An old bird

[Bird woman]

I to have several birds and am fortunate enough to have been able to build a rocked bird room, very large that I have set up also as a family room and when I get tired of running from room to room to see what all of them are up to, we all hang together in the bird room , I open the slider which leads into there outdoor avairy and we all can relax . It took me 15 years to figure what I could do so everyone is safe and as free as possible.( But still not perfect ) I built my avairy out of food grade stainless wire and it wasn't all that costly. I know they have huge discounts on smaller pieces that have been cut off the big rolls , if you only need window size pieces. Also restaurant supply places also carry this stuff. Bird woman and a but load of birds !!!!

[Georges mom]

There is a small mfg company about 10 miles from my house that makes acrylic furniture. Very thick acrylic furniture. They said that they could make any size enclosure I would need (height and length) and it would be hingeless too. I'm thinking maybe that would work to put around his and yet easily moveable. They suggested keeping an opening to where I could just push it up to a wall to keep him contained when need be. I could give him 2-3 ft of floor space all around too so he could walk around on the ground if he wanted too. He wouldn't be able to scale it either. I'm going to go over and see what they can show me. This sounds perfect and I wouldn't ever have to close his cage other than at night . They said it'll be horseshoe shaped and should work very well. We shall see!!

[Wolf]

Hi, I see that you got on the board with your own topic, sorry that I was not online when you PMed me but life does intrude. Check your PM as I did answer you and included information about post your photos.

It sounds to me like you are very knowledgeable about birds and that is wonderful so I am hoping that you will share some of that with us all. I would also like to hear more about the stainless steel mesh and particularly how to find it cheap enough to build an aviary for my birds.

[Pajarita]

Yes, I would interested in the info also because I haven't been able to find a single cheap source of SS mesh anywhere or small pieces (they all sell the entire rolls).

George's mon, sounds like a plan but I don't know how well it will work in terms of him been content in an enclosure (mine would scream).

[Georges mom]

I'm going to see what it costs and if it's reasonably inexpensive I'll try it. Everyone placing bets here that somehow someway he will get out. George seems to always get his way. I never would have imagined that parrots could be so clever with everything and yes I'm sure he will yell if he gets mad about being enclosed. We shall see . I'll keep you posted.

[Wolf]

Oh I don't know. you seem to be doing pretty good about watching out for him as well as noticing things in ample time to prevent him from getting out and as long as you go that the odds are that he will not get out.

[Georges mom]

So I did a makeshift enclosure out of a puppy play yard fence and put it around the bottom of George's cage with about 3 ft of floor space. Before he even realized he could easily climb it he began pacing back and forth in a panic and started to yell mama. I felt terrible. I immediately moved it and he ran over to the couch climbed up and sat there for an hour. Not going to do the enclosure thing. He likes his freedom. I'll have to think of something else but for now all who enter should keep their shoes on. He hates feet, all feet with or without shoes. He goes into stealth mode when he sees them. Still think he was kicked a lot in his past.

[Wolf]

I don't know, I suppose that it is possible, but I know that a lot of parrots have a thing about feet. They just seem to like attacking them. Kiki, Senegal, loves to attack my feet and I have learned to not wear tennis shoes around her as she can bite lots of little chunks out of the rubber parts in a very short time, leather seems to be the only type that she does not destroy in almost no time and I am pretty sure that she was never kicked.

[Pajarita]

Yes, that's what I though would happen - at least, that's what mine would have done: scream and scream.

I also would not be too sure that he does that he goes after feet because he has been kicked. Amazons are canopy feeders so they don't particularly like been on the ground. At least, that's what I have observed with the ones I have. The flighted ones only go to ground when I give them a cardboard box but they would be happier if I put it up high. As a matter of fact, this is the first year I give them a box on the floor to use as a nest and Precie, which has laid every year, has not done it yet. The only ones that do end up on the floor are the ones that don't fly and they always try to move from one place to another without going there by using the other cages (they jump from one to another or stretch themselves out so they can reach the next one with their beak while still holding on to the bars with their feet). And, when they do end up on the floor, they immediately look for something to climb up. I think he goes after feet because he can't fly and feels vulnerable on the floor -especially with people walking around...

[Georges mom]

Yeah you guys are probably right. George likes to parade around a lot on the floor but he also climbs on the first thing he sees. I just wish he didn't always attack our feet. I'm hoping that in time with him getting no reaction from us it eventually stops. I have a question....... What is the coolest temperature they can take with windows opened? We have been going into the 60s and 70s and I like to open up occasionally for fresh air. George's window is still closed because of that hawk ( haven't seen him though) but other Windows are opened and the house temp can go to 67-68. Is that to cool for him?? Also, I got a carrier for him to go to the vet in. Do I just open the door put a treat in there and will he walk right in?? It's a bird carrier that has a built in perch right on the bottom. His nails are really getting long again and have to be trimmed.