What keeps them from flying through the house and getting into everything?

Mike Bross
Phoenix AZ

Mine all started out clipped, plus stay training, lots of toys and chew stuff, and birdproofing (their gyms are the most interesting and fun places in the house for birds).

And yes, there was some destructo behavior from the cockatoo in the beginning. But really, birds who sit in cages, even really nice ones, seem spend all day plotting their escape and deciding what they'll destroy first... once they get used to being out they really do tend to hang out where they're "supposed to," if you put a little thought and energy into making their hangouts fun for them.

Hi Lisa, this sounds so cool! Do you have any photo's?
Cheers
Clive Jeffrey

oof, i was afraid someone might ask that... i have a funky elderly dial-up home computer, a much nicer setup at work that is currently crashed, access to a digicam i've never learned to use properly... but i'll post photos as soon as i figure it all out!

Just want to add, cage-free, like freeflight, is not for everyone. But it might work out nicely for some who've never considered it. There are lots of options - a great many people have dedicated bird rooms, for instance; not an option for me since my living space is so small, and i get teased about having more bird furniture than people furniture. i was really nervous about it in the beginning, and started slowly, leaving for only 30 mins or so at a time and building up to a full workday as the birds and i gained confidence. And i have to say it's done wonders for my fids.

How's Bazil the attack-pteradactyl? i bet he'd really adapt well to this sort of lifestyle...

Funny you should ask Lisa, he(Bazil) is doing great! I believe I am starting to figure out what the reinforcer is for him and have a few plans on the boil. I should have my office at work sorted out in a couple of weeks so that I can bring him to work with me each day and I know that is going to help a lot. I have been building a big plygym for him and am setting up his own area, when it is complete I will post some photo's. Hence my curiosity with your set up
Cheers
Clive Jeffrey

Phoebe, my pionus, is so sedate that I have no problem leaving her out and about. I usually put her in the bird room when I have to leave, but not always. Yesterday she was in my computer room for about five hours while I was out.

I just bird-proofed her favorite places, and put some toys over them to give her things to do.

Darwin on the other hand starts plucking keys off keyboard if I leave him in there for more than a couple minutes. He goes to the birdroom, with the door closed, when I'm not around. And even then... I thought I had that room birdproofed but he proved me wrong today. I'm now missing quite a bit of trim over the door to the bird room. I was going to post a photo but he's already sleeping so it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA

One other thing: getting your bird involved in activities on their gyms is pretty key. i'm not talking about toys which can only be interesting for so long. My birds have their daily dry food ration divided up into various puzzle toys which i rotate, and lately i've been making "forage boxes" - trays filled with anything from shredded paper to sand to dry lentils, with treats and hand toys hidden here and there. Pongo U2 loves these.

If your bird likes bottlebrush, a whole gym made of it turns into a giant chew toy, which can be really compelling for them - much more attractive than window frames and door lintels. i use cheap renewable things like telephone books, cardboard boxes, wooden blocks and plastic soda bottles, old sox stuffed with shredded paper and a nut or two... of course supervise when introducing these items and make sure the birds are not ingesting non-edibles. It helps to reinforce first tentative investigations of new items, you really want the bird addicted to shredding and chewing stuff YOU choose for them.