Proper exercise

[AfricanGreyEnthusiast]

I've been fascinated with the idea from free flight since I found out it was a thing. The research I've done however has pretty much ruled the practice out for my situation because of the time commitment, risks, cost, and that our fids are already adults. What do you guys do to properly exercise your fids? Do you indoor fly them, do certain exercises, or do you think regular out of the cage time will suffice on keeping them fit?

My B&G refuses to fly. His previous owner would set him out on a perch alone outside for hours and he would stay. There have been times when he was particularly restless that he would do some crazy acrobatics to get off his perch without flying. Any idea why this would be and ways to encourage him to take flight? Should I even encourage it or just leave it alone because it's safer to have him grounded?

 

[GaleriaGila]

The Rbird has been flighted most of his life, so he exercises himself.
I would think that maybe games of chase or toy-fetch or providing fun stuff like boings might help...

 

[CDavis]

Put your bird at the bottom of his cage when returning him to his cage so they have to climb to where they want to go.

 

[Loko]

My sun is flighted and can fly around my apartment as he pleases; im not sure how indoor flight is with macaws though since theres an obvious size difference. It would definitely be healthier for the bird to have some flight rather than be on its feet, theres no question about that. No amount of time walking amounts to the excersize a bird gets flying. If you have room inside i would try some target and recall training. You can set up two perches and encourage the bird to fly from where he is to the other or to you. Before doing this though, the more important question is, can he fly? He may not be clipped but that doesnt mean he was ever allowed to fledge properly and learn how to manuever and especially land. If he cant fly or land, then Im not sure if theres anything you can do, maybe someone else can help as far as teaching an adult bird to fly and land properly. If he can fly, theres different ways to encourage flying. Ive never had to really "encourage" my sun to fly but I know if I do kind of a "paper airplane toss" manuever with him in my hand and point to something with the other hand, he will fly there. Obviously do not do this if he cant fly properly though. If the other birds can fly, i would encourage indoor flying like I mentioned above, just make sure theres no hazards.

 

[AfricanGreyEnthusiast]

My sun is flighted and can fly around my apartment as he pleases; im not sure how indoor flight is with macaws though since theres an obvious size difference. It would definitely be healthier for the bird to have some flight rather than be on its feet, theres no question about that. No amount of time walking amounts to the excersize a bird gets flying. If you have room inside i would try some target and recall training. You can set up two perches and encourage the bird to fly from where he is to the other or to you. Before doing this though, the more important question is, can he fly? He may not be clipped but that doesnt mean he was ever allowed to fledge properly and learn how to manuever and especially land. If he cant fly or land, then Im not sure if theres anything you can do, maybe someone else can help as far as teaching an adult bird to fly and land properly. If he can fly, theres different ways to encourage flying. Ive never had to really "encourage" my sun to fly but I know if I do kind of a "paper airplane toss" manuever with him in my hand and point to something with the other hand, he will fly there. Obviously do not do this if he cant fly properly though. If the other birds can fly, i would encourage indoor flying like I mentioned above, just make sure theres no hazards.

What exactly is fledging 'properly' and how does that stop them from knowing how to fly?

 

[SailBoat]

There is no question that Flight is truly the best exercise for a Parrot! The flight muscles are their largest and any use of them provides a near full body exercise.

By pure luck, there is an extensive /detailed discussion on Re-Fledging an Adult Parrot in the first Thread in the Amazon Forum section that is Titled: I Love Amazons -... You will find what you are looking for on page 4.

Enjoy!!! And, your Parrot will also!!!

 

[Loko]

My sun is flighted and can fly around my apartment as he pleases; im not sure how indoor flight is with macaws though since theres an obvious size difference. It would definitely be healthier for the bird to have some flight rather than be on its feet, theres no question about that. No amount of time walking amounts to the excersize a bird gets flying. If you have room inside i would try some target and recall training. You can set up two perches and encourage the bird to fly from where he is to the other or to you. Before doing this though, the more important question is, can he fly? He may not be clipped but that doesnt mean he was ever allowed to fledge properly and learn how to manuever and especially land. If he cant fly or land, then Im not sure if theres anything you can do, maybe someone else can help as far as teaching an adult bird to fly and land properly. If he can fly, theres different ways to encourage flying. Ive never had to really "encourage" my sun to fly but I know if I do kind of a "paper airplane toss" manuever with him in my hand and point to something with the other hand, he will fly there. Obviously do not do this if he cant fly properly though. If the other birds can fly, i would encourage indoor flying like I mentioned above, just make sure theres no hazards.

What exactly is fledging 'properly' and how does that stop them from knowing how to fly?

When parrots are young, they fledge, which basically means when they hop out the nest and learn to fly and land. Some people clip the wings of birds when they are young, before they "fledged", which in turn prevents them from ..fledging . Check out the thread Sailboat mentioned, sounds exactly like what you need!

 

[AfricanGreyEnthusiast]

Looks like George is getting some training soon then! My only worry is once he learns how to fly, I'll have to take a lot more precautions with him.

 

[Loko]

Looks like George is getting some training soon then! My only worry is once he learns how to fly, I'll have to take a lot more precautions with him.

Definitely, if you take him out a lot I would onvest in a harness. Even as he is now I would use a harmess, just in case something really spooks him and off he goes. That is if he can fly at all.. do you know if he can?
P.s.
Even with clipped wings they can fly enough to get into trouble or lost.

 

[AfricanGreyEnthusiast]

Looks like George is getting some training soon then! My only worry is once he learns how to fly, I'll have to take a lot more precautions with him.

Definitely, if you take him out a lot I would onvest in a harness. Even as he is now I would use a harmess, just in case something really spooks him and off he goes. That is if he can fly at all.. do you know if he can?
P.s.
Even with clipped wings they can fly enough to get into trouble or lost.

He has no history of flying that I am aware of but I don't know if he's capable. What would make him incapable even after re-fledging?

 

[SailBoat]

Looks like George is getting some training soon then! My only worry is once he learns how to fly, I'll have to take a lot more precautions with him.

Definitely, if you take him out a lot I would onvest in a harness. Even as he is now I would use a harmess, just in case something really spooks him and off he goes. That is if he can fly at all.. do you know if he can?
P.s.
Even with clipped wings they can fly enough to get into trouble or lost.

He has no history of flying that I am aware of but I don't know if he's capable. What would make him incapable even after re-fledging?

A parrot that has been 're-fledged' implies that it would then be a flier. If during the process, it is found that your Parrot has a specific medical problem, which limits extensive exercise, well you than work a the level of your Parrots abilities, right?

If your Parrot has never flown at all, like with Human's its worth having your Parrot examined by Avian Vet, prior to beginning the training process!