Free flighted

Hi all I have a ysc still under training for free flight... Well it was about 12 weeks old... I can done a 100% recall on it in the house and also outside with leash on... So now my problem is when is the right time to unleash my ysc and allow it to fly freely...

I free flight my umbrella cockatoo going on a year and a half now. It was a few month process to be able to be comfortable with this. First...your bird has to have bonded with you. Then...you have to believe he/she will come back and if he/she doesn't, you follow her'm. You follow him'r around and call your call till they come back to you. Mine did, and still does. Good luck!

My Nanday was only trimmed when I first got her. But, since she couldn't fly, she would jump off her play gym when she wanted to come to me. I was worried she would get hurt. She's been fully flighted for 11 years now. When she does start flying, I can just put my hand up and she will land on it, even at the vet's. She does usually behave there, but every once in awhile will say, ha, ha, I can fly around in circles up near the ceiling and you can't get me! We let her for a minute or so, then I will put my hand up and she lands, and that's the end of that.

My BC was always fully flighted, but she never did fly much.

My amazon was trimmed by his original owner when I got him. But, he's molting now and new wing feathers are coming in. I will just have to wait and see what he's like once he can fly.

If you have any concern though that the bird could get outside and fly off, keep it trimmed would be my suggestion.

Mi Amigo free flights outside, if it's a nice day. I'll let him go in the morning, he comes into his outdoor cage for food and water. He'll come to his outdoor cage before sunset so's I can bring him in for the evening. We spend a few hours every morning and a few in the evening, before he goes to bed, with him in the house. He's a very happy,content, well adjusted cockatoo.

The idea is nice, but would scare the crap out of me! I just don't think I'd ever fully trust it.

I have to agree I'd be afraid to allow my birds to fly outside. And with West Nile in our area, I no longer take them outside to sun either. They both have avian full spectrum lights now.

I too, would never have thought about allowing my cockatoo to free flight until I read the book by Konrad Loranz called King Solomon's Ring. He was a naturalist that studied animals in a natural habitat, when possible. He came across a tame cockatoo that needed a home and allowed him to come and go at will. All I can say is, his wife was a saint! They left an open window, and he was a free bird. Mi Amigo was so discontent in and on a cage even with toys, good food, good company...we made the decision to try this. It was a long and stressful journey to the point we are at with him now. I don't recommend this with any bird. All I know, is it was a right choice for ours. He is unbelievably intelligent, almost scary!

My local electrician has/had (it was a few years ago) a cockatoo who used to follow his car when he went to work and if he drove to far out of range he would stop following and go visiting...he used to come to my place sometimes and help me with the washing (following me and taking the pegs off) and would get a treat before heading home...he always seemed to know what time his real owner / mate was coming home and would be there waiting for him! That bird had a great life!

I had a galah (Commie) that was the same - everyone knew him and it was all good till I saw him coming down the street with the new postman...he was apparently going to sell Commie at the pet shop...yeah right! I called Commie back and it was a ok but I decided at that point it might not be safe for him due to other humans! So the trips out were a bit more restricted but he still loved them!