britney is desperate!

[londonparis18]

she is so chirpy this afternoon!
im going to be out for an hour at about 5 or 6pm and then ill be back until 10 so do you think if I let her out for a fly around she would be back in her cage by then?

as i explained before, she isn't yet tame but keeps stretching her wings and i'd like to give her some exercise!

also, if I do let her out, any tips for budgie-proofing my room? i have already closed the curtains and covered my mirror!

i won't be able to get her back in with a treat as i still haven't found any treats she will eat! (i think she is only used to seed from the pet shop) so will she definitely go back to her cage when she goes to sleep?

thanks, Sarah & Britney xx

[mmr]

you mean leave her out while you are gone? If yes, then no, no, no! You need to towel her then to get her back in her cage before you go.

[londonparis18]

noooo i meant i could let her oout now or when i get back....i was wondering if when i got back she would be closer to wanting to go to bed and get back in the cage herself...?
although id prefer to let her out now as she seems restless its just i am very nervous to do so! do you think it will be ok?
how do i towel her properly? im scared of hurting her!

[londonparis18]

noooo i meant i could let her oout now or when i get back....i was wondering if when i got back she would be closer to wanting to go to bed and get back in the cage herself...?
although id prefer to let her out now as she seems restless its just i am very nervous to do so! do you think it will be ok?
how do i towel her properly? im scared of hurting her!

[mmr]

let her out now. 10 p.m. is bedtime for them. you will find at that time she will be a grumpy guss!

[londonparis18]

okay...i think i'll just open her cage and let her explore herself as ive never let her out before.
how do i towel her properly when i go out later?

[svolk]

If she's still only interested in seed, that's probably enough to entice her back into the cage. Remove her seed dish when you let her out and then let her see you place it back in when you're ready for her to go back in.

If she's been caged for quite awhile, or possibly all her life thus far, you'll find that she won't have much stamina for flying around for hours and hours - and will, thus, probably willingly go back into her cage at some point.

If she hasn't perfected her flying and landing skills yet she'll also probably land in some odd places, like on the floor or on the window treatments - she may let you "rescue" her and step up for you if she's scared. In the beginning my Winston would land on the floor sometimes and I'd go to him and he'd step up for me.

[londonparis18]

she is not yet tame and is even still afraid of my hand so i doubt she will step up...will this be a problem?

[svolk]

Originally Posted by londonparis18

she is not yet tame and is even still afraid of my hand so i doubt she will step up...will this be a problem?

No, it will be fine. My Winston was fully flighted and untame when I first brought him home - he still doesn't step up but he will now fly to me (took months for him to get that brave!). Are you able to pick up Britney's cage (I'm not sure how big it is)? When Winston first came home his cage was small enough for me to carry here and there - after he had flown awhile and I was ready to turn the birds in for the night, I'd carry his cage to him (with the door open) and he'd hop right when I bought it next to him. That's another option depending on the type/size of cage you have.

[Xen]

How long have you had her? Is she clipped?

I personally wouldn't let her out unclipped and untamed. I made the mistake with Pip, my lovebird. I let her out in my room (while with her) and she didn't want to get back into her cage at all... so after trying to towel her I took steps backwards by scaring her.

None of my girls are clipped, but I've read lots of posts from people who state how their birds step up much sooner as they're more dependant on your help to get around.

My girls have the deal... if they want out, they step up to get out.