upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Hello, I'm Lisa... new here and VERY HAPPY to find this site. I've been surfing around and have noticed a lot of very experienced bird owners with a lot of knowledge on this particular forum. I've been reading books and looking at other online sites, but they rarely have the answer to the quesitons I have. I hope to find some here.

My 2 babies are about 6 months hold. They are hand fed, one is female, the other is Albino, thought to be female, but not certain.

They are caged most of the day due to my hectic work schedule. I keep toys in there cage... not too many, so they can get around and stretch. When I can, I bring them out, but all they want to do is sit ON me. I don't mind. I give them lots of love and they are such darlings and much more cuddlers than I would have thought they'd be. I worry that they don't get enough exercise because they won't go off of my physical person. If I try to put them down on the couch so I can say... take a bathroom break.. they get very upset and do that panic flying crashlike thing to the floor and scream untill I get back to the room.

I tried small playstands, like the kind that would be set on a table top. They wanted nothing to do with it. If I put them down on it, they flew off.

Any advice on what I can do to get them to do something other than be on my physical person? Is that okay for them to be like that, or is that going to cause a problem?

Any suggestions would be very appreciated.

hI LISA FIRST THING IS WELCOME EVERYONE HERE IS FRIENDLEY. YOU'RE NEW KIDS WILL KEEP YOU AMUSED FOR THE NEXT 20 TO 30 YEARS. MY 2 LITTLE GUYS ALSO DONT USE TOYS 2 MUCH ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE PLENTY TO PLAY. hOWEVER THEY DO LOVE TO RIP PAPER APART. I THINK YOU WILL FIND IT DIFFERS FROM BIRD TO BIRD. MINE LOVE JUST BEING WITH ME.
ANYWAY ENOUGH OF THIS HAVE FUN WITH YOUR KIDS.

Hi Lisa----welcome! We have another Lisa here as well. I don't know what to tell you about getting your babies to like being out without being on you------mine likes being on my shoulder too when he is out, and prefers to be near me----but will stay on his play gym, and even walk around a little bit, so he isn't too clingy. I know others here refer to their tiels as "velcro" and "clingon" birds, so maybe they will have some ideas for you.
Kim

Hi Lisa, glad to have you. Take them with you! Some my think that is weird or strange but, that's what my husband and I do with ours. When either of us goes to the bathroom we bring her along, it's a good way to start potty training also.

Remember - you are part of their flock and they are REALLY HAPPY to see you when you get home and they want to be with you.

Another site to check out is birdmart.com There are a lot of very experienced bird people there too.

As for the play stand keep at it and maybe try changing the location of it. Luna wouldn't play on hers for a while then I moved it to a table near me and she's chewing and playing on it all the time.

As they get older, maybe they won't be as needy for you physical person and be content nest to you or near you - I am not speaking from experience here, Luna can't seem to get enough of me

Hi Lisa,

Welcome to our family. I have a couple of kids that only want to sit on our shoulders, and don't really like playing with toys or their playgym, however, at times, they will participate depending on what new and inventive toys we come up with. We've found that two items are really favorites. Shoe strings with the aglets on them, and thanks to our other Lisa, Q-tips. Even my oldest bird who is essentially cage bound will now come out and play with the rest. I think the Q-tips are their favorites, but anytime something new gets put in, their curiosity will win out and leave us be for a while. I'd sure not worry about them wanting to be velcro babies, as with what Luna Bella stated about you being part of their flock, it's instinctive for them to stay with you. Time will usually work out all the minor things that might be worrisome, but you will get used to their clinginess, and not give it a 2nd thought. Let them go where you go, but limit unsafe places like the kitchen or anywhere they could get accidentally hurt. I deal with 6 fids, usually all of them out at once, either playing or being the klingon babies. Big thing.. just accept their love and let them bond with you. You'll never regret it.

Sam

Thank you all so much for the good advice!

Welcome!! I think we are all happy to have found this site! Everyone is so helpful, and I hope that this is as good a resource for you as it has for me. Thanks everyone!

Anyway, good suggestion to pry birdies off of shoulders is bribery. Put some millet spray on a plate or on their playgym and they will be happy to go to it if you need a few minutes to yourself (because no birdie can ever resist millet!! ha ha ha)... this will keep them entertained and begin to make them more comfortable out of their cage and away from you. After they are comfortable off of you, maybe they will run around a little more when they are out of their cages. Try putting toys around the room that you are in, and let them play on the floor (just be careful to keep track of them if you want to move around!). Bubba has never really been into toys, but he can't help but to approach towels or wads of tissue or toiletpaper that I put on the floor and growling at them, or fighting with them... it is cute.

Though he is sometimes happy enough to wander around on the floor or furnature and explore the big world outside of his cage... he will still follow me out of the room if I leave, especially if there is no one else around, even if it is just for a brief moment! But it is just because he loves me and wants to come with me... same with your's Lisa!

I hope this helps!

~Jackie and Bubba