Cage location considerations

[Carolyn]

Cage Location Considerations

 

Being very social, parrots like to be where the action is.

 

They want to know what is going on and it is important for them to be part of the interaction of the human flock. If you spend most of your time in the living room, that's where the cage should be. If you spend most of your time in the family room, that's where their cage should be. However, if you stay up late watching television, the bird should also have a sleeping cage in another room. It also helps to have a variety of stands and playgyms in other areas where the family spends a lot of time. Bird owners who think it makes sense to keep their parrots' cage in another room so they don't have to listen to its screaming. This is faulty logic simply because most parrots will tend to be louder if they can't see what's going on—they need to be a part of the family flock.

 

Being out of the loop creates a much greater potential for screaming. This can start with the parrot's contact calls and if no one responds to the calls, the parrot may start to scream so he will get the attention he wants. If he lives in the same room where people spend most of their time, the parrot can get his social needs met more easily with ambient attention. Ambient attention is defined as the time spent in the same room where there is occasional calling back and forth. The parrot is in his cage or on his playgym but he is not receiving physical attention. If he calls to the people in the room with a simple sound or a more elaborate, "What are you doing?" he receives a response such as, "I'm reading the paper," or "I'm watching the TV." For most parrots this is a very significant interaction. A response is reassuring and helps keep him secure about his place in the family flock.

 

Although it is important that people share their living areas with their parrot, the parrot's cage should not be in an area where there is a great deal of chaos. Some parrots may thrive on lots of action while others may be intimidated by being in an area with too much action. Lots of kids coming in and out of the door, dogs barking at a nearby window, people going up and down the stairs, and a loud television or radio are examples of activities that can create too much chaos for a permanent cage location. A quieter corner where the parrot can see all the activities going on, but is not in the middle of them is a far more suitable place for the cage location.

 

While many parrots love to have their cages next to a window so they can see the outside world, this location also comes with a warning. Too much activity can be intimidating for some parrots. Many people like to have their parrots' cages at a window so the parrots can derive entertainment from watching the outdoor bird feeder. This is a good idea and does give the parrot something to observe while their human friends are away. However, it can be scary for the parrot if a larger bird flies down and gets one of the birds at the feeder.

 

The area around the cage should not be cluttered with tempting chewables. If a parrot can reach it, a parrot is going to chew it. This is like putting chocolate in front of a chocaholic ... most parrots cannot resist chewing on an available piece of wood even if it is the frame on your favorite painting. It is best to locate the cage in an area where the destructo-beak can't reach anything valuable.

 

A permanent cage location in or near the kitchen can also be a problem, especially with a gas stove. Overheated Teflon or any nonstick coating is toxic to birds but so is the smoke or fumes from burning just about anything. Many pots and pans have hard plastic handles that are highly toxic if they are burned.

If you are a smoker, your parrot should NEVER be in an area where people smoke.

 

Carolyn & Mika

 

Post edited by: Carolyn, at: 2009/01/02 14:44<br><br>Post edited by: Carolyn, at: 2009/01/02 14:46

[she]

Thanks for a great post Carolyn

[Luvparrots]

Thanks for this great information of cage placement. I am placing a copy of this post with others I have printed concerning care for greys. My daughter pointed out that I should write down instructions on caring for Ana Grey if I am ever incapacitated. Because that isn't an easy task if you do it right, I have been copying various informative posts, i.e., Dave007 body language post, poisonous food and plants and toxic cleaners posts, etc. All this goes into a plastic baggie placed with Ana Grey's travel cage and nonperishable food supplies in case of emergency. So thanks Caroline!!