Outside The House?

[WALTER7]

I AM thinking of getting my first parrot in a few months (maybe a senegal, not sure yet) can any of you guys actually leave the house with yor bird on your shoulder and have them stay there and not fly away terrified? thanks.

[WALTER7]

i have just read a thread further down the page and this was good enough for me. see you some other time.

[JSimko]

What thread did you read, and what did you decide?

[Redstorm1721]

Yes which one? was it about how you shouldn't walk around the outside with your bird on you shoulder? because they might fall and hurt their beak? Or maybe get a leash? Please do tell?

[JSimko]

I take my birds out all of the time and never have a problem.

[WALTER7]

yes i did read about them falling off shoulders and hitting their beaks. i will have to consider my options at the time i think, probably at first i could go out in the garden with her wings clipped? (how quick do they grow back?). i am hoping not to really go out on the street, but go somewhere in the countryside where it is quiet. if (she) DOES get scared or lost, can parrots find their way home? - (if they want to).

[jackie]

well, i've heard that if they just go a lil bit and can still you, sometimes they eventually come back, but usually, they aren't paying attention to where they're flying and get lost and scared very easily.

[Amanda]

The wings will grow back during the next molt. However, I have heard of birds who grew their wings back prior to the next molt ... but on average, it generally will grow back at the next molt. Birds who accidentally fly away rarely fly back home ... it may be possible, but very rarely.

[birdygirl]

I would use a leash for birds. Flight Suit with optional leash, or feather teather bird harness(I use that one). That way if they get scared they can fly but not far.

[crazeemama]

Just because a bird has it's wings clipped does not mean it can't fly outside. Aided by gust of wind,etc it can get into a current of air moving considerably faster than you can. Birds spook easier outside than in the house or even an outdoor aviary. I have even heard of parrots getting plucked off their caretaker's shoulder by raptor's and larger birds of prey.
Even if a bird can find it's way home (highly doubtful), it is at great risk from predatory animals,disease, etc while out in the 'wild'. Either a tether or a cage is the only way to keep them safe outside.
If you live in an area at risk for West Nile Virus, give some serious thought to taking your bird outside at all, once the mosquito season is upon you.

[Amanda]

That's so true about the west nile virus, crazeemama. That's why I'm taking advantage of the good weather now and taking Rio out as much as possible. Once the mosquito season hits full swing around here, I doubt I'll be taking Rio out much. I don't want to take the risk.

[Mrs.Birdy]

Good advice Crazeemama. I almost forgot about the west nile virus. We have to be especially aware here on the east coast since we have had so much rain this season.

I will take Marcel out with his new flight suit, once we get it, in the early morning when the mosquitos here are mainly dormant, or in the evening at the beach where there are hardly any mosquitos present.

Thanks.