How long...

[Chico's Mom]

...can I keep my birds away from their food and water?

Been in the den for a few hours now, playtoys available, but no food or water here. I'm going to put the birdies back now so they can eat and drink, but I was just wondering how long they can stay with me without eating/drinking.

Tiel,Green Cheek, and Parrotlet.

Thanks.

[Jessie Skiffen]

Why are they without water and food?
Jessie

[Reznik]

I believe she means she has them out of the cages and in another room playing with them.

As for the time without access to food and water, I would not extend it past the couple hour mark. My Nanday will spend a couple hours at a time out and around with me hanging out on my shoulder. Sometimes when he gets back to his cage he goes to the food/water, other times he doesnt. Likely depends on how recently they had eaten/drank before you took them out.

Maybe look into getting some sort of play stand that a food/water dish can be hung from?

[Chico's Mom]

brought them into the den with me, and didn't have food/water set up. Only was going to be in here for a little while. Usually they have a playstand set up with treats, etc., in "their" room, but I brought them in here today and just put some toys and ladders on the window-sill for them to hang out for a few min. w/me.

[Chico's Mom]

Thanks Reznik, that's exactly what I meant. I have a new cage coming at the end of September, and the cage that the p'let is in now will be a spare, in the den with food and water, toys, etc. so they can go in and out when they are w/me in here. The top of the cage is flat, and I have a playstand that I'll set up on top of it.

[Monica]

Charlie will spend hours with me, without even eating! Don't mind the fact that we are in the same room as his cage is... don't mind the fact that he has food in his cage... don't mind the fact that every now and then I toss him to his cage so he can 'go potty' (without, hopefully, going on me)

He'll land on his cage, go if he has to, then normally flies back to me... and we are what, 5 feet from the cage? If I have food with me he may or may not eat it! Depends on what it is... if he doesn't care for it, but I act like I'm eating it he has *SUCH* a fit, runs up my arm making angry noises, gets to the food, and takes a bite! Then, he drops it! He may repeat this, too...

The more time he spends with me, the less he eats that particular day. Therefore, sometimes I just lock him up in his cage hoping he'll eat some food before coming back out!

[Chico's Mom]

Monica, that's funny! My birds will check out what I'm eating (or pretending to eat) and look at me like "what...are you nuts!!?? I can't believe you're eating that!"

[Monica]

LOL! Be thankful! I'd rather have a bird who decided *NOT* to eat what I'm eating 'cause they don't like it, rather than having what I have *BECAUSE* I'm eating it, then, decide they don't like it, toss it, and go back for another bite! Yeah, Charlie's a brat! He's also one of those birds who may eat fresh food out of the cage, but while in his cage, ignores fresh food. I'm thankful that he's gotten *MUCH* better about that, however, new foods that are introduced to him have a high chance of being ignored the first few times it's given before he decides it's okay to eat! I guess he's the balance to the budgies, who are the best eaters! They may be cautious of new food, but once deemed edible, it's gone!

[Addicted to Tequila]

I think it must be a Mitred trait! Dudley is EXACTLY the same! LOL

[Sally]

I think Parrotlets eat more often, but it isn't a problem I am sure. Chipper flies back to her cage when she is hungry or thirty. Or her playgym.