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Post by kmic on Dec 16, 2013 21:03:53 GMT
Hi  So far I've never let my budgies out of the cage, and though I'd like to I'm afraid to do so. Most of my budgies were comfortable to come and eat out of my hand, and these 4 will come onto my hand no problem if there's food (they won't step up or anything, just jump onto my hand to eat if it's more convenient than a perch). However their cage is in our living room/kitchen, and it's open plan, so the 'room' is quite "huge". The problem is that my room is upstairs, so I can't afford to spend too much time near their cage, so if I were to let them out, they'd have to be back inside after 20 - 30 minutes. Is that even possible? The times they escaped they've always flew right to the other end of the room and obviously took a lot of time to get them back in - they were more terrified than I was. I see that most of you let your birds out most of the day, but how cruel is it that they spend their days in their cage? It's not too large unfortunately =[ (one day I'll ask your opinion about the 'aviary' I have planned to hopefully build (with dad's and bf's help) in summer)  On another note, at one point Smurf got into the habit of biting me hard when he (/she - not sure yet re gender)'s on my hand. Soon enough Curacao and Skittles started doing it as well. Gradually it stopped, but now Smurf's biting again. (I know there's a limit to how much they hurt, but I can't help but react and try my best to get him off my hand or he won't let go - today I actually had some blood). Any idea why they might be doing this? And how should I correct him? (and another couple of pictures, coz I know we all love pictures  )   |
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Post by Sarah on Dec 16, 2013 21:58:24 GMT
Aww, thank you for the pictures :)Your birds are very lovely!
Well, unfortunately, if you can't supply a massive cage or an aviary, you really need to get your birds out of the cage. If they don't fly regularly over decent distances, then their cardiovascular and muscular fitness will decline as will their health. A few solutions to your problem come to mind. First, you could consider moving your existing cage in a smaller space or up to your room, if that's where you are most of the time. Otherwise, you could just start by leaving the door to the cage open and let them venture out slowly by themselves rather than just tossing them out to fly. This will let you guide them back with a food treat like the millet spray. You may need to spend more time than you would like in the great-room of your house at first - perhaps you could bring some activities or work down to the kitchen for a half an hour or so. Longer flights (about an hour or so) every other day are better than fifteen or twenty minute flights every day.
As to the biting problem, it doesn't seem exactly hostile. I think they are trying to learn about your hand and test it for safety. Try giving a small twitch or jerk when the bird bites down, so that they will figure out something they don't like happens when they nip.
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Post by kmic on Dec 16, 2013 22:25:41 GMT
Thanks for your fast reply! I'll start by checking with mum if it's ok to let them out of the cage while I'm there. It was never part of the 'deal' of getting birds (I didn't know letting them out was so important till I started reading your posts) I secretly left the door open once to try that, Tequila (white one) came rushing out and straight to the other side of the room in less than a minute haha. They're really adventurous! It took quite a while till I got her to calm down and get to the cage. Since that episode she still doesn't trust me 100% again. I can't imagine how I'd ever manage to get 4 birds back into the cage. I would really love to take them to my room, but everyone loves them there. We've always had birds and that's their spot and it feels strange not having a bird to go next to when you're in the kitchen or to shuush when trying to watch TV. Any anyway with University and other commitments, I'm not always home that much. Another idea I had was to use a 'travelling cage'. Try to get them used to another smaller cage, once they get in the cage I take them to my room and let them fly around as much as they want there. Then back to the travelling cage to their cage downstairs. I really fear I won't manage to get them back to their cage if they're downstairs. And if we need to cook something etc, they must be inside obviously. Re biting, ok thanks. Hopefully he'll get over it again soon enough then. Could it be that he was trying to show me he didn't like the corn I was feeding them today? They try whatever I am holding in my hand, so I'm trying to get them used to fruit and veg that way. So far they will only take apples and they're starting to slowly nibble corn but don't seem to like it. Didn't succeed with carrots, lettuce, banana and oranges - will retry carrots and lettuce though. |
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Post by violetcloud on Dec 16, 2013 22:32:15 GMT
Hi kmic,
Im in similar position with my bird, im gonna be clipping him soon, but until then, i take him into a 2 man pop up tent for exersice and taming, it is working really well.
Mine also nibbles quite hard sometimes too, i think they just get a bit carried away sometimes !
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Post by rdkntriker on Dec 16, 2013 22:34:07 GMT
I also have a great room design and plan on bird proofing my up stairs office and use the cage to put here there to fly when I am "working" and back to living room. I do take her there some now in the cage to get used to the room.
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Post by Pammy on Dec 17, 2013 17:58:13 GMT
Kmic, what darling birdies you have! Thanks for the pictures. I admire that you have taken something you've learned our forum, and want to apply it to your budgies' lives. I also really respect that you intend to chat with your mother and get her permission for allowing them to fly around the main living area. I believe you will get much farther with her by respecting her and asking, rather than just doing. Here's a little tidbit that may help -- for quite a while, I was under the mistaken impression that my budgies would drop little poops all over the place when flying, and that I had so far gotten extremely lucky. One day, when I was expecting my parents for a visit, I made a joke on here about worrying that my birds would drop their first poop missiles right while my dad was here to witness the indiscretion. That was when I learned that small parrots need to be able to push their poo out while perched, and won't just drop poops all over while flying. What a huge relief that was to me, and has been ever since. You see, my husband is very nice about my birds and really likes them, but he would like them a whole lot less if they were pooping up our home. I leave my cage open all day, everyday, from the moment I remove the cover in the morning, until the time I replace it at bedtime, and I can honestly state that not once, EVER has either of my budgies made one single poop (that I saw or noticed afterwards) anywhere in our house other than into the underliner of their cage. I hope my experience will help your mom feel more comfortable with letting your family birds fly around some everyday. It may also interest you to know that even with the all-day open cage lifestyle my budgies enjoy, they spend the vast majority of their time either inside of their cage (it's a big one) with the door hanging wide open, or else playing around up on top of their cage. They do take multiple flights around the room (ours is open floor plan, too) whenever they want, several times each day, but mostly they love their home base. I can't promise that would be true of your little lovelies, but everybody does seem to love home. |
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Post by kmic on Dec 17, 2013 20:31:09 GMT
Wow thanks for all your helpful replies!!! Yeah thanks Pammy, it'll probably help I'll get back to you with progress re what she says, and what happens when I eventually let them out (I'm hoping she won't say no if I promise I'll clean up if they dirty amywhere, and that I'm ready to supervise them while they're out). I'm guessing it'll be after christmas recess coz at the moment with everywhere decorated etc, it's easier to freak eveeyone out.. I liked the idea of the tent, which is why I thought of taking them up in my room... What's mainly holding me back from that idea is moving the cage around. And as you said, home is always home, and another cage won't replace that. Although it's not so large, it's quite bulky to move around.. I'm really excited/afraid of the day I'll get them out and see them outside. I'm probably going to panic. And will probably have to go round a number of times just to check if they perched somewhere and pooped there. Will keep you updated |
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Post by dianapalmer on Dec 17, 2013 22:54:29 GMT
I think the travel cage is a good idea. Perhaps if you get a travel cage, you could take them one at a time (in the travel cage) to your room, and then let him out. This might make it less overwhelming, especially in terms of getting them back into the cage. You could alternate which one you take. Also, the other birds would still be in the main living room for other family members to enjoy. Another benefit is that if you want to tame them it will be much easier dealing with one at a time. It's just another idea for you! You will have to decide for yourself what is best for your situation.
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Post by Sarah on Dec 18, 2013 6:42:53 GMT
I like the idea of the 'travel cage,' not only because it would solve part of your problem, but a small cage is always advisable to have for vet trips and any rehabilitation you might have to do if one of your birds becomes sick or hurt.
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Post by kmic on Dec 18, 2013 11:28:12 GMT
I have a couple of small extra cages for when I went to the petstore and when I had to separate my previous budgies, so I'll just hv to get them used to it as adventerous as they are I don't think it should take too long Thanks a lot guys  |
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Post by kmic on Dec 18, 2013 14:39:39 GMT
Update: just got permission compromise, but permission I can use another cage to take them to an empty room upstairs. Not my room, but at least they'll still be able to fly around In your posts you mentioned a lot to bird proof the rooms they fly in. This room just has a few small plants which I'll try to remove, but one of them is too large to remove.. it's a Dieffenbachia. Is it dangerous? Also the room has a number of windows. They aren't clear (you totally cannot see anything through them..) do I still have to find a way how to cover them? And I think I'd better invent something for them to perch on aye? This room is literally empty except for these plants, a skylight and a rocking chair. It was originally a terrace, but we covered it.. |
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Post by dianapalmer on Dec 18, 2013 15:27:17 GMT
Unfortunately, Diffenbachia is toxic to budgies.
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Post by kmic on Dec 18, 2013 15:35:10 GMT
I'll try literally throwing an old sheet on it to cover it while they're there..it's not possible to move it out..I'll try my best to cover it enough that they won't wonder under the sheet to check out what there is hehe.. Thanks diana
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Post by Pammy on Dec 18, 2013 17:42:33 GMT
Dieffenbachia is also toxic to humans.
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Post by kmic on Dec 22, 2013 15:01:10 GMT
All 4 checking out their 'travel cage'  |
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