I've never had a bird before, unless you count the couple hundred sparrows, blue jays, finches, and chickadees that I feed in my yard. But I have been thinking about getting one for a while. I ended up getting a little blue parakeet from petco. I looked into getting one from a breeder but there weren't any near where I live, and I didn't want to have one shipped, that would Terrify me if I was a bird. Anyways, I brought him home Monday afternoon; I got him a nice roomy cage with all kinds of toys and perches to keep him occupied. He's terrified of me which I expected and I'm working on getting some trust built between us. I've read so many things that say you just slowly try to get your hand near him without freaking out and build on that. However, while I was adding one of the toys to his cage he decided he wanted out of the cage. so out he flew and fluttered to the floor safely. His wings are clipped so he can't really fly well. I didn't want to chase him around the room and scare him even more so I just let him stay out for a while. He explored my room for a few hours and I put his cage on the floor so he could climb back in when he was ready. It took him a few hours but eventually climbed back in. I put his cage back up on my bureau and covered him for the night. When I uncovered him Tuesday morning he hid In the back of th cage when I put my hand at th entrance of the cage. I left it there for like 10 min and then i left him along across the room. I left his cage door open and after like 15 min he got brave and flew out of his cage to ththe floor again. He ran around for hours and even started chirping a bit. A few times I looked across the room and he was just standing there taking a nap but every time I even moved toward hi he started to run away so I didn't want to chase him. I sat on the floor and talked to him for hours and again I put him cage on the floor so he could go back in when he wanted. So after that long explanation...I guess my first question is...should I continue to let him roam free in my room or is that backtracking on the trust that I'm trying to build with him?
My next question is...how can I bridge the gap from the floor to his cage. I have him up on my bureau because I heard that birds like to be up high away from predators to feel safer. I also have a dog so a place where she can't reach the cage is better. They are never left together in the same room alone, and my big German shepherd is actually terrified of him, as soon as he chirps or flutters his wings she takes off down the stairs like a bat out of hell. The cage is 48 inches from the ground and I need something long enough so that h can climb back up to his cage without me having to pick it up and put it on th floor every day (cuz I keep spilling the water and shifting The bedding all around when I move it.) I've been looking around in stores and online but I haven't found anything long enough for what I need....so I was hoping som of you might have some ideas for me.
Thanks so much for any insights and suggestions you might have!!!!
My next question is...how can I bridge the gap from the floor to his cage. I have him up on my bureau because I heard that birds like to be up high away from predators to feel safer. I also have a dog so a place where she can't reach the cage is better. They are never left together in the same room alone, and my big German shepherd is actually terrified of him, as soon as he chirps or flutters his wings she takes off down the stairs like a bat out of hell. The cage is 48 inches from the ground and I need something long enough so that h can climb back up to his cage without me having to pick it up and put it on th floor every day (cuz I keep spilling the water and shifting The bedding all around when I move it.) I've been looking around in stores and online but I haven't found anything long enough for what I need....so I was hoping som of you might have some ideas for me.
Thanks so much for any insights and suggestions you might have!!!!
