Too much time outside of the cage?

I was reading that too much time away from the cage can lead to behavioral problems, but it didn't specify why. It was one of those internet things where if you want to learn more you have to order their book.

I work from home so Peanut is either free on the porch all day or on my shoulder. So basically the porch is like her giant cage. She has a play gym, perches and food out there. The only time she's in her real cage is when I go out which during the week isn't for long periods at a time and at bedtime which is 8:30 sharp for her.

Is this something I should change? Should I being giving her more time in her cage during the day?

I don't buy that for a second. Except at night when his cage is covered for sleeping, my bird is free range all day long, coming and going as he pleases. He is about as well behaved as they come and very happy/well adjusted. I understand not everyones bird can be free-roaming due to different life circumstances and individual birdie personalities, but the more any parrot is out of the cage, the better, even if it is supervised. These are not animals meant to be in cages in the first place and besides some kind of antiquated "dominance over the bird" theory I can't think of any reasons why more cage time would ever be of benefit. Of course, do be respectful if your bird wants to be in it's cage at a time he/she is able to be out, but that is different and of the birds own choosing. My bird doesn't have to, but does indeed choose to spend a good chunk of his days in his cage, playing, foraging, napping etc...

All that said, birds do need boundaries, rules and taught what is and isn't acceptable behavior when outside the cage (and predictable, sensible reactions when they violate the rules). What CAN be an issue is giving them too much one on one attention. That can cause overbidding issues. Just because a parrot is out of their cage does not mean they need to be glued to you (or any human). They should be able to entertain themselves at time regardless of if inside or outside the cage and it is always a good idea to end interaction time before they're ready so they are left looking forward to more.

She is glued to me and I think she would happily spend every minute of the day with me, but I have things to do which isn't possible with a bird on my shoulder so she does have her alone time where she has to entertain herself. It's on the porch though, not in her cage.

It's a Senegal so I think they're even more likely to become one person birds. In her case she's a two person bird, she loves me and my daughter. Although she's warming up to my husband and older children. If they sit there and ignore her while eating sunflower seeds she will eventually come to them on her own.

I'm not sure how to socialize her with other people, however. I take her with me anywhere birds are allowed and people are usually amazed how well behaved she is sitting on my 5 year old daughters shoulder. But as soon as anyone comes up to her she tries to hide behind either my daughter's or my neck or she tries to fly away. She wants nothing to do with anyone but us.

Sandy19 said:

I was reading that...

Click to expand...

Little mind-rant, if I had a nickle for every time I saw "I read somewhere that" I'd have many, many nickles. Take anecdotal sources with a grain of salt, and give credence to authoritative avian behaviorist/vet/ornithologist sources foremost.

Birds are not domesticated creatures by any means. In the wild, they are used to flying from canopy to canopy whenever need or want drives them, for better shelter, more food, or simply Just Because They Can.

I try to give Mango & Mochi time out, but the truth is, they often spend many hours longer than I'd wish cooped up in their respective big cages, or sometimes even just inside the lesser work-travel cage I transport them within everyday. I like to think they've learned to adjust and be fine with that, but their plaintive squeaks make me doubtful!

Your birds should get as much outside-cage time as can be safely monitored for their own enrichment, to stave off boredom, to ensure they exercise their flight muscles, etc.

Never only use one, two, or even three sources to drive decisions as many things online are regurgitated from somebody elses ignorance and populated as viable information. You will see people in every intance of life doing this. That's why i love forums over fb or anything else.

This was the article I read. If you scroll down you will see where it says common reasons a parrot will bite you. One that is listed is too much time outside the cage. Perhaps it was a typo and they meant too much time inside the cage. It was just something I clicked on while I was searching for ways to socialize Senegal parrots since she is increasingly becoming shy of people. It made me scratch my head as to why being outside the cage too much would be a bad thing. The only thing I could think of is maybe when a time comes that it's necessary for them to stay in their cage for long periods of time it might stress them out if they're not use to it.

Parrot Training

I definitely do not buy into behavior problems with too much time OUT of the cage... now if you said behavior problems with too much time IN the cage, that is absolutely true.

But my blue and gold brat, Max, spends every moment I am home and awake out of the cage. His cage is literally his bedroom where he sleeps.... and of course where he is safely tucked away when I'm not home. Otherwise he is out and about, very often he is out of the cage 12 hours, sometimes longer. Even on a night when it gets late before I realize what time it is, he is fine. He has been out with me until midnight before... I live with MS, so my schedule can vary depending on how I am feeling, and Max goes with that without a single problem. If I am having a bad morning and can't get moving until 10 am, he is perfectly content to hang out in his cage waiting for me.... and as I mentioned, some nights we may be up later then I realize it is because I was slow starting that morning, and as long as he gets a solid 10 hours in his cage, there are no behavior issues at all.

Parrots were not meant to be caged, they should be out and active, doing something as much as you possibly can... but do not take that as me advocating not having a cage, the cage is safety for when they cannot be supervised!

Sorry, babbling...

I don't believe it for a second!
My Birds are only in their cages during the night or when I'm not home, and there is nothing wrong with them.

Sent from my Galaxy s8

ABSOLUTE HORSE PUCKY!!!

Behavioral problems arise from too much time INSIDE the cage.

The more OUTSIDE the cage time they get, the better, in my opinion.

Cage doors in my place don't close.

Agreed 100%.. My critters usually use the cage for sleeping and it has of course food and water available to them for tanking up before going to sleep. If I have to leave them alone... of course I ask them to go to their cages.(for their safety)... which they do willingly. For the most part they are out doing their birdie things. Now I have had "rescue" birds that were scared to leave their cages... usually come from a dysfunctional home where they were left locked up all their previous lives. These poor critters can have serious issues and takes a lot of love and patience to bring them "back".