Birds are intelligent beings that make great pets and are relatively easy to train. They may not be like your average cat or dog, but with a little time and patience, you will be able to bond more deeply with your pet. Since they mostly spend their time in cages, some birds may find it difficult to leave their sanctuary at first.
The easiest way to get a bird out of its cage is by developing a bond of trust between your bird and your hand. You can do this by putting your hand further into the cage whenever you put water or food for it or by holding your next to the cage every day for it to associate the hand with safety.
In this article, we shall be looking into how to get your new pet out of its cage in more detail.
How Often Should You Let Your Bird Out Of The Cage?
The time needed to be spent outside usually varies according to the size of the bird. You should let your bird get a minimum of 2-3 hours at least every day out of its cage. For bigger birds, like parrots, you can let playtime be a little longer as it is often difficult for them to stretch their wings in the cage.
Keep in mind that the quality of time spent outside is more important than the quantity. Allow your bird to play, explore, fly and interact with you when it is outside. It is important to engage with them during this time, but you can also keep busy with your work in the same room while your pet bird goes about his business.
Why Won’t My Birds Come Out Of Their Cage?
The main reason for birds not to come out of their cage is attained fear. This can stem from a lot of reasons – mistreatment from pet store owners, fear of the outside, or injury. Following are a few reasons why your bird refuses to come out of the cage.
- Trauma
A bird can be traumatized by even the slightest of things. As you may have noticed, birds outside fly off even when you step closer.
Hence, it is very easy to spook these feathered creatures. Trauma could come from loud noises, accidents, rough treatment from caretakers or past injuries.
- Fear
Fear can also cause a lot of phobias in birds. Caged birds require a lot of socialization – whether by their caretakers or fellow feathered friends. When not given enough interaction, they may start to see the outside world as unfamiliar, hence dangerous. Hence, it is important to train and help your bird overcome this fear.
- Bustling Household
If you are living in a house with a lot of commotion, the chances are that your bird will refuse to step out of the cage for a long time. A bustling household can mean anything – lots of family members, other pet animals like dogs or cats, loud noises and chatter, or just having children, who create a lot of chaos, in general.
This is not the ideal household for keeping birds as it is a lot of noise and action for a bird to take. This could be a reason your bird refuses to come out.
- Poor Health
A lot of times, birds may refuse to come out of the cage due to some sort of health condition or injury. New bird owners are often unable to recognize signs of poor health in their birds, which may be sold to them as they are. Hence, make sure to check if your pet is showing any of the following indications of a problem:
- Drooped wings
- Not eating any food
- Limping
- Making a lot of noise
- Some sort of aggressive behavior
- Discoloration or unkempt feathers
- Aggression
- Tiredness and inability to stand
- Dull eyes
If you see any of the following signs, then make sure to take your pet bird to the vet as soon as you can.
How To Get Your Bird To Come Out Of Its Cage?
There are many things that can be done to help you gain your bird’s trust and let it know that it is safe to come out of its cage.
- Get A Large Cage For the Bird
A large cage, free enough for your bird to stretch its wings and move around, is ideal for birdkeeping. Since birds need a lot of space, a large cage ensures it gets enough free movement apart from their designated playtime.
When choosing a spot to place the birdcage, make sure that it is in a secluded corner. Keeping the cage in the middle of the room where there is a lot of movement or passing may cause your bird to stress. This may result in anxiety, stress, or even a fear of stepping out of their cage.
If the cage is around the corner, it gives a nest-like feeling to your bird which makes it feel safe and easier to get accustomed to it.
- Try Giving Your Bird Space
Remember that getting out of the cage should be at your bird’s will. Never force it out of the cage. Instead, keep the door of the cage open, leave a few treats outside as bait, and then just step aside to observe from afar. They might step out, grab the treat and rush back inside, but that is still a great start and can progress further.
Do not keep the cage door open at all times, as even a slight disturbance can send your bird into a panic – especially if it’s new and adjusting. Be there to supervise your bird’s outside time and training.
- Get Them Accustomed To You
This is the best way to get your bird out of the cage, but it does require a lot of time and patience.
Getting your bird accustomed to you can be tricky. You need to get it used to your hand so that it knows it is a safe place to perch on. Try holding your hand next to the cage at first for as long as you can or whenever it is possible every day.
When giving your bird food and water, make sure to put your hand all the way in. This can have positive affirmations as your bird will link you to its caretaker and help with letting it know that your hand is safe. After you reach a point where your bird does not flinch or react negatively to your hand, you can start trying petting it every day.
To help with this step, you can hold treats in your hand and offer them to your bird when it shows trusting behavior or positive progress.
- Place Enough Interesting Items In The Room
Treats are not the only way to get your bird’s attention. You can put interesting toys for birds in the room, other perches that look interesting, or play gyms for your pet to roam around in. This will give your bird various places to fly to and increase your bird’s confidence to be outside.
People often also place other pet birds around the caged bird to help them become more trusting of the outside. Having other bird pets can also help encourage the new bird to come out.
Note: Always remember that the process of trying to get your bird to come out of the cage is not always pleasant, and you might even get bitten once or twice. Prepare yourself to be patient and always gentle when handling birds.
No matter what, do not clip your bird’s wings as it prevents them from flying and is a painful procedure for the bird. You might want to do so to stop your bird from escaping, but in my experience, it only increases the risk of danger from bigger predators like dogs and cats as your bird becomes immobile.
How To Get A Bird Into Its Cage?
Getting a bird out of its cage is not much of a task as training it to return inside is. Remember that after a good amount of outside time, never force your bird back inside. Always lure it in with a tasty snack and let it go inside voluntarily. The gentle way is the best way to go.
Related Questions
Do birds like being in a cage?
No, birds do not really like being in cages. Tamed birds do appreciate cages with food, water, and toys, but outside time is a crucial part of bird-keeping as your feathered friend’s natural habitat are trees.
Should I force my bird out of the cage?
Never force your bird out of the cage if it has not bonded with you yet, as even a little exertion can traumatize them. It can cause birds to become aggressive, weary, or even depressed.
How long does it take a bird to get used to a new cage?
The minimum time for a bird to get used to its cage is two weeks. Some birds might take longer, but some may get comfortable before it. It all depends on whether you have bonded with them or not.
Final Thoughts
Getting a bird inside or outside a cage will always be easier if you get it accustomed to your hand. Bird keepers advise trimming the feathers of your pet to keep them from flying away, but that is a painful and unnecessary act. It hurts your bird and can even cause aggression.
Hence, remember that if you want to keep a pet, make sure you have the time and patience for it so that you do not have to take cruel measures as such. Hope this article helped with getting your bird out!
MORE FROM XOMYPETS: