Parrots outside :)

[cml]

Spring's been late, but it's finally started to warm up and today's been very sunny, no wind and 16 degrees C in the shadow, so we decided to take the birds outside for the first time this year.

Both birds did well, Stitch was a champ and having done this last summer he was supercool and really enjoyed it. Leroy has never been outside in a travelcarrier before, and when we lifted the carrier he panicked for a moment. When we got outside though he calmed down, and really enjoyed it . Both birds had a bowl full of seeds in their cage . Looking at other birds was something they really enjoyed .

We were only outside for about 15min, this being the first trip outside and we only walked about 25meters from our door ^^.

Both birds have new travel carriers, Leroy's white one is awesome, Ive never seen a more sturdy travel cage, its completely welded together, and non-collapsable. I wanted to buy another for Stitch, but they had run out at all suppliers, so there was no chance to get another, so we bought a king's cages travel cage instead, thats the bronze one. That carrier is also great, very sturdy and I feel almost as secure with that one as with the white one. I really like that its in aluminium as well.

Here's lots of pictures from our little bird excursion .







My ambition is to do a lot of trips on which the birds come along all through summer !

[Michael]

That's a great start! It is soo healthy and important for parrots to get a minimum of 15 minutes of direct natural sunlight per week. I am almost at a point where I believe it to be cruelty to forever keep parrots indoors. Even prisoners get to spend time outside.

I saw a Cape Parrot that was boarding at the Vet clinic when I brought Truman in. It was the first other non-baby Cape I have ever met. And oh my, his plumage was sooo dull. He was like Truman in so many ways but no in appearance. He had little orange, the green was dark and without features, and he had like no down at all underneath his head plumage when I tried to pet him. I couldn't understand why he looked so strange but the nurse pointed out that he doesn't spend time outside like my parrots. If getting sunlight can make that much of a distinct difference in appearance alone, I can't even begin to fathom how much it matters to their overall health.

You are doing a really good thing taking them outdoors. And in a safe/responsible way too until you can get the harness situation sorted out. Just don't lose interest. This is something you must do (weather permitting) at least once a week for the rest of the bird's life. A few times a week is even better. I've been taking my parrots to the park about 4 days a week lately and they absolutely love it.

PS It's a good idea that you're feeding them in the travel cage during the excursion. I'd make a special effort not to feed them beforehand and make that their meal. That way if by chance the birds are ever lost outside, putting their travel cage with food in it outside will beacon them to return.

[cml]

Both birds have been VERY calm all evening, all the impressions really made them tired .

Aye, the seeds are there to add to the positive experience, they never get seeds like that normally...its reserved for training, but I really want them to enjoy this. I do, and I want to start bringing them on trips etc, as well as just taking them outdoors outside our building!

[Pajarita]

I agree with Michael. Taking birds outside for a little sunshine is the best thing you can do for them. Unfortunately for mine, I have too many to do it and that's why I dream of having an attached outdoor aviary built next to the birdroom.

[Dean0]

I believe I will get a couple of trampoline surround nets to enclose around a fenced off area of my yard for an outdoor aviary.

[JaydeParrot]

:thumbsup: I believe I will get a couple of trampoline surround nets to enclose around a fenced off area of my yard for an outdoor aviary.

If it's not metal, birds can chew through it and escape... What are you using for a roof?