How much out time - with owner, on play gym?

[Dot]

This is the age old question. Now that I am retired, I am amazed that my birds do not have all day out. That would have been my desire years ago before someone reminded me that they are birds and need their alone time too. I don't think my birds are getting much more out time, except in the morning.

I know one should not dump a bird on a play gym and leave him there all day. I don't want my Scarlet Macaw to think she owns the house, even though she is playing much better with much less biting. (Still, I was surprised and a little unhappy when she came to me this morning since I was in the bathroom.)

I know it is an individual thing but could someone check these time limits? I put them on play gyms while I fix there breakfast. After they eat, they get on play gyms for about an hour. During this time, I rotate each one over for some one on one time.

Either before they go back to jail or after I let them out, we play ball. They are out for a short period after our nap. They are out while I clean cages, unless one of them repeatedly leaves his play area, be it play gym or top of cage. Then he has to go to jail.

Does this sound reasonable?

[Don D.]

Hi Dot...No one is ever going to mistake you for someone who doesn't give their birds anything less than the best- whether it be material things like toys or mental stimulation like being out of their cage.

My physical set up is different than yours so I spend, basically, all of my time with the birds in the bird room. They are usually out of their cages five to six hours a day unless they begin wandering (and they often do:)) and then it's back into the cage. In the early evenings they are out again for three hours or so.

I agree wholeheartedly with you on birds needing their private time. Mine enjoy being in their cages and are content when they are in them.

Don D.

[Don]

Yep, what DonD said !!!

As a two year old I knew I could live on Hersheys chocolate and stuff from the Helms Bakery truck - maybe it's a good thing others were in charge..... I feel the same way about pet birds, and we are in charge.

missing that truck, Don

[birdie]

Dot, from everything you post I'm sure your birds get the best.
M-F mine are out for about an hour in the morning and 2 1/2 - 3 hours in the evening, on Sat & Sun time varies depending on what I'm doing, anywhere from 4 hours to cages open all day; keep in mind that this depends on the bird, the toos are out 4 hours maximum or they are too hard to handle~ too much stimulation.

[too&me]

Dot, less guilt if you call it their home instead of jail. :bgrin:

[Dot]

Dot, less guilt if you call it their home instead of jail. :bgrin:

All of these years and no one has pointed that out. Thank you. I do think of it as their home and I know they like it there. I jokingly call it jail when I incarcerate one, but maybe I should start calling it a time out. Thanks again, sincerely. Major good point.

[bphslp]

Gee Dot, I am wondering if out time is intentional or unintentional. Razzle could be out whenever she chooses but she is a good bird and only opens her door when wow mama is around. Dazzle is let out only when Ben is at home unless she choose to escape. She gets less time out than the other guys. She does however like to get under her cage and turn into a rattlesnake. The toos get out twice a day. Touche can only be handled by me so if I am not around, he is in jail. Their are days they are out a good length of time. If I am busy on other days, they might stay in jail. Regardless of their out time, I always acknowledge them all through out the day. They are very good with instructing me to do things for them on any given day. I never stick to a routine not even with feeding. This has eliminated any screaming behavior. You are the perfect Mom and I would compare me with a lady with quartuplets. I choose my arguments daily. ha. Jenell

[FoxersArtist]

Our birds are all different and I let them set the amount of time they have out. The ones who seem to become overstimulated more easily have less time out with more frequent visits. Peggy Sue used to be out all day and threw a major fit when she want back at night...but then she started really needing her own space as screaming babies got on her nerves when she had to be around it all of the time. Listen to each of your birds because they are individuals and have varied preferances! I think the most important things are that they DO have some out of cage time but that they also have a safe, quiet place to call home.
-Anna
-Anna

[bonnie]

Dot, from everything you post I'm sure your birds get the best.
M-F mine are out for about an hour in the morning and 2 1/2 - 3 hours in the evening, on Sat & Sun time varies depending on what I'm doing, anywhere from 4 hours to cages open all day; keep in mind that this depends on the bird, the toos are out 4 hours maximum or they are too hard to handle~ too much stimulation.
THis is pretty much me. Chicken spends more time in the cage than Daisy because he wanders and he is also more easily overstimulated when he's out. We do have times when I go into the kitchen and sing and dance with them or go in and do dishes and we 'talk'. I feel they do fine with the amount of time they are out.

[Anne-Samantha's Mom]

well I am a hard person to ask Sam is a wittle bird but she spends all day with Dub....all day..