One of the first things I
evaluate with a problem bird is their cage. Where it is located, size, shape,
and how it is set up. Many behavior problems can be attributed to having your
parrot in improper surroundings. Their cage should be a safe haven for them
with plenty of things to keep them busy.
Type of Cage
A good
cage should be easy
to keep clean, and it should not be round. The bar spacing should be
appropriate for the type of bird that is housed in it. Whether or not you have
a play top or a dome top is up to you. One of the best gifts you can give
yourself and your parrot is a top of the line cage. When you skimp on a cage
you just end up replacing it again and again. Do your research and get a cage
that will last the lifetime of your parrot.
Placement
The cage should be placed in
an area where you are sure your parrot will be able to view his surroundings
safely without feeling threatened. You do not want to place a parrot directly
in front of a window or in the center of a room. Our first response is to
assume that they would enjoy the outside view or being right in the middle of a
room so they can see everything. The truth is that this type of placement may
be fine while your parrot is young. But once your parrot becomes sexually
mature and aware that it is a prey animal, this type of placement will cause
extreme stress upon him. Knowing this, a parrot should be placed against a
solid wall, if this is not possible then the back half of the cage should be
covered at all times. This will give him the sense of security that is needed.
Parrots do not live out in the open in the wild. They build
nests inside of
trees or in dense forest areas. So they may live and raise young safely.
Therefore we should try to mock this type of environment by placing the cage in
a more indiscreet area or our homes. One where they can take pleasure in their
surroundings and not feel threatened. You will need also to consider your
parrots sleep requirements. Does the placement of the cage allow for the proper
amounts of undisturbed quite darkness? If not do you have a sleeping cage in
another room? Sleep deprivation is a problem with many parrots I see. So if
your parrot is not receiving at least ten to twelve hours of rest each night you
will need to re evaluate his cage placement.
Do’s and dont's for cage
placement
-
Don’t place directly in
front of a window
-
Don’t place in center of a
room
-
Don’t place right on the
edge of a doorway
-
Don’t place next to the TV
that is watched late into the niter.
-
Don’t place in the kitchen
because of toxic fumes
-
Don’t place in an unfinished
basement
-
Don’t place in a utility
room
-
Don’t place in the garage
-
Don’t place them in your
bedroom
-
Do place them in a corner of
the family room with a sleeping cage in another room
-
Do place them in a
frequently used office or sitting room
-
Do have a bird room if you
have multiple birds
-
Do place in an alcove or
visible dining room
-
Do place them against a wall
-
Do place them so they have a
view of the entire room without putting them as a focal point.
-
You want your parrot to be
able to observe his environment so he learns to trust his surroundings.
Perches
There should be three
different size perches in the cage. These perches should also different
textures with at least one of the perches being a rope or Booda perch. The rope
perch should be the one that is placed at the highest point for sleeping. Place
this perch in a U shape in an upper back corner of the cage. This is especially
important if you have a feather picker. It gives a sense of safety to the
parrot, plus if they turn to pick, the rope is right there and they will opt to
shred that.
The other two perches should
be wood or one wood one of a different texture of choice. I would also like to
add that there does not have to be perches in front of every food dish. We tend
to make life just a little too easy for these busy birds. Make them work a
little.
Cage Set up
Three different perches with
the main wood one going horizontally across the middle. The rope perch should
be in a U shape in an upper back corner. The third should be place just inside
of the door so that when the door is opened the perch is brought out of the
cage. By doing this you do not have to reach into the cage for step up commands
that may be refused. When you want your parrot to come out you have him come
down to this perch first, open the door once he is on it and request the step
up. This is a must if your bird has aggression issues.
Toys
Now it is time to add the
toys. You should have at least three working toys in the cage at all times.
Working toys are toys that make them work for their treats or favored foods.
The other toys should be things that are easily shredded such as soft wood,
paper, and leather, preferably all of the above. Good toys have many different
shapes and textures for the bird to explore and destroy. Your parrot should
have a minimum of ten toys in his cage at all time. You should not be able to
see the parrot easily when he is in his cage. This is his home and he should
feel camouflaged as he would if he was in the wild.
Place one of the working
toys in front of the U shape perch, with the other working toy towards the front
of the opposite corner. Place one of the other toys directly on the side of the
U perch so that perch is surrounded by hanging toys. This allows your parrot a
hiding place to feel secure. Now take paper towels, shredders, newspaper,
leather, or brown paper bags and fold them up and weave into the cage bars
making a little square section on the side and to the back of the U perch.
Again this gives a sense of security to the parrot. Plus if you have a feather
picker it gives them another option to chew instead of their feathers.
We have to remember that we
took these birds from the wild and it is up to us to learn to understand their
needs. Set their cage up in a way that is fun for them and keep it
interesting. Busy beaks are happy beaks!
Thank You,
Michelle Karras
Published Birds USA
Video Positive Parrot
Behavior Vol. 1 “The Importance of Toys”
Lecturer
Slave to Twelve rescued
Parrots
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