How do you spend quality time with your parrots

[I❤️Birds]

Hi! I’m curious about how people spend quality time with their parrots. After I come from school I do spend lots of time with my bird but I’m not sure if it counts as quality time.

(Sorry for how many times I used the word quality 😂)

 

[wrench13]

Salty is out of cage 6-7 hours a day, and his cage and play-chain are right in the middle of our open plan house, so he is "with" us for the whole time. But, Salty and I we do trick training every single night for 15-20 minutes, of intense one on one communication with each other. Been doing that for over 8 years with him, and he looks so forward to this time each night that if I miss a session (like I did tonight, presenting a seminar to the local parrot club) he is PISSED OFF the next day. ANd we spend some time giving him scratches, when he is in the mood, or play fighting with him (which doesn't last long because it always escalates into real fighting).

 

[I❤️Birds]

Salty is out of cage 6-7 hours a day, and his cage and play-chain are right in the middle of our open plan house, so he is "with" us for the whole time. But, Salty and I we do trick training every single night for 15-20 minutes, of intense one on one communication with each other. Been doing that for over 8 years with him, and he looks so forward to this time each night that if I miss a session (like I did tonight, presenting a seminar to the local parrot club) he is PISSED OFF the next day. ANd we spend some time giving him scratches, when he is in the mood, or play fighting with him (which doesn't last long because it always escalates into real fighting).

Omg thank you so much! I also do fifteen minute training sessions but I didn’t even THINK that it would count as quality time for some reason 😂 also the name salty is soooo cute for a parrot!!

 

[wrench13]

Well thank you, that is so nice to hear.

Yes, that 15-20 min of intense 1 on 1, to me, is my critical link to Salty. He so looks forward to it.

 

[Free as a bird]

I would say that any time with you out of the cage is quality time. Just let them hang out with you, whether they like to perch on your shoulder, ask for scratches or play with stuff in front of you, it all counts.

 

[I❤️Birds]

Well thank you, that is so nice to hear.

Yes, that 15-20 min of intense 1 on 1, to me, is my critical link to Salty. He so looks forward to it.

I would say that any time with you out of the cage is quality time. Just let them hang out with you, whether they like to perch on your shoulder, ask for scratches or play with stuff in front of you, it all counts.

Thats good to hear!! I just let him chill on my while I do work so I’m glad that counts!!!

 

[marina&zizel]

Hi! I’m curious about how people spend quality time with their parrots. After I come from school I do spend lots of time with my bird but I’m not sure if it counts as quality time.

(Sorry for how many times I used the word quality 😂)

I usually study next to him, I try to read stuff out loud too! Ofc I have other times where I spent time actually paying attention to him (giving him treats and just stupidly singing together) but he's always been a great study buddy

 

[Inger]

Bumble is out most of the day since I primarily work from home. Although obviously I'm not fully focused on her during that time, I talk to her and when I get up to get food or whatever, she flies onto my shoulder and we sing a little song, and I'll take a break now and again to give her some skritches. In the evening, believe it not not, she LOVES to watch "her TikToks" for a little bit (bird accounts and Puppy Songs are her faves). And I've recently decided to start doing short training sessions with her again because it distracts her from sitting on my glasses and plucking my eyebrows for me 😂

 

[texsize]

Every bird is different.

The two most social birds are Bingo and Bella.

Bingo is bonded to me only and our quality time is in the morning and evening. What we/he does is up to him.
I open his cage and sometimes he wants to sit in the window. Sometimes he sits with me.
If with me he might just groom himself or want scratches.
Sometimes he wants to play (as written above with an Amazon play doesn’t last long).
But I also give him a scratch when passing his cage.

Bella is bonded to my wife.
She has the most out of cage time, around 6 hours.
again she chooses what/where, and how long.
she accepts cuddles and scratches only from my wife.
She enjoys taking her “red butt shower” with me.
She mostly hangs out in the kitchen and bathroom.
she talks alot and she is always paying attention to what we are doing and talking about.

The Twins are more of a hands off project.
I want them to bond to each other not so much to me.
They also have out of cage time mornings and evening.

 

[KissyBeak]

I love this thread… and hearing about everyone’s bird babies
I think all birdies are different in how THEY like to spend time 🥰
One of my birds likes to snuggle her face to mine when I’m lying down. She also loves it when I play with her favorite toy WITH her. She likes when I talk to her abs listens intently, also loves playing Pokemon go with me and loves when I read her children’s books that are 3D or pop up style .
She will do trick training, but it’s not her favorite thing.
With her dad, she loves play fighting and will fight to protect the pens on his desk, they play beak tag, he also takes her to the bathroom mirror to play mirror peekaboo.

The other birdie is a Linnie so she is different. She likes to sit on an eye level U perch that’s on the outsode of the cage, and watch me do things, she gets a kick out of it . She also likes to ride on my shoulder , LOVES to be in the kitchen with me while I putter around. watch or help me peel fruit or put dishes away (I don’t cook when she’s there obviously!!!) she also loves to burrow and while I discourage it in general, when she gets too hormonal in the spring and is being a terror, I will let her have supervised burrowing with mommy in the evening. I’ll make a big duvet cave next to me or on my chest and let her sit in there, and she will preen, fluff up the blanket, and give herself a head massage while she looks at me. She loves it when I talk to her and tell her how pretty she is.

Both the girls love it when I sing to them. The budgie will fly to my guitar and dance up and down the neck and try to sing along.

She also will sing and with me to songs she likes

I think if you experiment you will notice what they like, things that get them chirping excitedly, acting joyful, or even just a fluffy one leg beak crackle kind of contentment…

 

[I❤️Birds]

I usually study next to him, I try to read stuff out loud too! Ofc I have other times where I spent time actually paying attention to him (giving him treats and just stupidly singing together) but he's always been a great study buddy

Oooooh I do that sometimes too!! I’ll try to do that more often with him

 

[I❤️Birds]

Bumble is out most of the day since I primarily work from home. Although obviously I'm not fully focused on her during that time, I talk to her and when I get up to get food or whatever, she flies onto my shoulder and we sing a little song, and I'll take a break now and again to give her some skritches. In the evening, believe it not not, she LOVES to watch "her TikToks" for a little bit (bird accounts and Puppy Songs are her faves). And I've recently decided to start doing short training sessions with her again because it distracts her from sitting on my glasses and plucking my eyebrows for me 😂

Haha when ever I try watching videos with my bird he starts chewing my phone.

 

[I❤️Birds]

Every bird is different.

The two most social birds are Bingo and Bella.

Bingo is bonded to me only and our quality time is in the morning and evening. What we/he does is up to him.
I open his cage and sometimes he wants to sit in the window. Sometimes he sits with me.
If with me he might just groom himself or want scratches.
Sometimes he wants to play (as written above with an Amazon play doesn’t last long).
But I also give him a scratch when passing his cage.

Bella is bonded to my wife.
She has the most out of cage time, around 6 hours.
again she chooses what/where, and how long.
she accepts cuddles and scratches only from my wife.
She enjoys taking her “red butt shower” with me.
She mostly hangs out in the kitchen and bathroom.
she talks alot and she is always paying attention to what we are doing and talking about.

The Twins are more of a hands off project.
I want them to bond to each other not so much to me.
They also have out of cage time mornings and evening.

I love this thread… and hearing about everyone’s bird babies
I think all birdies are different in how THEY like to spend time 🥰
One of my birds likes to snuggle her face to mine when I’m lying down. She also loves it when I play with her favorite toy WITH her. She likes when I talk to her abs listens intently, also loves playing Pokemon go with me and loves when I read her children’s books that are 3D or pop up style .
She will do trick training, but it’s not her favorite thing.
With her dad, she loves play fighting and will fight to protect the pens on his desk, they play beak tag, he also takes her to the bathroom mirror to play mirror peekaboo.

The other birdie is a Linnie so she is different. She likes to sit on an eye level U perch that’s on the outsode of the cage, and watch me do things, she gets a kick out of it . She also likes to ride on my shoulder , LOVES to be in the kitchen with me while I putter around. watch or help me peel fruit or put dishes away (I don’t cook when she’s there obviously!!!) she also loves to burrow and while I discourage it in general, when she gets too hormonal in the spring and is being a terror, I will let her have supervised burrowing with mommy in the evening. I’ll make a big duvet cave next to me or on my chest and let her sit in there, and she will preen, fluff up the blanket, and give herself a head massage while she looks at me. She loves it when I talk to her and tell her how pretty she is.

Both the girls love it when I sing to them. The budgie will fly to my guitar and dance up and down the neck and try to sing along.

She also will sing and with me to songs she likes

I think if you experiment you will notice what they like, things that get them chirping excitedly, acting joyful, or even just a fluffy one leg beak crackle kind of contentment…

Your birds sound adorable!!!! Thank you for including body language for when parrots are enjoying something. I’ll be sure to use that!!

 

[I❤️Birds]

Every bird is different.

The two most social birds are Bingo and Bella.

Bingo is bonded to me only and our quality time is in the morning and evening. What we/he does is up to him.
I open his cage and sometimes he wants to sit in the window. Sometimes he sits with me.
If with me he might just groom himself or want scratches.
Sometimes he wants to play (as written above with an Amazon play doesn’t last long).
But I also give him a scratch when passing his cage.

Bella is bonded to my wife.
She has the most out of cage time, around 6 hours.
again she chooses what/where, and how long.
she accepts cuddles and scratches only from my wife.
She enjoys taking her “red butt shower” with me.
She mostly hangs out in the kitchen and bathroom.
she talks alot and she is always paying attention to what we are doing and talking about.

The Twins are more of a hands off project.
I want them to bond to each other not so much to me.
They also have out of cage time mornings and evening.

I like how you show how different birds personalities can be even with the same lifestyle. Thats something I’ll have to consider before getting a second bird because I’m still in school and I only have time to do activities my pre existing bird likes after school.

 

[KissyBeak]

Oooooh I do that sometimes too!! I’ll try to do that more often with him

That’s so cute!!! Such a good idea.
Yes one of mine is a study buddy too.
The Linnie, is happy as a clam to sit on your shoulder and binge watch TV, or she has a little perch on our desks and loves to watch us do work 😂😂😂 just sits there on one leg in a happy floof.
My budgie is too ADHD and wants stimulation, so much less work gets done when she’s “helping”😊 she wants to chase pens and poop on screens

 

[I❤️Birds]

That’s so cute!!! Such a good idea.
Yes one of mine is a study buddy too.
The Linnie, is happy as a clam to sit on your shoulder and binge watch TV, or she has a little perch on our desks and loves to watch us do work 😂😂😂 just sits there on one leg in a happy floof.
My budgie is too ADHD and wants stimulation, so much less work gets done when she’s “helping”😊 she wants to chase pens and poop on screens

Hahahaha budgies never sit still!! It’s their best and worst quality lol