Out of cage time

I gave a home to a 12 year old CAG. I've had her for nearly a week. She let's me tickle her through the bars but won't step up. I know it will take a long time to bond with her and I'm home all day. My question is should I wait until she gets to like me before I let her out of her cage. She came out of the cage 2 days ago and flew straight into a wall. I got really upset and scared. She has been in a very small cage with no out time for years. I have got her a big cage now so it's much better. I love her to bits already and she must be happy as she talks a sings all day but I really think she should have out of cage time. What do you guys suggest.

Yes, she should have outside time of her cage. Have you had her to a avian vet yet? If not do it asap to make sure she is in good health. Also you may want to consider having her wings clipped. It will make bonding with you easier since she wont be able to fly off. Also, a week is no time at all. I would open her cage in the mornings or when your home with her and then leave the room and she what she does.

Yes she has been to a avian vet and got a clean bill of health. I will open her cage but I will be scared she will fly into a wall again. Is it quite common for them to do this. I didn't really want to have her wings clipped

ahhhh bless!

Well done for adopting this bird, you sound like you are doing everything you can to make this bird happy.

I have to agree with MT. In this situation, I really would take birdo for a wing clip. Remember, wing clips are not permanant. She will be able to fly again after her next moult if that's what you wish.

The reasons for wing clipping in a good guardian are nearly always for safety reasons (whether they be bird or human lol). If she has not been out of her cage for years, she is not used to flying so she will not miss it too much. Please don't feel bad for putting her safety first. She will continue to crash into things for a while otherwise and could damage herself seriously....or worse.

With her wings clipped, you can gently introduce her to her new world that she has been locked away from. You can start the bonding process with her one to one and gradually her "cabin fever" will be a thing of the past. By that time, her feathers will have come back through. With her wings clipped, she can come all over the house with you during the day.

Please consider it, it will be beneficial for both of you.

if she is already in a bigger cage, just let her get use to that for now, and she is happy anyway cos of increased space

i think she flew into the wall mostly as she has not flown before so has no idea how to use air brakes! lol

nut had this problem when she was new to my house, though not into walls etc just with turns and door ways if door was not fully open

though i'm uncomfortable with the thought of any bird getting there wings clipped, after reading some posts on this site and they can be done in a way that allows the bird to glide etc this would be good as she can learn to fly about, one full on flight into a wall/window and she can really hurt herself! or be fatal

When you put it like that wing clipping dosnt sound too bad. The only worry I have is that she has had a stressful week with going into a carrier to come home and then a change in cage. Will the stress of going to the vet for wing clip be ok because she will have to be wrapped in a towel because she bites. She really screams when scared. I just want her to be ok.

I used to wonder about wing clipping too, Sue.

It is something I never considered until I joined this forum. In my introduction post I stated: Cal is doing fine so far so I will not clip her unless she starts putting herself in danger.

I stood by that and Cal is still flighted. HOWEVER, she was a baby and from an aviary - used to flight. Our home set up means she is confined to one room at a time during out of cage time. She is in no danger.

After reading other people's experience though, I totally understand. Yes, birds were made to fly, but they weren't made for cages in our homes either.

I have always said and will always say that Cal will have her wings clipped in an instant should she ever put herself in danger.

I refused to clip her purely to aid the bonding process, I will admit. This was advised as she tested my bounderies but I stood firm. I think it is marvellous that she goes to people of her own accord including visitors. This is 100% her choice or she'd just fly away.

Sorry, I am rambling and digressing here lol!!!

awww Thelly.....

Look at it this way, the sooner you get it done, the sooner aaallll of these problems can be corrected. She will not be happy with you for a couple of days, but I personally, genuinely believe you would be doing the best thing. If you leave it a couple of weeks, her trust in you will wane. For want of better words, it really is better to do it when she's not sure of you. I know that sounds mean.

The leaps and bounds you will be able to take with her when her wings are clipped will astound you. For a start, you can ensure you never need to use a towel to put her in her carry case again!

Welcome to this forum. Thank you for taking in this bird. It sounds like she needs a new home and guardian. Wings grow in new every time there is a molt. If the wings are clipped by an avain vet your bird will still be able to fly a little but will not be able to ascend in flight. Flying into a wall or window can injure the bird badly. Out of cage time will enhance your bonding, especially if you feed warm, soft foods at that time (oatmeal or mashes). You have much to learn and we will be here for you. What are you calling the bird??

Von clerified what I was trying to point out in a much more eliquent way than I did.

I look at wing clipping this way. I personally feel that wing clipping is a good thing for the bird and the owner. As a responsible bird owner, I want to make sure my bird is safe. But if my bird didn't have his wings clipped and flew out the door into the wild blue yonder, it would most likely die of starvation or be killed by a preditor. Birds bred in captivity aren't capable of handling themselves in nature. I lost two birds before I wised up and started clipping wings. Neither bird ever to be seen.....by me anyway.

Now if you have a bird in control by voice command or similar then no problem. But let me say this DISCLAIMER: This is solely the comments of MtDoramike aka: Mike and may or may not be the views of other members of this forum or the moderator of the forums!

No worry here Mike. Wing clipping is such a personal decision, there is no point in debating the subject as it has been done before here many times. When it is a matter of safety then a bird should be clipped.

OMG I am so happy. Coco has settled in so much. She dosnt want to be touched still but I can deal with that. For the last 2 days I have left her new open top cage open but she never ventured out, until an hour ago. She came out and sat on the perch and looked so happy. Stretching out her wings and preening. I was worried about getting her back in because I like her to go to bed at 7 pm but all I did was shake her treat box and she went straight back to the cage. I'm so happy. Hopefully she will come straight out tomorrow. One thing I noticed though when she was stretching her wings was that her left wing is a lot smaller than the other. I don't mean clipped. The actual wing itself. Anyone know what is going on there.

The wings should be the same size. I would have a vet look at them to see if it was damaged before you got her or a birth defect. This could of course make a huge difference in her flying safety.

I to her to an avian vet the day I got her and he gave her a clean bill of health. She was plucking at her other home because she was shut up all the time in a small cage. Maybe it is just her feathers that makes her wings look weird. She made quite a mess of herself. She doesn't pluck anymore. I keep her very busy.

awww i am so glad everything is goin ok if the feathers end in a inverted V shape then she could have chewed them, nuts wing and tail feathers are the shaped

looks like she's gettin comfy in her new home

Re: Out of cage time UPDATE

Coco is doing great. She is now out of her cage from 7am to 7pm. She only returns to eat lol. It must fell great after being locked up for the last 13 years. I don't think that she will ever be the step up kind of girl but she loves me talking to her and hand feeding her treats. I'm very happy with how things have turned out. She has only left her cage once. She sort of flew but it was more like a drop. I don't think she knows how to fly properly but she didnt crash into a walk this time.

lol sounds like she's learnt from her first crash, so taking it easy herself and i think she will step up, in time

keep on with the talking etc for now and let her do it in her own good time

Re: Out of cage time UPDATE

Thelly said:

She is now out of her cage from 7am to 7pm. She only returns to eat lol. It must fell great after being locked up for the last 13 years.

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I had the same problem with my girl who was locked up in a small cage. This also caused her muscles to get absolutely no work and all the exercise she got at our house made her very stiff and painful for the first couple of weeks/month.

As her confidence grew she was out of her cage all the time and only went in to eat and immediately out again. We had to get her wings clipped because she has an aggression issue with members in the house and flew to them and bit them in the face. We also had a problem leaving her in her cage when we went to work etc. because she saw it as punishment and nothing else. She used to sit on the same spot ALL DAY LONG and hardly ate anything, I watched her from work on the cctv cameras. Clipping her wings also solved this problem and we now leave her out of her cage when we go to work etc.

We made the area above and next to her cage like a complete playgym and she spends all her time there.

I wouldn't clip CoCo's wings yet, the muscles needs a lot of work to get up to standard. When you see she is improving and it becomes a danger with her being out of the cage all the time then you can decide what is best.

Where is a photo of Coco?