Mature wild birds that lived in a cage 'forever'

[hdoone]

I received 2 budgies: one female (1 year old), one male (3.5 years old). The female was in the cage for several months because the owner bought some cats. The male was in the cage 'forever' because the owner was an old man who didn't want a mess at home. After a week in the cage, I let them fly in the room (not at the same time). They were very scared, they hit the mirrors and the windows several times, and, of course, they didn't want to return to the cage late at night. What should I do with them? Keep them in the cage all the time, or let them fly often, so they get used to the 'freedom'?

[mona]

You could cover the mirrors and windows too. They need time to realize where they can fly and where not. First timers will be nervous to find their way back to the cage. Also, they can't find small doors for the cage. If you can't/don't want to catch them back to the cage, get a night lamp to avoid night fright in the room. They also need to be accustomed with a room, so normally before opening the cage door, I let them stay for a week or so & observe the room first. Also, make sure to have the place bird safe - no open wires, no candles, no deodorants, non stick pans, etc - assuming you would already know..

Definitely, they can be trained to move in and out of the cage - so, in favor of freedom!

I have gone through the same situation with always in cage birdies ending up with me. Mine didn't come out for a long time, even with open doors. Once they came out, I rushed to cover mirror and windows already had railings so they checked out themselves that they can't fly through. They landed on the fan for entire 2 3 days, initially with me feeding them using a ladder.. then I started ignoring their contact calls to check if they would come down to eat. Moved the cage just below them and cage at a height.. placed the seed dish on the cage top. Once they started getting comfy with the process, I added a few platform perches outside the cage and moved the seeds to lower platform perches and finally inside the cage near the door.. they learnt going inside for food. Mine aren't tame, so I just close the cage door in evening once they are in for dinner.

Many people also suggest letting them out in smaller places where they can be trained to hop on a perch to go inside the cage.

[Hezz]

Definitely allow them to come out or free time each day, but for now make sure you can be around to supervise them. Not yet knowing the limits of the room can cause bumps into things, or getting lost, stuck down behind furniture etc. Check the room for gaps between furniture and walls, ceiling fans off, not hot lights in case they try to land on these (not common). Make sure there are perching places for them high up as this is where they will naturally prefer to be.

[tweetiepiesmom]

I put a perch on the outside of the cage right beside their cage door. The first couple of times my two did hit the wall but they found their way back to the cage top and then crawled down to the door. I didn't feed my two guys outside of their cage except for some greens that I peg beside the perch by the cage door. Now I do feed them outside the cage but they now know when to go back to the cage at dusk.