How do I teach my parrot not to fly into mirrors, windows, etc?

[Eva_S.]

Hello,
I have an IRN, he's 4 months old and in the future I want to keep him cageless. For now I let him out in one room without mirrors and roll down my window so he wouldn't fly into it. How do I explain to him what windows and mirrors are, so he wouldn't get hurt?

Also, how do I present to him the whole house? Because I have two floors and a few rooms without doors. So If i let him out he can go to several rooms which he isn't very familiar with. I'm scared that he might panic or he can get hurt maneuvering through the rooms or upstairs.

 

[expressmailtome]

You have a few separate issues here. The first is mirrors and windows in a small area. This one is the "easier" issue. Try looking online for "decals" that are meant to be put onto windows to lower the risk of birds outdoors from flying into windows. They are not a perfect solution, but they do help some. As for the entire house, you are asking literally dozens of questions at one time. The kitchen, in my opinion, is never safe for a bird. In your rooms, you will also have to find a way to prevent electrical wires from being chewed on. For that, you could get some plastic tubing and put it around EVERY wire that your bird has any possibility of getting to. Doors are another massive hazard as someone could enter/exit while your bird is loose in the house. Then, your bird is loose outside. It is not a visually attractive option, but I have seen pictures of people making "catches" around the doors for extra protection.

 

[Eva_S.]

You have a few separate issues here. The first is mirrors and windows in a small area. This one is the "easier" issue. Try looking online for "decals" that are meant to be put onto windows to lower the risk of birds outdoors from flying into windows. They are not a perfect solution, but they do help some. As for the entire house, you are asking literally dozens of questions at one time. The kitchen, in my opinion, is never safe for a bird. In your rooms, you will also have to find a way to prevent electrical wires from being chewed on. For that, you could get some plastic tubing and put it around EVERY wire that your bird has any possibility of getting to. Doors are another massive hazard as someone could enter/exit while your bird is loose in the house. Then, your bird is loose outside. It is not a visually attractive option, but I have seen pictures of people making "catches" around the doors for extra protection.

Okay, thank you.

 

[Mizzely]

I use sheer curtains in my living room which has dual side glass doors along one wall. Even with a baby Bourke's, I've not had any crashes.

The living room also connects to several other areas of the the house that have no doors (but lead to the outside). I use more sheer curtains (hung with tacks or tension rods) to keep the birds from being able to access those areas to prevent escapes.

I've also heard people walking around with their bird and tapping on windows/mirrors to show them that they are solid.

 

[Emerison]

How I introduce my new birds to my house is usually starting one room at a time getting them comfortable and rewarding them for showing signs of relaxation and happiness. Then I slowly will start opening a door to let them walk out themselves if they want to as I follow or I will carry them to the new room and give them positive reinforcement as they don't show negative emotions like fear, if they do I will return to the room they are comfortable in and try again later maybe walking slower and continuing to give treats and encouragement. As you add more rooms to the routine and making sure to visit previous rooms so they don't forget about them making sure to follow the speed they want to go at. As for windows I usually keep my birdies wings clipped enough that they can fly short distances but not enough to fly super far up or away but when it comes to similar issues to what you are experiencing I usually just sorta show them the window/mirror making them see me touch it and asking them step onto it- touch it or interact with that object in such a way that they see it as a wall not a open space also using sheer curtains or window stickers can help them figure out that its a solid object. Hope this is helpful~ <3

 

[Sparkles99]

I have shutters & this helps too.

 

[kadeconure]

I've also heard people walking around with their bird and tapping on windows/mirrors to show them that they are solid.

This is how I showed my 2 that fly. I would even hold them up to the window and have them touch it themselves, haven't had a window collision.

 

[Eva_S.]

I use sheer curtains in my living room which has dual side glass doors along one wall. Even with a baby Bourke's, I've not had any crashes.

The living room also connects to several other areas of the the house that have no doors (but lead to the outside). I use more sheer curtains (hung with tacks or tension rods) to keep the birds from being able to access those areas to prevent escapes.

I've also heard people walking around with their bird and tapping on windows/mirrors to show them that they are solid.

Thanks!!

 

[Eva_S.]

How I introduce my new birds to my house is usually starting one room at a time getting them comfortable and rewarding them for showing signs of relaxation and happiness. Then I slowly will start opening a door to let them walk out themselves if they want to as I follow or I will carry them to the new room and give them positive reinforcement as they don't show negative emotions like fear, if they do I will return to the room they are comfortable in and try again later maybe walking slower and continuing to give treats and encouragement. As you add more rooms to the routine and making sure to visit previous rooms so they don't forget about them making sure to follow the speed they want to go at. As for windows I usually keep my birdies wings clipped enough that they can fly short distances but not enough to fly super far up or away but when it comes to similar issues to what you are experiencing I usually just sorta show them the window/mirror making them see me touch it and asking them step onto it- touch it or interact with that object in such a way that they see it as a wall not a open space also using sheer curtains or window stickers can help them figure out that its a solid object. Hope this is helpful~ <3

It is very helpful! I will definitely do that

 

[~Drini~]

How I introduce my new birds to my house is usually starting one room at a time getting them comfortable and rewarding them for showing signs of relaxation and happiness. Then I slowly will start opening a door to let them walk out themselves if they want to as I follow or I will carry them to the new room and give them positive reinforcement as they don't show negative emotions like fear, if they do I will return to the room they are comfortable in and try again later maybe walking slower and continuing to give treats and encouragement. As you add more rooms to the routine and making sure to visit previous rooms so they don't forget about them making sure to follow the speed they want to go at. As for windows I usually keep my birdies wings clipped enough that they can fly short distances but not enough to fly super far up or away but when it comes to similar issues to what you are experiencing I usually just sorta show them the window/mirror making them see me touch it and asking them step onto it- touch it or interact with that object in such a way that they see it as a wall not a open space also using sheer curtains or window stickers can help them figure out that its a solid object. Hope this is helpful~ <3

This is how I showed my 2 that fly. I would even hold them up to the window and have them touch it themselves, haven't had a window collision.

The problem is that if and when a bird is spooked, they fly and navigate through space essentially without thinking. Their focus is simply on escaping. They may know that a window is a window under normal circumstances, but in an emergency, they may not register it as an obstacle.

 

[kadeconure]

The problem is that if and when a bird is spooked, they fly and navigate through space essentially without thinking. Their focus is simply on escaping. They may know that a window is a window under normal circumstances, but in an emergency, they may not register it as an obstacle.

That’s a good point! But this hasn’t happened to me, even with the very flighty and easily spooked budgie. Maybe having window screens helps with the visibility of the window, I know some houses/apartments don’t have them. I think just glass would be harder for them to see.

 

[Finchbreed]

Straight glass is a bigger problem and so is clean glass.
Perfect excuse not to clean the windows.
Hanging something in front of the windows like wind chimes is another idea.