upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

I know lots of you folks still have to work, but I'd like to know how much out of cage time, or at least door open time your fids get. Mine are free to come and go from time they awaken till they scream to go to sleep. Beginning to woneder if maybe they need a bit more closed door time.

Same with me, Sam. Casper is out ALL the time (when we are home). We both work, but when we are home, she is out. I sometimes wonder why I bought a cage!! Her cage has a hanging toy that she has NEVER touched.

I guess the only time I would ever consider leaving her in the cage is if I was doing something that took my total attention and she needed to be out of the way.

Our birds can be comfortable in or out of their cages, though obviously they enjoy the flight time out of their cages.

Generally, I get home about 6:15 when I work. Sometimes I let them out within a few minutes of getting home, and sometimes I leave them in their cages until after they've eaten their dinner in the cage. Dinnertime with all four is quite messy, and sometimes I just don't feel up to cleaning up after them, so they get dinner in their cages instead.

Either way, they usually get out between 6-7 pm and stay out until about 10 pm, when I go to bed. On the weekends and days that I'm not working, I leave them in the cage for the majority of the day and take them out in the evening again for 3-4 hours. I find this makes them play independently in their cages and entertain themselves without as much fuss as if I'd spent a long time keeping them out of their cage all day.

Occasionally I will take them out in the morning and let them stay out all day, but they actually all play more when they're in their cages than when they're out, so I feel a little guilty taking them out too early in the day... they end up just sitting around doing nothing instead of playing with their toys.

I don't think more cage time is a bad idea, provided you let them out on a regular basis for at least a few hours a day. They need to be able to self-entertain.

I'm working during the week but take Sherwin out when I get home. He stays out as long as he wants to and generally heads back to his cage by 9:30 or 10:00. Believe it or not he's good at letting me know he's tired. On the weekends he's typically out with me but I don't keep him out all day, if he seems tired I put him back for a nap.

I work 40 hours a week (or more sometimes) and Baby and the budgies are out whenever I am home and awake-

my kids have the freedom to be in or out as they please as the door is never closed. infact the only time they seem to be in the cage is for night even then it's there choice.

Mine is out of the cage anywhere from 2-10 hours a day. Normally the door is left open - but sometimes I just can't have her under my chin and get things done!!

She prefers me over my husband if I'm home, otherwise she'll be with him and be satisfied.

She'll come out and be with me on her own, but prefers to make a racket for me to bring her back so she can eat. A couple of flight feathers grew in so again she can fly off the cage to be with me, but prefers to be carried back - the little stinker!

My husband and I work long hours - we leave the house at 6am in the morning and get home between 6 and 630pm. When I get up at 445am i only switch on the small light - this is our version of dawn - and take them out at about 515am. They generally just want alone time with us then - no tricks or toys, just cuddles and love - and will have their toast then will go back in their cage until we get home. Then they come out and stay with us until they put themselves to bed at about 830pm when the sun starts to set!! It's the cutest thing!

Generally speaking though, weekends they are out most of the time with access to their cage and if one of us is home for any reason, they are out!!

When I'm home and in the living room, I usually let them out, as long as they don't try to chew on the phone cord. I won't keep them out when I'm in another room, though, because Jessie will try to follow me and land in the craziest spots.