What "little things" do you do for your bird?

PickleMeDickles

New member
May 17, 2015
375
10
Southern California
Parrots
SassyByrd (DYH Amazon) JoJo (GCC) Betty (GCC) DEARLY LOVED fids lost to “Teflon Disaster� 12/17 RIP Pickles (GC),RIP Winston (Sun), RIP Lady PLEASE TAKE 5 MINUTES &TOSS OUT ALL YOUR TEFLON NOW!
I don't know what prompted me to write this, I think it was the long car ride yesterday and I had nothing to do but listen to music and muse the happenings.

It occurred to me how much we really expect from our birds, often with little incentive. And many of them just sit in a cage for hours on end. I look out the window and watch the wild birds quite frequently and they are always on the move, always interacting with each other and their frequently changing environments, free to move about as they wish. Our fids are basically still wild and yearn to live a full life. It is our responsibility to provide as much as we can to keep them healthy and happy.

I know we keep our where they always have a window, the TV is always on for the birds, and we let them out frequently throughout the day to hang out on one of their play stations. When my suns (and GCC actually are really full of it, I'll give them a bath or do something else to break up the monotony of the day). What things/ideas do you do or have to help enrich your bird's life? I am always keeping my ear out or reading to gain ideas. I know I had read about the bath idea to calm the little beasts and it works great!
 

OutlawedSpirit

New member
Apr 12, 2016
1,020
21
Northern Illinois, USA
Parrots
Bo - DYH ~ Gus - CAG ~ Twitch - Linnie ~ Apple - Pineapple GCC ~ Goliath - Quaker ~ Squish - Peach face Lovebird
Sometimes you change things up, for the birds that enjoy it, I spread a bunch of foot toys, treats, whatever I find laying around that looks interesting and is safe, all over the living room floor and let the birds take turns having floor time.

So often they are in or on their cages, on us, on play stands, that they don't get to explore the floor much. It's a big open "new" space for them to play and explore for a while and helps burn energy for my non-flyers.

I also am a big fan of outside time. Many of the birds I have are not harnessed trained due to either disabilities like Tiki, or to them just being fosters, but I have travel cages that are open so they can still see all around them. Most of them seem to enjoy listening to the wild birds, watching people walk by and kids playing, or even just sitting in the sun for a while.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 

Skittys_Daddy

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2014
2,172
63
Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
I pay the rent so that I can stay here in Skittles apartment with him. I also pay the phone (so he can order food) and I pay the power bill (so he can listen to music and enjoy movies). I also have to keep the place tidy, so he can mess it up again.

Aside from those responsibilities, there are a few other requirements I must meet. I have to give him his morning juice and power treat before I can eat or drink anything. I also have to let him out as soon as I get home from the store. I'm not allowed to put anything away until he's had a chance to inspect it. When I am about to wash dishes (or in the process of) I must stop and prepare a bathing dish and give him a bath before I can continue washing dishes.
I also have to provide preening and wingput rubs on demand.

Unfortunately, though, I can't have friends visit- Skitty says I'm not allowed to. :( I'm not allowed to use the toilet or shower without supervision.
 
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LordTriggs

New member
May 11, 2017
3,427
24
Surrey, UK
Parrots
Rio (Yellow sided conure) sadly no longer with us
Rio only demanded a few things from me to keep him happy. A load of toys in his cage, every single bottle cap I would use, for me to never go to the bathroom without him, and to join me in the shower. He was content if he had that.

"Special" things I would do is engage in staring out the window with him, playing with his toys on the floor and a late night scritch session on the weekends
 

Flboy

Well-known member
Dec 28, 2014
12,598
4,101
Greater Orlando area, Florida
Parrots
JoJo, 'Special' GCC, Bongo, Cinnamon GCC(wife's)
I must say, this is something I think about a lot! I really do feel quite bad knowing what JoJo would be doing in the wild as opposed to just sitting around or doing his jet plane thing around the house!
 

AmyMyBlueFront

Well-known member
Apr 14, 2015
6,315
Media
4
3,034
Connecticut
Parrots
Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
Because of my very odd work schedule I feel terrible when I leave Amy and BB for 15 hours! BUT I do get a good amount of home time,so when I am home,they are out.
BB hangs with me on my shoulder as I do computer stuff. He is free to walk down my arm,sit on my fingers,run across the keyboard///chew on whatever isn't put out of his reach,knock over medicine bottles,chew the phone etc etc.
Amy is free to climb down her mansion to wak across the living room floor,into this room,and climb "her" chair and watch you tube vids with us.

If "uncle DJ" or "uncle Joe" are visiting,both fids are at the kitchen table with us,getting skritches or treats. If I have arrands to do and its a nice day ( even if it isn't nice but warm) Amy goes with me! anywhere and everywhere. She loves car rides and meeting people. Walmart..the auto parts store..MY doctors office :rolleyes:...dunkin donut...walks in the grass to eat grubs and chew twigs...her fav pet store to see her buddies the green armed bee bee's :p
I try HARD to make up for the time she is in her house all alone..I leave the stereo on when I go out



Jim
 

OneHorseRanch

New member
May 25, 2014
179
1
California
Parrots
One Green Cheek Conure, Sheldon. Hatch date: 7/27/13
To Skittys Daddy. Thats hilarious! You must really love your bird to put up with such demands..LOL..
 

Sandy19

Member
Mar 22, 2017
449
8
Peanut likes car rides and outings so I take her with me as much as possible. I took her to the Honduran restaurant the other day because they have outdoor seating. Other than trying to jump into the bowl of mussels she was very well behaved. I also discovered that she loves fried plantains and fried potatoes. I didn't let her have much, but she would have been happy to eat it all.
 

Mariar

Well-known member
May 9, 2014
1,021
169
Clearwater Florida but grew up in Wisconsin
Parrots
Doolie,Yellow nape amazon(r.i.p.03/10/15)
Sissy,severe macaw(rescued on 03-16-15) chirpy,sparrow(beak less) jack,Jill,chase,fiona,finch, and tiger,sulfer crested(rescued 04/15/20
I save all cardboard boxes for sissy..and right after i vaccum i throw a box on the floor for her to tear apart and yell at.i make sure she takes a shower with me everyday and i work 50 hours a week so she can have a new toy,or a honeycrisp apple, and that really good bird food from evrything about birds store.we leave the tv on and the air blowing for her as well.i share my juice,salad,trailmix,yogart,and veghies with her.there is no "me" time...and im super ok with that!!!
 

LeaKP

Well-known member
Aug 11, 2014
3,146
Media
4
2,453
South Africa
Parrots
Congo African Grey
My life's mission I see surely is to please Nigel! Ha! I can't help it!

He loves outside time so every day I make sure he gets time in his (safe and protected) outdoor cage. He's so happy being there. He then says, "Nigel wants popcorn" when I put him outside meaning "I need breakfast and make it good."

Then, when I sit with him outside he runs around outside on the verandah (covered and protected) and refuses inside time until he is ready.

Finally, he asks for a shower several times a week, "Nigel wants a shower brrrrrrr!"

It doesn't matter what else is going on, I do cater to his every whim, it gives me a lot of laughs and happiness. Even when he's cross and literally unloads on me when I've misstepped my responsibilities.

It's Nigel's world after all, right?
 

Skittys_Daddy

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2014
2,172
63
Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
I think, for me, it's more what wouldn't I do for Skittles? Nothing. I know he's got a good life, everyone in my RL tells me that and even the vet (who see a LOT of parrots) commend me on the excellent job I do with him. Yet, as much as I do for him, I always feel I should do more. It's like he could have absolutely EVERYTHING he wanted and needed and I'd still feel like I could do more. I guess that's how we all feel. At least its how I feel. The largest part of it is how much I treasure him, but I also feel the need to make up for all the cruelty parrots are exposed to by negligent or uneducated owners. There's just too much of it for me and Skitty to make up for, but I love this forum cause its full of people who will do anything for their fids and follow through.
 

justinesmoker

New member
Jun 27, 2016
2
0
Loved that. Yes I cant go to the toilet unaccompanied either. What do they think we're doing in there thats so interesting? My Ringneck couldnt care less but my gc conure will fly on me wherever she is in the house just to make sure Im ok to go to the bathroom with her continual observation.!
 
OP
PickleMeDickles

PickleMeDickles

New member
May 17, 2015
375
10
Southern California
Parrots
SassyByrd (DYH Amazon) JoJo (GCC) Betty (GCC) DEARLY LOVED fids lost to “Teflon Disaster� 12/17 RIP Pickles (GC),RIP Winston (Sun), RIP Lady PLEASE TAKE 5 MINUTES &TOSS OUT ALL YOUR TEFLON NOW!
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
Whoever complimented all the people in this forum about how much they do for and love their birds is so right! I basically work to feed all the fids and crids (and pay for my Amazon bill). I think the floor time suggestion was really helpful, although with 4 dogs it is difficult (2 of them are foo foo dogs and always in the house, the 2 real dogs have a doggy door so come and go). My fids are all flighted, but I think I'll make an effort to lay down with them and let them explore.

My hubby always tries to reuse things for the birds. We have a corner perch for them that has like 3 branches on it and he always sticks the paper towel roll over a branch and they love to tear that up. We also use big rolls of 54" vinyl at our house and it comes on a super thick cardboard roll, I am always trying to talk my hubby into cutting it up for little tubes for them to play in.

On a side note, has anyone ever shared a peanut butter sandwich with their birds? I made on today and should have known better. The Suns were out and as soon as they spied me fixing something I was "attacked". Winston reached out and grabbed a bite of my sandwich and it was pretty funny to see him try to down it. Of course, Lady had to have a bite too! It's definitely not going to be a staple in their diet but they sure liked the taste!

-Jen
 

Skittys_Daddy

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2014
2,172
63
Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
I've given Skittles bread and pasta as a 'rare' treat and never had a problem. But not sure with peanut butter. Whether it would get caught in their throat (given the consistency of peanut butter). I'd also be concerned about the sugar, fat and salt content.
 

LordTriggs

New member
May 11, 2017
3,427
24
Surrey, UK
Parrots
Rio (Yellow sided conure) sadly no longer with us
I save all cardboard boxes for sissy..and right after i vaccum i throw a box on the floor for her to tear apart and yell at.i make sure she takes a shower with me everyday and i work 50 hours a week so she can have a new toy,or a honeycrisp apple, and that really good bird food from evrything about birds store.we leave the tv on and the air blowing for her as well.i share my juice,salad,trailmix,yogart,and veghies with her.there is no "me" time...and im super ok with that!!!

good to hear you manage with a 50 hour work week. I've been worried about getting a new bird with my schedule but knowing you can keep an amazon happy with that kind of work load I know I should be okay!
 

Sunnyclover

New member
Jan 11, 2017
1,646
43
New Jersey
Parrots
Sun Conure - Ollie- Hatched 08/18/16*

Nanday Conure -Finley- Hatched 10/07/17*

Turquoise Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure -Paris- Hatched 03/03/18*

Black Capped Conure -North- Hatched 10/10/18
I too would do anything for Ollie to make him happy and do everything I can to the best of my ability. I have husband and son but the love I have for Ollie is just different and wonderful. Here are just a few things I'd like to share with you all...though there are many many more. I tie toys to my hoodie strings for Ollie to chew at his leisure. The crook of my neck is on reserve from 7 to 8pm each night or else! Seeds time (1/2 tsp) is at 6pm and if I forget he turns his usual quiet self I to a siren to kindly help me remember. Thank you for your service Ollie!
 
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