Taking Birds Outside

Jazzy Bird

Regular Member
Now that the weather is warming up, I can take them outside. Gus can fly, so I know to keep him inside the cage. I also cover the top of the cage partially, so he has privacy and shade. He seems to enjoy being out there but he doesn’t do much besides hang on the side of the cage.

Jasmine cannot fly. I have a large cage from a bird who passed away, which is what I usually take her out in. She seems to enjoy it as I notice her looking around etc., especially if she’s sitting on top of the cage. I just try to avoid that bc i worry about something happening to her Idk if I’m overly worried. When I come close and sit with her, she talks to me etc. She sometimes yells when she can’t see me. If I have her sitting on top of the cage, I don’t leave her sight except for maybe to walk in quickly and grab something, so less than a minute.

The other day I took her in her travel cage while I was working in the yard. She’s much happier when I let her sit on top of it. She was close to me at all times as when I moved to weed out another area of a flower bed, I’d pick her cage up and move it, so she stayed within a couple feet from me.

The day I had her on the travel cage, I started to think about the possibility of a loose dog or a wandering cat, hence keeping her right next to me. In my neighborhood, I don’t see many loose animals at all, but I still realized I should be mindful and keep guard up. Prior to this day, my main thought was that other birds may be predators or cause harm. For example, large birds such as hawks. Now I’m wondering how realistic it would be that another bird would see her and swoop down, cause harm etc.

I also wonder, is it okay for birds to walk or be in grass? I’ve seen videos on YouTube with birds outside. It usually seems that the main worry is said bird flying away. This, as I’ve noticed leashes etc attached to them. I know I don’t have to worry about Jasmine flying away, but I want to be sure I’m doing the right things when she is outside, whether in the travel cage or the large one. We only fertilize the front, which is done just 2-3 times a year. I would never have her in that grass after it was treated but I wonder if even months or weeks after it’s treated, is there a risk or issue?

Thanks for any feedback!
 
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Always a worry that is. I agree re predators who are so very quick.


Some older members will remember how a long time ago we had a Grey - Lucy, unbeknown to me hubby would take her in the garden of an afternoon with his cuppa, sit with her on his knee or shoulder. One day I got a phone call at the surgery to tell me she had flown away! I cannot write on here what I said!
Long story short - he'd been doing this for a long time & could not understand why she did that - well answer is she's a parrot and would do what she felt like doing.

Every day morning noon & night we were out looking, loads of phone calls folk had seen her here there & everywhere. Even mentioned on local radio and in the local paper,listed as 'TV Star gone missing' (she was on a TV prog many years ago with hubby).

I was angry hubby heartbroken & guilty.

Three months later neighbour from the next farm came down with her little body, he had found her on top of a bale of straw in one of his barns. The barns had all been checked & checked again but she was likely too scared to call out & let us know where she was.

Needless to say hubby has always felt guilty and has been totally banned from taking any of our others outside like that ever again.

All I can say is best to be safe than sorry.
 
Well Dora does come out, like @dianaT about 3 yrs ago my husband srarted letting out of her cage to sit with him in the gatden. I was horrified at first, but gradually over time have relaxed more.... She has had 3 or 4 adventures, but has always stayed close to the house..however she now knows her environment from the air and is quite good at recall.Personally i am still very cautious and always keep my full attention on her even though her favourite places are under shelter of the table on my knee.
 
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Alternatively, use a harness and take them for a walk :)

I was told a story about someone who had a Grey with some primaries clipped. Inside, it couldn't produce enough lift to take off so they regularly took it outside. One windy day it took off and they never saw it again.

Lots of cats around our house and we often see seagulls which are very opportunistic predators.

I often stand by the (closed) patio windows off the kitchen chatting with Jessie on my shoulder - she loves to look outside. We've got patio windows off the living room that we never open. I'd thought about building an outside aviary around that, to enclose all of the window area. Double meshed, it would be safe and wouldn't need any additional doors which would make it relatively inexpensive. One day maybe.
 
Always a worry that is. I agree re predators who are so very quick.


Some older members will remember how a long time ago we had a Grey - Lucy, unbeknown to me hubby would take her in the garden of an afternoon with his cuppa, sit with her on his knee or shoulder. One day I got a phone call at the surgery to tell me she had flown away! I cannot write on here what I said!
Long story short - he'd been doing this for a long time & could not understand why she did that - well answer is she's a parrot and would do what she felt like doing.

Every day morning noon & night we were out looking, loads of phone calls folk had seen her here there & everywhere. Even mentioned on local radio and in the local paper,listed as 'TV Star gone missing' (she was on a TV prog many years ago with hubby).

I was angry hubby heartbroken & guilty.

Three months later neighbour from the next farm came down with her little body, he had found her on top of a bale of straw in one of his barns. The barns had all been checked & checked again but she was likely too scared to call out & let us know where she was.

Needless to say hubby has always felt guilty and has been totally banned from taking any of our others outside like that ever again.

All I can say is best to be safe than sorry.
That sounds like a stressful situation. I’m sorry you experienced that. Jasmine can’t fly. Her right side is messed up - leg and wing. Besides flying away, what other risks to taking outside can you think of?
 
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Well Dora does come out, like @dianaT about 3 yrs ago my husband srarted letting out of her cage to sit with him in the gatden. I was horrified at first, but gradually over time have relaxed more.... She has had 3 or 4 adventures, but has always stayed close to the house..however she now knows her environment from the air and is quite good at recall.Personally i am still very cautious and always keep my full attention on her even though her favourite places are under shelter of the table on my knee.
Pretty impressive that she is good at recall. I would be scared to test that out with Gus.
 
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Alternatively, use a harness and take them for a walk :)

I was told a story about someone who had a Grey with some primaries clipped. Inside, it couldn't produce enough lift to take off so they regularly took it outside. One windy day it took off and they never saw it again.

Lots of cats around our house and we often see seagulls which are very opportunistic predators.

I often stand by the (closed) patio windows off the kitchen chatting with Jessie on my shoulder - she loves to look outside. We've got patio windows off the living room that we never open. I'd thought about building an outside aviary around that, to enclose all of the window area. Double meshed, it would be safe and wouldn't need any additional doors which would make it relatively inexpensive. One day maybe.
Jasmine likes looking outside too. There is a large picture window in their room. She has a bad right foot and wing. She can’t sit on my shoulder as Gus does. She would fall.
 
I'm sorry to hear that, but it is clear that you are making every effort to give her a life full of great experiences.

You asked in your original about letting her go down on the grass. As you are nearly always going to be close by, how about something like those tunnels used as a rabbit runs? Not free to roam far, but safer and she'd get the fresh air and some sun on her back.
 
Pretty impressive that she is good at recall. I would be scared to test that out with Gus.
Its very rare for ger to take flight and sje might go onto the trellis, but I'm she is stubborn and half the time will look at you as if to say "im not coming down" but the real motivator is always asking if she wants to come out in the car. Open the car door and she is there in a flash😊
 
I'm sorry to hear that, but it is clear that you are making every effort to give her a life full of great experiences.

You asked in your original about letting her go down on the grass. As you are nearly always going to be close by, how about something like those tunnels used as a rabbit runs? Not free to roam far, but safer and she'd get the fresh air and some sun on her back.
I had never heard of those before. Cool idea So going in grass won’t bother or hurt her? I wonder if she’d forage through it.
 
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I have a large cage that I leave Buster my GSC2 in in my garden it has a mesh bottom and I just leave him on the ground, he loves playing with the grass and eating it, ok he is a free flyer but there is no way I will leave him out unless I am with him, I do not trust raptors in my area, none of the cats will come in my garden they keep as far away from my place and if he sees one there ears are sensitive even if across in a neighbours garden they will jump and run away Ha Ha.
 
Just be mindful if you have your little ones outside that you need to keep an eye out for mites and worms as they can pick up all sorts in the great outdoors. Also keep them away from wild bird droppings as they can get nasties from there aswell.
 
I have a large cage that I leave Buster my GSC2 in in my garden it has a mesh bottom and I just leave him on the ground, he loves playing with the grass and eating it, ok he is a free flyer but there is no way I will leave him out unless I am with him, I do not trust raptors in my area, none of the cats will come in my garden they keep as far away from my place and if he sees one there ears are sensitive even if across in a neighbours garden they will jump and run away Ha Ha.
Jasmine hasn’t been in the grass yet. I may need to make the outdoor cage more cozy for her by adding more perches. It’s a Conure size cage. I had her out yesterday under a canopy as we did yard work. She sat on top of her travel cage which sat on top of a plant stand. There were a lot of Robins around bc of the ground being freshly tilled. Glad you have a way to let your boy get some fresh air and sunshine!
 
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Just be mindful if you have your little ones outside that you need to keep an eye out for mites and worms as they can pick up all sorts in the great outdoors. Also keep them away from wild bird droppings as they can get nasties from there aswell.
Thank you! I wondered if she’d try to eat a worm. Good point mentioning other birds droppings. Can birds get fleas?
 
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Birds can pick up mites and other things outside, as I have a few free flyers and others that are harness trained it is something I have to be cautious of and I check my birds regally, I have not had any problems with any of the birds I take outside myself, although I am not one too think it cannot happen. now during my experience I have flown more than fifty birds and the only time I restricted there out side enjoyment was with the bird flue when that was around. my birds are used in displays and meet the public, I take them down town with me.
 
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