you'll have a well behaved companion for life.