how much time should one spend with their bird each day?

[Missi]

This is a great thread.

Jasmine gets anywhere from 3 to 5 hours per day out of her cage on the weekdays when I get home from work at 5:30, unless we go out some where.
On the weekends she usually gets anywhere from 5-8 hours depending on whether I go out much or not. She is usually very content sitting on top of her cage marching back and forth or perched on her manzanita tree stand in front of the window. We also take her outside on her Aviator harness when weather and sunlight permits (she gets freaked and nervous when we walk her outside in the dark). This time of year it is usually dark-ish by the time I get home, so we opt for weekend walks...when the spring/summer roll around, we'll take more walks after I get off work.

Anyhow, that's a very basic summary of our routine.

[birdyheaven]

Depending on what kind of birds you have...if they are in the same cage or seperated. Birds can get very lonely and depressed if not handled much. Smaller birds seem to be more content w/ whatever happends. Larger birds demand more and want more!! LOL. I'd say atleast a half an hour -to a hour of "play time" every 3 hrs if possible. If you can't have them out and they are bored. Mix up their play toys ..rotate them...stimulation w/ those are great!!

[svolk]

Originally Posted by birdyheaven

Smaller birds seem to be more content w/ whatever happends. Larger birds demand more and want more!!

I only have experience with my two small guys but I think that my guys do demand attention. They want to be with us and if we're late or off schedule somehow, you bet they're gonna tell us!

[Doyle'sMommy]

Originally Posted by svolk

I only have experience with my two small guys but I think that my guys do demand attention. They want to be with us and if we're late or off schedule somehow, you bet they're gonna tell us!

I have to agree with Sarah here. Princess is the one who gets the most excited when we get home and she demands attention. She will pace back and forth on top of her cage until someone picks her up. She loves lots of attention.

[svolk]

Originally Posted by Doyle'sDaddy

I have to agree with Sarah here. Princess is the one who gets the most excited when we get home and she demands attention. She will pace back and forth on top of her cage until someone picks her up. She loves lots of attention.

Lulu does the same thing If the back door opens or closes she's immediately calling to us and constantly demanding attention. She paces back and forth in her cage too when we walk by and she's not out. She loves to be out and to snuggle.

[Missi]

That is one thing I do since Jazzy is home alone all morning and afternoon...rotate, rotate, rotate her toys! She has a biiiig toy box under her cage of extra toys for rotating!

[svolk]

Originally Posted by Missi

That is one thing I do since Jazzy is home alone all morning and afternoon...rotate, rotate, rotate her toys! She has a biiiig toy box under her cage of extra toys for rotating!

Me too! I have a huge bin full of toys and toy parts and my guys each get 1 or 2 new/refurbished toys per week, and I rotate the toys that are left in.

[Irish]

Most days, the Goons are out of their cages and in the l/r on playstands for 6-8 hours. They're not allowed to perch on their cages in the bird room (Bob and Arthur have a tendency to become butts if they're allowed on top of their cages--PLUS, they eat the walls). When I leave the house, the birds go in their cages. When I'm too tired and need a nap, ditto. I've taken Nancy's good advice, and always make sure there's a good treat waiting for them in their cages, so they never have a problem with going in.

I'm thinking that for the most part, the more time out of a cage for a bird, the better. They'll usually let you know when they're tired and need a nap in their cage :-). Mine get that time from 1 to 3 pm daily.

Weekends, they're usually not out as much as weekdays, as we're out and about alot, then.

[Missi]

Originally Posted by Irish

Most days, the Goons are out of their cages and in the l/r on playstands for 6-8 hours. They're not allowed to perch on their cages in the bird room (Bob and Arthur have a tendency to become butts if they're allowed on top of their cages--PLUS, they eat the walls). When I leave the house, the birds go in their cages. When I'm too tired and need a nap, ditto. I've taken Nancy's good advice, and always make sure there's a good treat waiting for them in their cages, so they never have a problem with going in.

I'm thinking that for the most part, the more time out of a cage for a bird, the better. They'll usually let you know when they're tired and need a nap in their cage :-). Mine get that time from 1 to 3 pm daily.

Weekends, they're usually not out as much as weekdays, as we're out and about alot, then.

Good point...Jasmine does get snappy when we go to get her down from the top of her cage. Eitehr she'll run further to the back where she knows it's hard for me to reach her up there or she'll beak me and finally step up. I don't know what to do though because my boyfriend and I are pretty much stuck in our room (where Jazzy's cage is) because our roomies don't care for birds. Most of the time when Jasmine is on her tree stand, she'll fly to her cage and sit at the top. What else can I do?!

[Kristi]

My guys (and gal) are usually out of their cages when someone is home. They've been really spoiled while I was out of school for the holidays because they were out all day every day. They only went in the cage when I saw them one-footing with closed eyes on their gym or the back of the sofa. They are in bed by 10:00 or so every night.

Today has been a little different for them. I went back to school today and so did my kids, so they were out for about 1/2 hour this morning before everyone left the house. My husband came home for about 2 hours for lunch and they were out the whole time he was home. I just got home and they didn't make a peep when I came in, so I left them alone. They know I'm here and they'll let me know when it's time for me to take them out. My kids get home soon, so it'll probably be then. Then they'll prob stay out for the rest of the day until bedtime.