Out of Cage Time.

[kaylayuh]

How long are your birds out of their cages? Do you notice changes in behavior when they're inside for longer than usual?

Right now, my budgies are out of the cage from about 8 a.m. until 7:30 or 8 p.m. When I was gone for most of the day, they were only out out their cage from 4:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Because they're out longer, my two guys seem a lot happier and more willing to be interacted with. Pigpen is making an effort to consistently step up, and Bird with No Name will perch himself on my shoulder if I take him out of the cage and try to play with him.

When they were in their cage most of the day, they were much less likely to be willing to even acknowledge my presence.

[zazanomore]

For the past few months I`ve been home all day every day. That means, the birds get a lot of out of cage time.

I've gotta agree that once they are out of their cage, they are a lot more willing to interact with you. I guess they start seeing you as less as an outsider and more of a flock member.

It makes me kind of sad that I'm going to start working again next month. Me and my dad are opening up a chip truck, so I'll be gone from 9-4 every day. Then when I start university in the fall, I know I'm going to be gone about the same amount of time every day.

But they will always get at least 1 hour of flight time every day no matter what.

I think it's important for their physical and mental health to be able to stretch their wings.

[Grey_Moon]

I think, as much as I'd love for the fids to be out all the available time that I have that consistency is better.

I have seen dramatic changes in my flock (increased yelling and restlessness) when they aren't out of their cages lots if they're used to it. But having a consistent schedule helps manage that. Even if I'm home (unless we're going out for a walk) the birds will be expected to play in their cages roughly the same amount of time they would during the week when I'm at school. The difference is I provide lots of ambient attention.
Otherwise come Monday they are confused and frustrated as to why I'm not letting them out to play all day.

Generally my fids have two hours out each (it'd be four hours if only I could get them to get along lol ), about 15-30 minutes of that is focused training.

[kaylayuh]

I'm here all day with them, so I leave my two chicklets cage door open all day. When I wake up, I uncover them, say good morning, and open their door. By ten o'clock, they're usually on their playgym and talking to eachother. They usually go in and out as they please; and since Pigpen has grown in her flight feathers, she has taken to flying around the room (and swan diving at my head!) at least once or twice a day.

If, for some reason, I need to leave and they weren't in their cage already, I just put them back in. They don't seem to mind being away for a few hours. But I have noticed that they are more likely now to climb on the door of their cage and rattle the smaller food access door. They sort of resemble jailbirds.

[TheNzJessie]

well im taking a gap year before university and my work hours are all over the place but im home alot. when i do go to uni its distant learning so ill be learning from home (i wouldnt have gotten another lorikeet if my course wasn't distant learning)

[GlassOnion]

Now I on the other hand have pretty much 12 hour days at my school, and over the next few months will have weekend days as well as weekday night classes that will run me 15hour days. (Thank god I have internet access from my iphone throughout the day) But my tiel is extremely well mannered and the only time he leaves his cage area is when he goes to fly around the room and then return to his cage. Thankfully my fiance who works mostly from home can offer Apple indirect attention for most of the day and short periods of direct attention.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I think consistency is probably more of a factor than the actual amount of time. If they are used to being out a couple of hours a day and have lots of toys and stuff inside the cage, I think that can work out OK. THat's typically what our birds get, some time in the morning and some time again when we are home from work. ON days we are home the whole day, they get more time out, and after several days of this, they may be a bit more grouchy/needy when returned to the previous schedule. FWIW.