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Free flight?

Adriana_33

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Hi there!

I had a quick question: Can lovebirds, budgies, cockatiels, or parrotlets be free-flight trained?

Thank you, Adriana R. :)
 

BirdWorld

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Yeah, if you want a bird that you can free fly probably get a bigger one, and even then the bird has to be extremely well trained, especially with recall.
 

Aves

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Yeah big birds are the only ones for free flight, and even so it is taking a huge risk. It safer to have a free flight group with big birds and a professional trainer. ( Birdtricks and other commercial bird trainers are a no-no)
 

Olliebirb

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It's good for a bird to be able to fly but it is hard to train them to fly outside like free flight birds. But you should never clip their wings
 

Seulregi

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Yeah big birds are the only ones for free flight, and even so it is taking a huge risk. It safer to have a free flight group with big birds and a professional trainer. ( Birdtricks and other commercial bird trainers are a no-no)
Curious about what’s wrong with birdtricks?
 

Shezbug

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Curious about what’s wrong with birdtricks?
There are plenty of threads on here about them and why lots of people prefer not to use or support them. Have a quick search and I am sure you will have plenty of interesting reading ;)
 

Aves

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Curious about what’s wrong with birdtricks?
Like others have stated, Birdtricks take other content/supplies/food and market it as their own. They also aren't experts they are only good at entertaining. They also are very dishonest as the husband is proud of smuggling birds on planes so he doesn't have to pay the tickets.
 

Seulregi

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Like others have stated, Birdtricks take other content/supplies/food and market it as their own. They also aren't experts they are only good at entertaining. They also are very dishonest as the husband is proud of smuggling birds on planes so he doesn't have to pay the tickets.
oh I see! This is disappointing to hear, I’ve also read too that parrot wizard is not so great. Thanks for informing me! I won’t watch their videos anymore :)
 

Shezbug

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oh I see! This is disappointing to hear, I’ve also read too that parrot wizard is not so great. Thanks for informing me! I won’t watch their videos anymore :)
If you enjoy their content then watch them, just be aware that there are other sources of information out there from real professionals with qualifications.
 

PufF

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Hi there!

I had a quick question: Can lovebirds, budgies, cockatiels, or parrotlets be free-flight trained?

Thank you, Adriana R. :)
As previously mentioned they shouldn’t but they can fly in house if you’d like.
Curious why you would like them to be free flighted.
Do note the difference between flighted and free flighted
Free flighted- Able to fly long distances outside at a clear place or grassland of that sort with no obstacles/distractions and predators too (can’t be sure that there are completely none in the area but at least be sure none were sighted before)
Flighted- Simply put able to fly. If able to fly back on cue I think it’s called recall and you might actually be wanting a recall train instead.
Free flying is much more dangerous than being flighted and if weather changes/anything happens it will impact you more than having your birds being flighted at home. You’ll need an actual experienced mentor as well and as mentioned free flying does good in groups.
 

Zara

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I had a quick question: Can lovebirds, budgies, cockatiels, or parrotlets be free-flight trained?
As Shezbug said, none are good candidates for free flight. But Lovebirds and Cockatiels can be harness trained and taken outdoors. It may take time working with them and the harness but if you can do it then they can go out with you (just remember to be aware of predators).
 

Hankmacaw

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Hi there!

I had a quick question: Can lovebirds, budgies, cockatiels, or parrotlets be free-flight trained?

Thank you, Adriana R. :)
Cockatiels and budgies are free flown, but only in larger flocks. There are only two trainers in the world that I know of who will even attempt to train small birds. Almost all professional trainers are strongly against free flying these little birds due to attrition rate from lost birds and predators. Parrotlets and lovebirds are not free flown by any professionals.
 

Sparkles99

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So I just read the article you linked to. Starving anything, regardless of motive, is beyond wrong; it's immoral. I hope people stop falling for their marketing.
 

budgieluv3

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I don’t suggest free flight, unless you are a professional with much experience and only with bigger, VERY well trained birds. It’s just too dangerous. You can do recall inside with those birds species inside though if you are looking for training ideas.
 

Adriana_33

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So I just read the article you linked to. Starving anything, regardless of motive, is beyond wrong; it's immoral. I hope people stop falling for their marketing.
Yes, I completely agree. But why are you writing this on a page about freeflight?
 

MommyBird

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Yes, I completely agree. But why are you writing this on a page about freeflight?
Because in the link HankMacaw gave in post#14, Chris Biro says:
"But after listening to their birds begging for food due to their hunger level we chose not to fly with them the next day when we encountered them again. Though we instead selected a spot to fly several hundred yards away from them, we could still hear their birds crying for food. It was painful to hear "
(Apparently their method wants their birds to be very hungry so they will not fly off but return for food.)
 

Adriana_33

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Because in the link HankMacaw gave in post#14, Chris Biro says:
"But after listening to their birds begging for food due to their hunger level we chose not to fly with them the next day when we encountered them again. Though we instead selected a spot to fly several hundred yards away from them, we could still hear their birds crying for food. It was painful to hear "
(Apparently their method wants their birds to be very hungry so they will not fly off but return for food.)
Oh, ok.

I highly doubt BirdTricks did this, but then again, there is no way for me to know.
 

Shezbug

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Oh, ok.

I highly doubt BirdTricks did this, but then again, there is no way for me to know.
They actually spoke to me in my consult about withholding food from Burt to get him to do what I want so I have no doubt in my mind they did it! They also post videos showing it but it is put across as a good way to hand tame birds who do not want to be tamed fast.... Only offer them food from your hand so they are so hungry they will go against instinct and eat from your hand even thought they do not trust you- they put it across like it is a great training technique :(
 
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