Older BFA rescue: indoor/outdoor cages?

[sarafigal]

Bringing home my 30-yr old female BFA tomorrow. Unless you collectively advise otherwise, I'm planning to put her cage in the family room by a big window. On the other side of the window--outside--are two nesting budgies in a flight cage. And two sweet old dogs. I'm thinking she can chat with the budgies when the humans are at work/school--or ignore them and listen to the radio. Ultimately, she can come to my office once or twice a week, if we ever get to that comfort level. And my 13-year old son really wants to have a big perch in his room--again, if we ever get to that comfort level.

Question: How much time should I give her un-disturbed in the new indoor cage before bringing her cage outside for daytime fun? The cage would be under an awning and covered, so she will not be subject to the vicissitudes of weather... And should I bring the whole cage outside, or transfer her to something that she will learn is a travel cage, and then put her in yet another big outdoor cage? And what about clipping her (something that was done for 30 years with the original owner) so she can play in the fenced yard?

Thanks!
(this is just the beginning...)

 

[cdog]

First off, congrats on your soon-to-be new member!
You should leave her in her indoor cage for as long as it takes her to get comfortable with the new house. Once she starts to come out of her cage on her own you can start to bring her outside. I would bring her out in a carrier so she gets used to it, then put her in an outdoor cage.
I would clip her if necessary, it you are going to be taking her outside then clipping her would be a good idea just as a precaution.

 

[henpecked]

I'd find a travel cage that fits your car. After she's used to your home,start feeding her in the travel cage so that she becomes accustom to it. The travel cage could then be used for a outside,get some sunshine, cage. I'd hold off on clipping for now. You can make that decision later. Give her time to settle in before manhandling her to clip. You need to build some trust first, clipping at this point might retard that process. Cage near the action in your house and by the window sounds great. Alot will depend on where she was kept in her old house, you'd like to keep things as similar as possible to start with. I wouldn't over load the cage with toys just yet, wait and see how she feels about them and what she likes. If she hasn't been exposed to them in the past she might be a bit fearful of them. Was she covered at night in her past life? Little things like that will help with the transition to her new home.