Free reign?

[cutex101]

I am new to this site. I have a Green Cheek Conure (My first bird ever!) who is approximately 6-9 months old. His wings are clipped and I have the Aviator flight suit coming in the mail any day now.

I guess I will begin by saying I live upstairs and my store/office is downstairs. So he is with me all day, although in his cage during my 'open' hours and at bedtime.

My question is, how do I, or better yet is it possible to have him stay in one area without being caged? Like parrots who stay on a tree/perch?

My bird is constantly on the move and I can't keep up with him. This is a safety issue and of course, because I have a store open to customers opening the door at will, I don't want someone who is afraid of birds to freak out!

I would like to build him a large jungle gym to hand out on when I am working. Is this possible without him jumping down and going on-the-run?

 

[itzjbean]

Hello and welcome!

It is possible -- though with a bird that tends to wander there may be difficulties with getting him to stay. Does he fly? You could try making a hanging jungle-gym so none of it touches the floor (if he can't fly he wouldn't have a way to get down) or set up a folding table and build a gym on that to keep him on one table. if he flies it may be more difficult to keep him on the gym, and of course you want to be wary of doors opening and closing with customers in and out. Another option, you could set up a gym upstairs and bird proof the room and keep a camera on the room.

 

[cutex101]

His wings were clipped when I got him but he still jumps and flutters to the ground from table tops. Does this mean he needs to be clipped again?

 

[itzjbean]

No he does not need a re-clip -- birds that are clipped are still (as you have seen) able to fly and therefore sometimes people think that clipping stops that, but oftentimes it doesn't. As curious and inquisitive creatures they will use what they have to get around. Some clipped birds have even been known to fly out open doors or windows, never to be seen again because the owner thought that since they are clipped they won't be able to fly. You will most likely just have to work with him over time to stay on a play stand (enticing him with treats) but there is no guarantees a clipped bird will not take flight.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I would like to add that if you clip him more than he’s clipped now, he could drop like a rock when he tries to fly and potentially injure himself. Clipped birds are supposed to be able to fly a little bit, and at the very least flutter down to the floor to catch themselves.

 

[Sunnyclover]

So my boys are clipped and they will stay on their play gym and or tree if I'm on the room no problem for a long time but if I leave the room (which I assume you will) they tend to fly down to the floor and come looking for me or at least the end up on the floor screaming their heads off until I come back. I usually don't leave them alone much when I'm home because they hate it. My suggestion is to get a big cage for your business with a large play top area and set it up nice with toys. Then when your busy and can't keep an eye on your bird you can just put them in the cage for a bit and not have to worry and then put them back on the play top of the cage when your free to keep an eye on the bird. Please you must keep your bird clipped if customers will be coming and going from the store or the bird WILL eventually fly out of the door and be lost forever.

 

[LordTriggs]

Ultimately unless you have an entirely bird proofed room The cage is the safest place to be to protect him from himself and from others.

In a store there is the danger he would fly out the door and be gone, or he could be on the floor and get stood on, he could potentially attack someone if he dislikes them at which point you have to deal with the same rules that dog owners have meaning you could have to pay a large sum of money and potentially have him put down. Also let's not forget that in the real world there's some scum out there and someone could very well see your bird and just take him.

I would personally advise having a large flight cage with all the entrances to said cage padlocked to avoid people with sticky fingers taking him