Cage Time/Free Time

[Lee Penman]

I had my maroon-bellied conure, Rico, for 14 years, and, apart from a brief spell of sleeping inside his cage, he never went inside. I had perches inside and out (mainly outside, as his preference to be out evolved). Now I am on the verge of getting another bird, so I wondered if it is actually appropriate to give some cage time to a bird. In the absence of them being able to speak for themselves, I thought I would ask for everyone's thoughts based on observations.
Thank You

 

[Mizzely]

My birds are basically only in their cages for bedtime, but I do occasionally have my birds have a few hours or a day where they are in their cages for longer periods. I think they need to be able to entertain themselves in their cages without stressing about it. Whether for safety reasons, a vacation, illness, etc, being used to bring in their cage is healthy and useful, I think. Just another aspect of training!

 

[Lee Penman]

My birds are basically only in their cages for bedtime, but I do occasionally have my birds have a few hours or a day where they are in their cages for longer periods. I think they need to be able to entertain themselves in their cages without stressing about it. Whether for safety reasons, a vacation, illness, etc, being used to bring in their cage is healthy and useful, I think. Just another aspect of training!

Thank you, I appreciate your input on this

 

[Emma&pico]

Mine have to be used to in cage time I do 12hr shifts so from day one I’ve made sure they can entertain themselves so I have cage time part of our day even if it’s my day off I would love to have them out of cage all day every day but it’s not feasible I try to stick to routine best I can and make sure out of cage time is quality time

my routine is I give them breakfast pellets fresh water at 7:30/8 take iris to school bus walk dogs tidy up get birds out about 10 I put them away about half 1/2 into their cage with their veggies then normally put my make up and make tea for evening if it’s something I can make like curry stew spag bol etc
If iris has dance at 4 straight from school bus I take veggies out change water about 3 put pellets back in sometimes dance is until 6 we have tea so they come out until about 19:3/20:00 while I fill up foraging toys back into cage then lights out about 20:30/
If dance is later at 17:00/18:00 I feed iris after school get birds out change veggies for pellets fill foraging toys up so they get about hr n half out at evening sometimes hubby takes her to dance though so days he takes her they are out from 17:00/30 until 20:00

if I am working I fill foraging toys up evening before I turn lights out so it’s there in morning ready I go in about 6 fresh pellets fresh water then to work for 7 I finish at 19:15 eat tea get birds out about 19:30 until about 20:30 this can be a nightmare though because Remi and pip gcc are super crabby

weekends they are out most of day if we don’t have dance but hubby takes her most of time they might be in cage for an hour or two if we have shopping or take dogs for a big walk I do work every other Saturday though too but the Sunday after I work Saturday they are out all day that’s when I normally do big cage room clean

not what I want but it’s works for us I don’t think my birds are bored or unhappy

 

[Lee Penman]

I figured I would start the new bird with some cage time just to keep everyone not actually present happy (you know what I mean lol). I have toys, and I ordered a couple more from Lil Monsters - hoping he likes toys. I ordered a second, bigger cage for my second apt (just slightly bigger like his other one). I never used to bother with the size of the cage with Rico as he was never in it - it was just a frame to put his perches on.
He was a terrible sleeper, though, and slept in all sorts of weird ways. Some nights, he would whistle for most of the night! It was testing at times lol.

 

[Icey]

Both of mine are only in their cages for sleeping or when I go out.
The both have anough toys in their cages to entertain themselves, but my cockatoo is very clingy and unless she's on an egg, has to be with me or she will scream the place down.
I agree with @Mizzely that they should be able to entertain themselves independently. Miss Dolly apparently missed that memo.

 

[Finchbreed]

My situation is probably not one that is relevent to you.
All my birds are avairy based - no cages allowed here - If it is smaller that the standard WC room it is a cage not an avairy.
And ideally nothing smaller that a standard household bathroom.
Experiment.

 

[patchyjoon]

Patches is only in his cage for sleeping, when I go out or when I cook (I don't trust him enough not to fly over and dive bomb into a hot pan).
Patchys cages are filled to the brim with toys and he does play with it during the day, but he prefers his perch by the window more then anything.

I would say, definelty get them used to the cage, I think my biggest mistake with Patch is letting his personality revolve around the fact that he is a free range chicken. He is not a fan being locked in there, he usually calms down after a couple minutes but it's a little stressful leaving the house and him crying like a little baby...

 

[~Drini~]

3 out of 4 of my birds need constant supervision or else they will break/chew/destroy something they shouldn't (I live with non-bird people and 2 of my birds are large macaws). My GCC is the one bird who can stay out all day and not need someone constantly following him around. Otherwise I'd love to give them run of the house all day. They have fairly large enclosures but my plan is to have proper aviaries within the next 2 years.

 

[Lee Penman]

3 out of 4 of my birds need constant supervision or else they will break/chew/destroy something they shouldn't (I live with non-bird people and 2 of my birds are large macaws). My GCC is the one bird who can stay out all day and not need someone constantly following him around. Otherwise I'd love to give them run of the house all day. They have fairly large enclosures but my plan is to have proper aviaries within the next 2 years.

Oh wow yes, I can imagine having two large macaws is a full time job lol

 

[Lee Penman]

Patches is only in his cage for sleeping, when I go out or when I cook (I don't trust him enough not to fly over and dive bomb into a hot pan).
Patchys cages are filled to the brim with toys and he does play with it during the day, but he prefers his perch by the window more then anything.

I would say, definelty get them used to the cage, I think my biggest mistake with Patch is letting his personality revolve around the fact that he is a free range chicken. He is not a fan being locked in there, he usually calms down after a couple minutes but it's a little stressful leaving the house and him crying like a little baby...

Yes, I always gave Rico free rein of whatever apt he was in, and he only stepped inside his cage on very rare occasions - a couple of times after a bath. I am trying to train Pico slightly differently. I am working from home today, so I can open up his cage for a bit, but tomorrow, when I go to work, I will close the door as he cannot fly properly yet and no doubt would end up hurting himself.

 

[Nostromo]

My birds have been mostly an "open door policy" with their cages; both blue head pionus and not destructive at all, and they can fly, so they are really very good about keeping themselves to their playstands in the house. But I find they go back to their cages for naps and pellets (they get chop on one playstand but otherwise their food is in their cage). And put themselves to bed at dusk. They definitely love their cages and know it's "their" space where nobody will bother them and they can relax and not have to keep an eye out. I think the cage can be a real benefit if it's a comfortable space that they mostly feel they can control the time they spend in.

 

[Lee Penman]

My birds have been mostly an "open door policy" with their cages; both blue head pionus and not destructive at all, and they can fly, so they are really very good about keeping themselves to their playstands in the house. But I find they go back to their cages for naps and pellets (they get chop on one playstand but otherwise their food is in their cage). And put themselves to bed at dusk. They definitely love their cages and know it's "their" space where nobody will bother them and they can relax and not have to keep an eye out. I think the cage can be a real benefit if it's a comfortable space that they mostly feel they can control the time they spend in.

That is what I am encouraging. The door is open through day and closed at night. I do have to put his food on top of the cage when he is out though as he hasn't figured out how to go back in yet