Maximum out of cage time?

[rebecca252]

I have three budgies, and I was wondering if there is a maximum time they should be outside of their cage? Currently, they pretty much have out of cage time from 9am to 8pm, but I don’t want to over exert them by letting them stay out for too long.
Thanks!

 

[Mizzely]

Nope as long as everyone is safe and happy, with access to food, water, and opportunities to rest, it should be just fine!

My bird has an open cage basically 24 hours a day

 

[Lady Jane]

Your budgies know where their food and water are located and will go back in the cage when they feel the need. No worries.

 

[jh81]

as long as is safe.

whenever you are there to supervise, they could (and should) be out

 

[flyzipper]

Over exertion won't be an issue, but I will suggest that their out of cage time should be fairly predictable and routine as much as possible (whatever the duration).

Being out 8 hours per day, most every day, will likely be easier for them to establish a rhythm with, rather than 16 hours one day and 1hr the next.

You'll see this in behaviour forums quite often... the adverse reaction when a bird goes from being out of the cage most of the time, to suddenly being confined when their owner has to go back to work (for example). Sudden changes like that should be avoided, and significant changes to their routine should be gradually introduced when possible.

 

[tka]

Agreed with @flyzipper - it's an issue of how much time is sustainable long-term. Birds tend to like routine, and get unsettled when they don't have a routine or when this routine is disrupted. I think it's a good idea to keep some flexibility in the routine because otherwise it is very difficult for them to cope with any changes, but it is a good to keep the shape of one.

For example, I've been working exclusively from home for the past year. Leia could be out of her cage from 9am to 9pm, but I worry that it would be really hard for her to adjust to being in her cage during the day when I go back to my workplace. As such, I've kept her out of cage time to 6-9pm as it was when I was working outside the home. She knows that this is her time to fly around and play. She's still used to her cage and usually naps and chews up toys during the day.