In our other home, my bfa had free reign- I closed his cage door at night only. He never chewed woodwork, dropped on the carpet, or chewed furniture. We let him be out unsupervised always. Since we moved, however, he requires supervision…our current home is all wood and plaster. Too much parrot temptation. He has many hours of supervised out of cage time…but he has to be watched now, because something changed- maybe the move, maybe all the tempting wood. :D

My Goffin insists on sleeping inside his cage with a black sheet covering it completely. Believe me he lets you know if you left a hole somewhere. And he goes in his cage and watches cartoons if I leave. We left him out once when we went to the neighbors house and ended up getting stuck longer than planned by chatty neighbors. When we got back he had destroyed the curtains. But if he can figure out how to break out himself we come home to him sitting on his cage calling us to see how clever he was but no damage. He has his own rules. But his cage makes him feel secure at those key times and he insists on it.

I love the idea But i love my bird more. Birds may love chocolate but we dont give them choclate to keep them healthy. Just as birds may like to be out of their “cage” but too many things could happen. My bird stays in his cage when im not around, but anytime im home i let him out. Recently. My friend was watching him outside of his cage while i ran an arrend. I didnt want to have to put him up and when i got home. She said your bird started a fire. He had dropped something metal onto a lightbulb in a lamp it busted and i guess caught flame. Luckily my friend took care of it, but had the bird just been cage free and my friend not there, theres a slight chance the bird wouldnt have a cage or even a house, maybe not even his own feathers. A bird room would be very cool i think though. May affect your birds behavior if you ever wanted to travel with him and had to put him in a smaller cage. But i do love the idea of a bird room. Or even a latge outdoor aviary.

My old friend Smokey was never caged(African Grey ) he never destroyed anything ,sadly passed away . My little one s that are still with me are also never forcibly caged , the cage door is open they go to feed from there but thats about it at night they sleep on my Curtain Rail in the Front room, acage should only be used if you are away for a prolonged time but even then I get someone to sit with mine who are Very inquisitive ! If I do go out which is very rarely I put a DVD of Parrots doing different things on repeat and have come home to see them either sitting in front of tv or playing normally they do chew but only on boxes left for them to chew my Bluey even opens the feed bin and helps his little pal rosie raid the treats (he is always on his stand when I walk in looking very innocent) Birds are like children they know how to use a situation to their benefit and will be mischevious if you do not keep them occupied and interested in their surroundings needless to say I am against clipping and cages !

I created a play ground on top of my Amazon’s cabe, including two 4 ft stands, one higher -that he prefers to sleep, and one at my level, where he has food and water. They include toys, and a few branches, so he wonders around. My parrot also loves a bar stool he climas when he feels like. He can fly as much as he wants and a few months ago, he took off for three days! When I am away, he has access to almost the entre house except my bedroom and my library, I disconect most of the appliances and lamps, put away expensive or cheweable stuff. I realized as a natural behavior he will chew everything he could, so I leave plenty of toys, fruits, peanuts and Wood on his stand tray to keep him occupied. So far, we are doing great. I even walk outdoors with him and place him on plants and trees on the Garden. He likes it but prefers my shoulder or my hand. Regardless everything, I think is better to keep them caged when unsupervised.

My Congo African Grey (Sam) is a fun loving bird and the only time I allow him out, is when he comes inside the house after a day in the front yard. He would sit on top of his cage talking, whistle and sing for long and he finds it very pleasing. Most times he would climb down and walk straight to the tv-room where I am, to spend some time. He would wonder around but not too far or not to where he has no sight of me. I prefer it this way so I can keep an eye on him. I must add that eversince, he never really attempted to chew my furniture as I trained him not too when he was 3mths old. We all know that birds do chew things and that’s the reason for their sharp beaks, it’s like equipment tools for them. He is turning 2 yrs old in October and hope that he maintain this manner. Nevertheless I like to be around when he’s outside his cage just too keep an eye on him. I do not leave him outside his cage should I need to run somewhere for some reason, so he’s always returned back inside his cage until I’m back. This way I know that he is safe and I can do whatever I need to with a peace of mind. We have homes where we feel safe in and the very same applies to our feathered companions, their cages are the safest place called home when we not around. I always remind myself that we need to care for them and ensure their safety.

I have 15 bird friends from finches (who are caged) to several cockatiels and one small parrot. Those birds have free flight since the time they have arrived at my home. It is now 14 years since I had my first bird and I have never caged any one of them. I have several folding room dividers and a few bird gyms which are their landing sites. They do have cages with the door left open 24/7..and at night they head for those and stay there during the darkness. The cages are covered but the door is always open. I have never had a problem and they are all healthy (under a bird vet) They are all rescued from pet stores. There are pellets/seeds and veggie/fruit stations on their gyms and a couple of small tables. I cannot imagine a bird who is gifted with flight (wings) should be kept in any other way.

First let me say that I truly hate cages. With that said I have had many caged animals over time. Currently I have a caged bird and a caged dog. When we are home both of them are free. When we are unable to supervise them, they are caged. It is for their own protection. We have five dogs. Only one is caged. She has seizures which range from completely paralyzing to savage fits of rage. For her safety and the safety of the other animals, she is caged if we are not with her. All of my caged animals love their cages. It is where they are fed, sleep, have toys, have a potty area, where they get treats, and where they are safe. They know this. When they are sick, frightened, upset, tired, or just want to get away, they go to their cages. Given a large enough cage with enough fun stuff in it, they think of it as home. After all what is the house I live in but a cage that I get to leave sometimes?

Hi I am Aimee, a 2nd time parrot owner and adorer, who believes a cage is a MUST for the Safety aspect of the Birds we love so much, Both my beloved flying Angel who lost to an illness two years ago (r.i.p) and our latest addition, an 18 week old CAG, are in a cage as their home, “Haven”… But they get let out to play all the time, and return – of their own accord – to their homes when hungry / tired. They know they are safe, we have two cats and a 7 year old child as well so it’s not just the birds safety considered here, I couldn’t imagine the thought of going out somewhere, and leaving my feathered babies out free… Purely because I wouldn’t want to come home to the unthinkable… One of them having an accident or otherwise, so if they are all in their little safe zones… I can rest easy, then when we have free time, it’s all fun fun fun!! But the birds cage is in the living area, with us, so he is never alone for too long, and they either have my fiancée, myself, or both / all of us together, as a close-nit… Family unit, we stick together, and our kids are safe and happy… What more could a parent want? Our little monkey (the CAG) loves to typically chew and climb on things, therefore he is never left unsupervised, I hear of accidents happening all the time and I think, as responsible owners, their safety MUST come 1st! So the cage… In a nutshell… Is his safe zone only… He still gets his freedom!

My b&g has a huge cage, his home, his comfort zone, play stand, hang out spot, but he is only locked in at night to sleep…he comes out before I leave for work and is free all day while I’m gone until bedtime. He’s earned the right, he behaves…go figure? He’s 9 years old and I’ve had him almost 3 years…and his previous home they were never caged, he lived with a flock and they all routinely destroyed the man’s house…but Oliver alone in my home has never destroyed anything he wasn’t supposed to…maybe no right formula?? Birds are individuals and no telling what’s gonna go on! Haha!

I have a senegal parrot and I keep him loose.. He sits on his pole most of the time and goes in and out of his cage when he wants to.. He has a rag (as we call it).. He sleeps in his rag in the cage.. I do lock him in if I am going away for a long period of time for his own safety, but if I go just for the day or to the store I leave him on his own.. He is very sweet..

We have 3 parrots ( 2 conures) and only one ( African grey) is cage less. Well he has a cage, door is aways open. He eats and sometime sleeps in it. It’s been well over a decade and incident free. It was hard to train him to stay on his cage. Unless we invited him off. Years later, We built an addition just for the parrots. Now they have thier own room area. Every day our parrots are out of there cages spending supervised time with the family.

I have a B&G she is 9 yrs old> I’ve had her for four yrs. She came from a bad home and was always caged which had made her very fearful and snippy. I had a hard time dealing with her in a cage so I tried the playstand idea and it was the best thing for her. She has been uncaged for 4 yrs now and gives me no issue whatsoever. Every now and then she will do random flights but always runs back to her stand right away she has a ladder to climb back up when she needs to. It has also made her more aproachable and easier to deal with.

I have a quaker parrot, and a rainbow lorikeet. Both are allowed out of their cages when I am home only, as I also have three indoor cats, and just don’t want to take the risk. They all get along famously, with no chasing, or fuss. In fact the cats seem to be a bit afraid of the birds, and pretty much ignore them when they fly over their heads. I consider myself lucky, and would not generally recommend this living arrangement, but it is working for us. The birds have heaps of toys to keep them amused, including a clothes airer that is full of stuff for them. to play with. One problem is the quaker keeps raiding the fruit bowl. Otherwise, endlessly amusing and entertaining. in fact they’re throwing stuff around now. LOL.

We have a cockatiel that is out of his cage all day he sits on top of it with toys a mirror and his treat bowl …. He goes in it when he’s hungry or thirsty and come night time by 7-8 pm he goes to bed on his own in his cage we shut the door say goodnight and he sleeps all night quietly. Come morning he sqawks and wants out lol we have 3 dogs and he’s learned it’s safe up high on his cage but will come fly to us when it’s supper time to see what’s for supper some visits and daily " cuddles " He even travels w us camping to our fifth wheel trailer site in His travel cage and has the same cage in trailer …. When at home and we go in hot tub he wants out with us too in his cage – he enjoys the outdoors w us ! His wings aren’t clipped so he stays securely in his cage and hangs out w us outside under closeful eye and talks w other birds outside :-)

I have had a cockatiel for 13 years and never had an issue leaving him during the day outside his cage. He had the freedom to go in and out of it as he pleases. He has a play gym on top of his cage aling with toys inside and outside. He spends a lot of time on top on a unit which had a bird tree stick. a tou Hawain stick (which he loves and sleeps beside during day/ early evening. He would rather be out his cage than in as most nights it can be a battle to get him inside his cage before I go to bed. I think a bird should have the choice if they want to go their cage. The benefit I have is he never attempts to leave the livingroom – although I do take no chances!

I will never close the door of his cage. He is a rescue bird that was neglected and I do not believe in caging any animal. He loves his freedom and does not go far for I have a ladder down to his food below on my boat He stays on the newspaper and when he wants to go out he tells me and I put him outside to watch what is going on in the harbor. He loves and thrives on my trust and he is fine with it. Usually he goes to work in the car with me and loves being free in the car riding on the headrest or my shoulder. He is 100% trustworthy damaging nothing. A green cheeked Amazon 16 yrs old.

God invented wings, man invented cages – and more terrible ways of keeping birds under control. Patti’s post detail just being one example. Imagine the trauma of ‘adjusting’ the wing for the bird but it had a bar free life as compensation. I suppose the best for all birds is the freedom that has been ordained for them. If humans are to keep them then I agree that cage training is best and probably ‘a must’. I have 4 birds – 2 need close supervision when out; another is allowed to wander the house seeking the closer human contact it desires, most of the time. It is free to return to its cage at will. The other sits on cage virtually all day in the bird room looking out of the window but is not beyond wandering to tease its caged mates, occassionally causing ‘excitement’ and possiblly giving but usually receiving a bitten toe. Fortunately no real damage just a nip reminder of straying into anothers territory and a swift return to its own territory. However, it will take fright flight, well out of the bird room, if something ‘horrendous’ (for the bird) happens outside of the window – although it is on the first floor! For example the arrival of a delivery truck in the road – some it will tolerate but not all. However, when we leave the house all are securely – for the birds sake and our sanity – in their cages. All the birds accept the cages as their primary home with the house being their expanded ‘playground’ area when we are present. Bill’s birds seem very well trained and, as such, enjoy an idyllic stress free environment. This should be the aim of all us birdkeepers. Always easier said than done but must be the aim given the difficulty of taking them with us everywhere like dog owners often do. We must remember birds are closer to their primal state than dogs making the task so much harder.

I hear what everyone says, but my Green Winged Macaws have never lived in cages. They roam my garden freely and play under the thorn tree on a wrought iron bench which has most of their toys on, plus there is a rope tied between two trees where they climb and do their tricks. This is where they are most of the day and only come in when it gets dark outside. Their fruit, nuts and water are out there as well. They thoroughly enjoy this. I am home all day, so keep a watch every now and again, yes their wings are cut according to the Avian vet. I have a big avery type cage under the lapa in the shade, where they will go into when I have to run errands, and they do not mind. They also have their own bedroom in the house, where they sleep at night on either the perch, branch or a pillow, where the younger one loves to sleep on. I do not believe in caging these birds, they must be free to roam.

My two birds have their own room in which they spend the day whilst we are out. The room is full of bird friendly stuff. Stands toys and each if their cages. They both go in at night to be covered. I have provided them with loads of chewing material and I’ve never had any issues so far. My life has changed since I got them and due to work have to leave them for lengthy spells so I feel this gives them space to exercise and explore.

My bird max hates being in his cage but night time he say goodnight n gets in his cage with sheet over him So free living n roaming around house jumps in shower With us n has dinner with us also

After many years, I now have only ‘small’ birds. The family of budgies and a pair of Alexandrines. They all have their own cages, but are ‘mix and match’ throughout the day – flying free and playing in and out of one another’s cages. Even when I had my larger birds I adopted the same system and at sunset, they would all sort out and go back to their own ‘homes’ for the night sleep even if sometimes I wasn’t there to see them in and close up. I am convinced that a cage represents security at the end of the day – in the same way that wild birds will return to the same tree/branch/barn to roost.

I know how controversial this subject is but we in fact have never put our Macaw in a cage. He is an outside bird with slightly clipped wings to avoid far flight. Inside the home he is always supervised and he sleeps on a stand in one of the bathrooms. He also has 2 trees to climb on to. Yes there has been some scary moments when he has flown near the neighborhood, but always has called us loudly to come get him.

I have 6 macaws and a yellow nape amazon that are all in cages except one. My scarlet has never been in a cage except to open one of the others and let them out and then go into their cage. My scarlet will not stay in the other cage for very long but I guess she is wondering what is so cool about the other bids in their cages. The scarlet doesn’t wonder off very often and when she lets another bid out they usually sit on top of their cage. My scarlet has a big play stand and a large hanging array of perches to be on and loves it. OH yea a large diameter rope to connect the two together with. We go away for a three day weekend now and then and mostly she stays on her play stand. I tell her to be good bird and don’t go open the other cages (some have chains and quick links to keep them closed so they can’t unlock and escape their cage). But a couple are open able and she has done so on a few times. She usually will not open the other cages while we are away! l hadn’t found much evidence that she roams the house but may at times, however she doesn’t appear to tear up stuff if she does roam??? Hope this is helpful? Bill

We have a large cockatoo (Wife’s bird) that lives in her bathroom, His T-stand is the top of the shower doors. Necessary protection of toilet & sink are effective. He also has a large cage under a window, and there is a cage secured around the open window. My young peachface lovebird has a cage in my room, but most of the time he is on my shoulder including when we go out. He likes to be with me and is, situation permitting. He is very lightly clipped; future clipping may vary , depending how dependable he seems to be.