Playstands

[Amali]

As many of you know from my introduction post, Amali is my new 4.5 month old TAG. She is doing extremely well - eats just about anything I offer, took to showering with me after having never been bathed by the breeder better than I ever could have hoped for, and seems to accept anyone in the family pretty well even though it is clear that I am her favorite right now. The one problem we do have is that she doesn't ever want to come out of her cage and play independently on her playstand. Whether I try to put her on her stand or I try to have her on my lap, the floor, a table - she refuses to stay and just wants to go straight to my shoulder all the time. While this is sweet, and I do love having her with me, I also need to be able to get things done around the house. I would love for her to be out of her cage more without having to constantly be held. Any suggestions on getting her to be more comfortable spending time out of her cage and on a stand?

[Barbara2]

As many of you know from my introduction post, Amali is my new 4.5 month old TAG. She is doing extremely well - eats just about anything I offer, took to showering with me after having never been bathed by the breeder better than I ever could have hoped for, and seems to accept anyone in the family pretty well even though it is clear that I am her favorite right now. The one problem we do have is that she doesn't ever want to come out of her cage and play independently on her playstand. Whether I try to put her on her stand or I try to have her on my lap, the floor, a table - she refuses to stay and just wants to go straight to my shoulder all the time. While this is sweet, and I do love having her with me, I also need to be able to get things done around the house. I would love for her to be out of her cage more without having to constantly be held. Any suggestions on getting her to be more comfortable spending time out of her cage and on a stand?

 

Do you have a picture of the playstand so we can get an idea of what is there?

[Luvparrots]

My greys are also shoulder creatures. They are both flighted so I just flick them off and they go to the many ceiling perches I have in my home. They soon learn that there are other places to sit and still be in the middle of everything. It has not changed anything with their caring for me. I let them know they are loved by talking to them and letting them know what I am doing or where I am going.

[Amali]

This is the stand:

 

https://www.windycityparrot.com/Bird-Parrot-Play-Stand-HQ-Model-A.HTML

 

I have wrapped many of the metal parts with hemp cord to make it easier to grip and I've put familiar toys out of her cage on it, but she won't even stay put for 30 seconds.

 

I'm afraid that letting her be flighted is not a good option for us. Living in TX means ceiling fans running most of the year.

[Amali]

I guess she just needed me to post so she could prove me wrong. Amali spent about 30 minutes on her stand this afternoon - yay! It isn't near as long as I'd like her to be out independently, but it is a huge step in the right direction.

[Barbara2]

Thanks! I was wondering because I've found that Egan only likes to have hanging toys. He is only 5 months old and isn't much into climbing down yet. Actually I haven't gotten him to climb up on the playstand yet either. (He is a small TAG.) I will post pictures soon once I get it completed but I had to modify a playstand that I have had (for my other fids) for 17 or 18 years. I needed a way to hang toys over the top bar that has the food and water bowls on it. Here is the original stand. I'll post "after" pictures when I finish up the modifications on Wednesday.