Open cage: top or side | Budgerigars Forum

evo
Brand New Budgie

Posts: 6

Open cage: top or side Jul 4, 2020 15:25:03 GMT

Quote

Post by evo on Jul 4, 2020 15:25:03 GMT

Today I tried to let my budgie to fly outside her cage for the first time. I thought is was a good idea to open the top of the cage, because it is probly easier to get back in the cage from the top. When I opened the top of the cage, Penney freaked out, probably because my hands where over her cage. I left the cage open for a few hours, and tried to lure her out, but no luck. She sat very still and silent the whole time the cage was open, except when I lured her on to my finger with some food. Every time I tried to get her out of the cage on my finger she went back very quickly. She looked so sad I decided to close the cage. She instantly looked relieved, moved and made noices again.
Is it better to get her outside through the hatch on the side of the cage and then open the top and hope she understands she can go back to her cage from the top. Or to try again tomorrow with opening the top?

Hezz
Staff Member

Posts: 34,085

Open cage: top or side Jul 5, 2020 1:52:58 GMT

Quote

Post by Hezz on Jul 5, 2020 1:52:58 GMT

How big is the door on the side of the cage? Also the bird freaking out might not have had anything to do with location of the opening, but more how you went about it. See if she will come out if you use a perch for her to stand on while going in and out of the cage. It may help to position a perch just inside the opening, and also just outside the opening so that she has somewhere obvious to sit.

We are not Vets, Avian or otherwise. If you have any serious doubts about your budgies' health an appointment with an Avian vet should always be your first point of call.

RIP Bluey 4/12/05 - 31/03/12 RIP Fluoro 22/09/12 - 28/12/12
RIP Smudge 1/03/10 - 8/07/15 RIP Sparky 24/04/11 - 03/10/17
MIA Misty 22/09/12 - 20/10/21 RIP Mango 03/12/13 - 20/05/23

evo
Brand New Budgie

Posts: 6

Open cage: top or side Jul 5, 2020 10:31:27 GMT blue48 likes this

Quote

Post by evo on Jul 5, 2020 10:31:27 GMT

Thanks for the advise. So I had a different approach this time. I let her walk out of her cage over my arm, encouraged by some food. She did come out of the cage, flew from curtain to curtain (bumping into some things on the way) in my living room and kitchen. It ended with a crash landing on the floor. I tried to get her on my finger with some food, bwhile my husband opend the top of her cage. Soon she decided it was enough for today and returned to her cage (she went on from the top, as I expected) . I did compliment her for her courrage and gave her some treats. Now she is quit silent, so I closed the cage again to give her the time to proces what happened. I hope she wants to try again in a few days...