Trying To Keep Plucked Flock Member Part Of The Flock At Playtime

Violet_Diva

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When it's 'playtime' Bella and Dexter get to fly from the bird room to the living room and hang out. Only issue is, little plucked Gerry can't do this. And sometimes he tries to fly when I let him out :(

If I have him on the sofa with me, Bella and Dexter get jealous and if Gerry gets startled he can't fly away or move away from them. But I can't have little Gerry running around on the floor as it's too dangerous, and I don't want to leave him caged while the others are out and about incase he gets stressed or gets separation anxiety and starts plucking.

Sooooooo I've been thinking about getting a kids pop-up playpen!
I could have Gerry in the living room (safe) in a playpen with toys and such. He would be able to see all of us and feel involved - but without me worrying about him chewing a cable or being stepped on.

What do you think?
 

LordTriggs

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sounds like a fun idea! Maybe place a birdy play gym inside the "walled off" play pen and have ropes and ladders and such so if Gerry decides to get on the floor he can get himself back up when he wants.

Also a good idea to attempt containing the mess haha!
 
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Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

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sounds like a fun idea! Maybe place a birdy play gym inside the "walled off" play pen and have ropes and ladders and such so if Gerry decides to get on the floor he can get himself back up when he wants.

Also a good idea to attempt containing the mess haha!
I've got a small tabletop stand I can use in there. Anything taller and I run the risk of him hurting himself - as he has tried to fly from the tree stand before (unsuccessfully obviously). Good point about the mess, I hadn't even realised, but that's a great byproduct!
 

LordTriggs

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hopefully he gets molting soon and leaves his wings alone.

Like I say in his photoshoot I think they look a little better than when I initially saw his wings. Fingers crossed he can join Bella and Dexter in flight one day (then you have a full squadron to keep in check!)
 

Anansi

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Great idea! Just be careful of the type of material used in the walls of the playpen. The usual soft meshing used for babies wouldn't work out for long, and would become a choking/strangulation hazard before long. Choking through ingestion and strangulation through loosened threads or holes made that are large enough to fit his head.

For the long term, you'll also want to work on all of their station training. This would prove VERY helpful not just for your current situation, but going forward in any scenario where something unexpected happens and you need them to hang back for whatever reason.
 

Tami2

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Great idea! Just be careful of the type of material used in the walls of the playpen. The usual soft meshing used for babies wouldn't work out for long, and would become a choking/strangulation hazard before long. Choking through ingestion and strangulation through loosened threads or holes made that are large enough to fit his head.

For the long term, you'll also want to work on all of their station training. This would prove VERY helpful not just for your current situation, but going forward in any scenario where something unexpected happens and you need them to hang back for whatever reason.

I was thinking the same thing.

Why not just get a Java Tree stand for Gerry to hang out on? At least that's made for Parrots and you won't have to worry about possibly injuries etc...
 
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Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

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hopefully he gets molting soon and leaves his wings alone.

Like I say in his photoshoot I think they look a little better than when I initially saw his wings. Fingers crossed he can join Bella and Dexter in flight one day (then you have a full squadron to keep in check!)
Fingers crossed for a good molt and some new feathers! :D
 
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Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

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Great idea! Just be careful of the type of material used in the walls of the playpen. The usual soft meshing used for babies wouldn't work out for long, and would become a choking/strangulation hazard before long. Choking through ingestion and strangulation through loosened threads or holes made that are large enough to fit his head.

For the long term, you'll also want to work on all of their station training. This would prove VERY helpful not just for your current situation, but going forward in any scenario where something unexpected happens and you need them to hang back for whatever reason.

Thanks for the warning (we definitely don't want a choked or strangled Gerry!)

I do need to work on his training, he still doesn't trust me 100% and is still rather nippy! Both Bella and Dexter are great with recall and staying on their playstands.

I was just looking for a temporary solution so we can all be spending time together as a flock without Gerry hurting anyone (including himself). I'll have a look around and see what different options for playpens there are to see what would be most suitable - though some modifications may be on order!
 
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Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

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Great idea! Just be careful of the type of material used in the walls of the playpen. The usual soft meshing used for babies wouldn't work out for long, and would become a choking/strangulation hazard before long. Choking through ingestion and strangulation through loosened threads or holes made that are large enough to fit his head.

For the long term, you'll also want to work on all of their station training. This would prove VERY helpful not just for your current situation, but going forward in any scenario where something unexpected happens and you need them to hang back for whatever reason.

I was thinking the same thing.

Why not just get a Java Tree stand for Gerry to hang out on? At least that's made for Parrots and you won't have to worry about possibly injuries etc...
I already have a couple of java trees but unfortunately the flightless Gerry has proven he can't be trusted on them as he jumps off and tries to fly...
= bird splat :(
So he can't use the java trees for his own safety. I have a couple of table stands which he can use but only under complete supervision. So I need a playpen as a safer alternative for a tree stand.
I can have a table stand in there for him as if he jumps off that it's not very far. But I can't have him scurrying around the floor and going under furniture or chewing cables (especially considering he is still nippy and doesn't trust me completely yet).
He's a complicated little man! :D
 

Tami2

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Great idea! Just be careful of the type of material used in the walls of the playpen. The usual soft meshing used for babies wouldn't work out for long, and would become a choking/strangulation hazard before long. Choking through ingestion and strangulation through loosened threads or holes made that are large enough to fit his head.

For the long term, you'll also want to work on all of their station training. This would prove VERY helpful not just for your current situation, but going forward in any scenario where something unexpected happens and you need them to hang back for whatever reason.

I was thinking the same thing.

Why not just get a Java Tree stand for Gerry to hang out on? At least that's made for Parrots and you won't have to worry about possibly injuries etc...
I already have a couple of java trees but unfortunately the flightless Gerry has proven he can't be trusted on them as he jumps off and tries to fly...
= bird splat :(
So he can't use the java trees for his own safety. I have a couple of table stands which he can use but only under complete supervision. So I need a playpen as a safer alternative for a tree stand.
I can have a table stand in there for him as if he jumps off that it's not very far. But I can't have him scurrying around the floor and going under furniture or chewing cables (especially considering he is still nippy and doesn't trust me completely yet).
He's a complicated little man! :D

Hmmmm ..... :confused:
So, he's not like a clipped bird that understands their limitations?
He doesn't realize that he can't fly?
 
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Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

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Hmmmm ..... :confused:
So, he's not like a clipped bird that understands their limitations?
He doesn't realize that he can't fly?
Correct, the silly boy sometimes doesn't remember. Though in a way I'm kind of glad he still has a desire to fly...
I'm his second human. The first was giving him up because he'd plucked his wings and tail. Gerry sometimes forgets that he's removed his own wings and then he tries to fly. It's so sad to see :(
 

LordTriggs

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Actually, one of the pens from the link Triggs provided seems to suit your situation particularly well: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Koossy-Exp...id=1518793291&sr=8-9&keywords=plastic+playpen

I didn't even spot that one! And being it's for larger dogs you can rest assured that it could stand up to a busy beak for at least 10 minutes! Also looks to be a modular design. This might be a good idea for anyone with an unflighted fid who can't be trusted to wander around
 
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Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

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Aug 30, 2016
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Bella (Vosmaeri Eclectus Female) + Dexter (Red Sided Eclectus Male) + Gerry (Vosmaeri Eclectus Male)
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Thanks guys - some excellent playpen suggestions here! :)
 
Jun 16, 2018
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Hi! Just wondering how Gerry did with the play pen? I'm having the same issue with my guy (he's had a few falls already and I'm at a loss as to how I can prevent this while still spending time with him). This is a clever idea that I might have to consider!!
 

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