Windows?

[jagrooten5]

Hello! I had a question about windows.
I have two exposed windows in my living room and my conure is sort of flighted (she is clipped but can still fly/hover) I don't want to cover them with curtains because I have succulents in front of both of them. I was wondering if you guys could post pictures of your exposed windows and how you make them visible for silly birds who don't understand glass

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[SailBoat]

First how big are these windows?
What is your Furnishing Style(s)?
How good at developing a Fashion Statement are you?
Do you have the ability to hang 'things' from above these windows i.e. exiting curtain rods?
Are you a Renter, a Condo Owner or Home Owner?

 

[jagrooten5]

Those are the two I keep exposed
My mom owns the house. I have curtains to hang there but they would likely be open most of the time due to the plants.

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[Skittys_Daddy]

This is a tough one. I had the scare of my life last week when Skittles flew into the window for the second time and his right foot went limp.

I don't get a lot of sun in my apartment and what little I do get is from the two windows he is most likely to fly into.

I'm trying to find things to block the windows too while letting the sun in. In the meantime, I have the venetians drawn. He's a really good flier so I'm not too worried about him flying into the blinds, he's never flown into anything (aside from the windows) in the five years I've had him. He can do complete 180s with very little room, I've even seen him stop mid flight and turn around completely in less than a second.

I tried doing the 'granny curtains' and it just blocked too much light. I'm going to invest in suncatchers. Since I don't get 'direct' sunlight into my living room then hopefully I won't get any glare.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. I just want to reiterate how important it is to watch out for those windows!

 

[Terry57]

I know some people use stickers on their window.
Here is a good thread where people are talking about it
http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/46886-window-decals-avoid-crashes.html

 

[SailBoat]

A couple of realities:

Any Parrot /Bird that has been scared and is in a panic to escape will crash, at speed, into walls, doors, windows, mirrors, etc.... It is just a reality and the strength of the escape reflex!

Short of fully blocking off a window, there is no sure way of eliminating the reality of a scared Parrot /Bird flying into a window with any type of distraction on or in front of that Window. (Note: As stated above, even a blocked off window will not fully eliminate this from happening.

Based on the above, everything from here is offered as a way to 'limiting' only.

Please read the recommended Thread provided above. That will cover the vast majority of possible methods.

When you start from the position of attempting to satisfy two very different end goals, there has to be trade-offs.

We have tried many of the suggestion as part of the attached Thread. They all work to differing levels of success depending of the Parrot /Bird and the set-up of the room.

What we have settled on is the installation of 50 mm (2") blinds. They have a very wide price range and choice of colours. In the cold season, one can fully close them to limit heat loss at night. In the day time, one can set the blind at an angle to match the position of the Sun. This allows over 90% of that days Sunlight to enter the room and support your plants. Now, that takes care of the Plants, correct?

But, what can they do for the Parrot /Bird? With the blinds set for anytime of the year, they nearly always will be at a some angle, which defines very limited access and by doing so, will direct a Parrot /Bird in non-panic flight to turn away. When the Parrot /Bird is in a full panic flight and headed straight for the blinds set at a slight angle. The 50 mm (2") blind can provide up to 38 mm (1.5") of give and additional give depending whether the Parrot /Bird hits it in the upper or lower Window section. In ether case, that small give will greatly reduce the the impact on your Parrot /Bird.

Remember that no approach is fool proof and training you Parrot /Bird on the physical limits of your room remains necessary.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I got "Skittles" suncatchers. Basically, letters to spell out his name. I also got a couple of 'sun' suncatchers and 'rainbow' suncatchers.

I have a giant wooden plaque that says his name hanging outside my door. My neighbor says I have it there so that people know its HIS apartment. I don't argue that fact with him, because I don't want to be forced to sleep in a cage, I like my comfy bed. lol

Anyways, I also got a great idea- I invested in some 'window paint' and got some stencils so I can paint things on the windows.

I think it all depends on your style. Whether you use suncatchers, stickers/decals or stencil paints.

I plan on posting pictures of my window creations once I'm done.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Skittles has never crashed into any wall- its just the windows he has tried to fly through. He has been spooked many times and usually just flies to one of his 'safe spots'. He has plenty around the apartment.

One thing, I've been doing lately is every so often, especially when its rather quiet, I will make a noise- a small noise- nothing too startling and then gradually get to a louder noise. Sometimes I just make a 'clicking noise' with my tongue or 'tap' on the desk. That way he is used to 'sudden' noises and doesn't freak out as badly. It's working great so far.

 

[GaleriaGila]

My contribution...

Recommended to me in the early days... "wall and window training"... taking the bird around to walls and windows, and encouraging them to tap or at least experience the situation, so they can see that walls are WALLS and windows are HARD AIR. Has worked for us.
Demonstration... it's also a cute "trick". Click the picture.


Here it is on YouTube, if you prefer. Photobucket can be so slow.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF1lyE72pOs"]Scene 4 - Hotel Rickeybird - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I have actually done that with Skittles. It is a great idea to do that. They are smart and they do figure things out. Skittles knows exactly where things are. For example, when I wake him up in the morning and take him out of the cage, he'll climb onto my finger and then fly out the bedroom, down the hall and into the living room and land on his perch thats mounted to my desk. He does this EVERYDAY.

I've been fortunate in that the only times Skittles had flown into something are those two window scares after a loud noise.

When I had Peaches, she would fly into the wall a lot and I had budgies over the years that kept banging their heads against the ceilings.

I agree with Sailboat about that. There is no fool proof method and we can only do so much- but sometimes that's enough and sometimes it isn't.

 

[wrench13]

Wow Gail, you have really figured out what looks like the best way to teach parrots that walls are hard, I hope you do the same thing with windows? I am going to try and teach Salty the same thing, even tho he is not flighted ( going for a clip tomorrow). And its so cute how he tests the walls.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Mr. Wrench...
Absolutely, windows, walls, refrigerators... mirrors... television screens.
Ooooooooooooh, you should hear the Mr. squall when Rbird knocks on the big screen!

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

My contribution...

Recommended to me in the early days... "wall and window training"... taking the bird around to walls and windows, and encouraging them to tap or at least experience the situation, so they can see that walls are WALLS and windows are HARD AIR. Has worked for us.
Demonstration... it's also a cute "trick". Click the picture.


Here it is on YouTube, if you prefer. Photobucket can be so slow.
Scene 4 - Hotel Rickeybird - YouTube

LMAO!! Gail!!! That was soooo freekin' cute! RBird knocking after you lol
Made my day! THANKS!

Jim

 

[jagrooten5]

Thank you for all of your excellent t suggestions! I think I will put the blinds back up where the plants are and just tilt them. They were up when I moved in here but my husband pulled the string to draw them up and they fell off the wall
Your bird tapping the wall is beyond cute, I laughed out loud alone in the living room
I think I'll teach Lily that tomorrow, I only just got her to step up for the first time today

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[snowflake311]

I too have my bird Touch the windows and bite them to know hey you can not go out there. It helps. I am going to put window stickers on my big window in the birds room. My Aunt always keep the curtains closed they are sheer but it still is kind of weird. I feel like the birds enjoy looking out windows.

 

[jagrooten5]

I think they like it too!
I leave the window exposed directly behind Lily's cage. It doesn't stress her out and I feel like it gives her a really good internal clock (she wakes up at sunrise and gets sleepy at dusk)
Tonight before her bedtime she just sat in top of her cage and stared out the window until the sun set. When it did she went inside and assumed her position in the corner and went to sleep

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[Skittys_Daddy]

It is a good idea to tilt the blinds, like you mentioned. Probably tilt them down rather than up- so you get more light. That way there is less likelihood of them flying into them and getting tangled.