Daily Time With Birds Question?

[Pomlover2586]

Birds of course require a certain amount of time out of the cage everyday, as well as with their human. If a bird- such as a Cockatoo- requires 4-6 hours per day of TLC, does that include out of cage time- such as if they are on a play stand? Or does that time solely mean with the human- on shoulder, petting etc?

I am considering either a Sun or a GCC and I am trying to figure out how much time I can give them per day, as well as how I can increase that time without the bird necessarily being ON me.

[GlassOnion]

I would say at least 5 hours of overall companionship, meaning some of
It can be atmospheric attention. I don't cage my birds so they're around me for many hours everyday but I'll spend a few hours doing the shoulder thing, scritching, playing, etc

[Pomlover2586]

Does 5 hours account for ALL bird species? What about Sun Conures or GCC?

[marie83]

My Green cheek has an absolute rock bottom minimum of 1 hour out of his cage, these instances are very rare where he only comes out for such a short time, most days he is out 3-5 hours then 2-3 days a week he is out pretty much all day. We have got him used to differeing levels of attention from the start though. I feel that makes him more adaptable should something happen which means I can't get him out for a day or two(if I'm sick for instance) which has happened and he has dealt with it perfectly without getting stressed or screaming etc. There was one week where I was really really sick and all I did with him is feed and clean and talk to him outside the cage for one week, this resulted in him pulling all his chest feathers out which he stopped as soon as he was getting proper attention again. Seeing how much stress that caused him I would get someone else to come in and fuss him if I ever couldn't do it again.
That said he does have a cockatiel directly next to his cage so he is never completely alone, even though they don't noticably interact.

[Cage Cleaner]

Ok

[cml]

Five hours is ideal, IMO, barring the fact that -all- the time is ideal. 1 hour or so of direct attention, and then a few hours here and there of just indirect attention but being in the same vicinity is how I do it.

I put my GCC and Sun Conure together, so they hang out together when they're out, too.

Neither of them have any behavioral issues--indeed, I'm starting to think they're -angels- compared to the birds I'm sitting right now.

No fighting between them at all?

[Cage Cleaner]

K

[Cage Cleaner]

This was my process: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=7301&p=50208#p50208

[cml]

This was my process: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=7301&p=50208#p50208

Sounds very similiar to what we have done, except after realising how poor Leroy flies, we let them meet in a big aviary cage I built (which was also reccomended to us by the breeder we got Stitch from when I called and talked with him).
Other than that we have used the same approach!

Have you seen my thread in this section? http://theparrotforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=7707 I am trying to analyze their behaviour, and its progressing quite well, but Id love to have your input as well if you can spare the time =).

[Grey_Moon]

I'd say 4-6 at a minimum regardless of species---these birds are never alone in their natural habitats and genetically are programmed to do everything they can to avoid finding themselves alone. They fly and travel many miles every day.

So...why in captivity we have these birds I don't know. But given what we know, giving them all the out-of-cage-time and attention is paramount. Even with the smaller birds, which I find often are neglected/given less respect and consideration in terms of their social needs simply because they are not loud and destructive enough in order to annoy people enough for the people to give them more attention compared to greys, macaws and toos etc.