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Beano the basher

Beano

Sitting on the front steps
Joined
7/28/22
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17
Real Name
Carol
I have a beautiful eight month Congo Grey. He has been with me since he was eight weeks old and he is free flying in my living room. I simply want to ask for opinions.
I have chosen not to allow Beano out of the cage all day but rather he is out of the cage several times a day . He is allowed to fly,socialise and generally get into mischief. At these times he's fully supervised with both myself or husband . I also have a dog and they love each other to bits.
Every day he comes to the park in his carrier when I am walking my dog and he also comes up to the garden in his carrier.
The rest of the day he is in his cage playing with his toys ,clambering around,singing his head off and generally being a very young African grey Parrot.
My reason for not allowing him out all day to just roam around and get into mischief is that I want him to be able to content himself whilst I am not with him as I can't be there every moment of the day . I feel that I will be setting my self up for a problem if I allow him to think He needs to be with me all the time.He seems very happy and well adjusted . Do you all feel this is an appropriate life for him.He is on a very good diet has lots of toys which he plays with and a constant gentle level of activity around him.
 

Wally&Eva

Jogging around the block
Joined
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943
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New York
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Carol
able to content himself whilst I am not with him as I can't be there every moment of the day . I feel that I will be setting my self up for a problem
I’ve often wondered that as well. I work large chunks of the night so I want them to be able to be happy without always being with us or out. On my days off, I used to leave them out all day but lately I have been leaving for about 2 hours during the day and putting them back into the cage. So they went from 12 hours to 9. They don’t have any adverse reactions to the change so we like the 2x a day instead of all day. They seem excited to see us and to come out both times. And they don’t mind going back in. I think it’s been better for all of us this way. They almost forget they are sitting on the curtains sleeping and when I pop them into the cage, they are fine to go into their hammock. I thought they would not like being put back in but it makes them like their cage more, I think.

I’ve realized that we have to be more on our time, instead of the birds time. Like us running in and letting them out first thing because they are chirping or letting them stay out 12 hours. It’s creating some bad habits so we are trying to rectify that with more purposeful time out. Going back and forth, let’s them know that it’s ok to be sleepy and rest in your cage, you can come out again later. It’s been better this way.

Beano sounds like a happy bird, he gets to be in the garden and with his favorite people/dog.
 

Beano

Sitting on the front steps
Joined
7/28/22
Messages
17
Real Name
Carol
It's lovely to receive your reply thank you.

I rather think we are setting ourselves up for problems if the bird expects to be out the cage all the time during the day. I feel they need to content themselves if possible in the cage. Quite often Beano does not want to come out the cage when I invite him and he will just let me pet him then he goes back to sleep if he is having a snooze during the day. He is a little rat bag and at the moment needs a very clear direction otherwise he would create havoc but he is learning the word no and pays attention when I chastise him firmly He is extremely confident around the family and I describe him as a feathered nuisance LOL.
 

Shezbug

ASK ME FOR PICTURES OF MY MACAW!
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It’s good to make sure your bird can entertain itself safely and happily in its cage while you’re gone. You may not be able to be home all day at some stage so to have them independent enough to amuse themselves is important for you both.
 

Wally&Eva

Jogging around the block
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New York
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Carol
It’s hard practicing tough love especially since we’ve had them as babies, when they are completely helpless. But I totally agree. Too much freedom can be a bad thing. Trust me, I was a latchkey kid haha boundaries are a good thing. I’m learning that with my babies. I have the fortune of having two birds (lovebirds) and they have the loveliest relationship. That helps curb some of that behavior because they are both very cuddly attached birds to both my husband and I and with only one bird, I can imagine the problems that would arise. They love each other the most and we are ok with that.

That’s wonderful that he is confident and comfortable around your family and your dog. And being outside and in the carrier! We had our first visitor, my brother, 2 weeks ago and my birds were curious and landed on him, proud mama! Playing nice with others! Sounds like Beano is fitting right in!
 

Tyrion

Biking along the boulevard
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I feel cage time is important for every bird so they feel they have their own space to play or sleep as they want... I am concerned about letting your baby play with your dog if thats what is happening.. dog saliva is toxic to birds and you can run into issues if your dog licks the baby I would not let them out together even though they seem to love each other accidents can happen :)
 

Beano

Sitting on the front steps
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Carol
Thanks for all the input.The dog is never left unattended with my tiny little dog and the dog does not lick my parrot so I think we are ok there.It's a big learning curve for sure.
 
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