Multi-parrot household

[triathlonmeg]

Hi everyone,
I have a logistics question for you. If you've got multiple birds, all of whom need attention, how do you arrange their "out of cage" time? For example, if you had a snuggly little lovebird who just wants to snuggle into your sweatshirt all day, and a crazy attention-hog caique, how would you split up the time between them? How do you manage your multiple birds? How do you make sure that they all get the attention they deserve?

[sparkysmom]

I have multiple playgyms thru out my house. I have the conures out at the same time. They spend a few hours flying, playing or watching TV. Like 2 or 3. Then I change shifts. The greys come out and stay on separate gyms. One is flighted. But will not try to fly to the other.

I really have to watch the greys cuz they will fight.

I also have to watch that one of the conures doesn't fly to a grey cage. There was a foot biting incident a coupla years ago..

SO yeh I keep it in shifts according to size.

[mwagpetal]

Hi triathlonmeg, I have a cockatiel, nanday conure, and a quaker parrot.

Before I got the quaker parrot, the nanday conure hated it when my cockatiel was out. Now that I have the quaker parrot and the conure love playing together so it takes his attention off of the cockatiel. However, I surely wouldn't advise getting another bird just for that reason alone. It wasn't my intentions but it seemed to work out surprisingly enough.

Anyway, I usually let my birds have one on one time with me and play time together (seperate from their individual cages). Or if I let one play on Petey's playtop then I spend time with him so he doesn't get upset.

It can be difficult at times but if they have a hard time seeing you playing with the other one you might try going in a different room to play with each one at first. Another lady gave me some really good tips about Petey when I joined. Have you tried foraging toys? I've tried them with him he isn't really found of doing the foraging yet but I think he is warming up to it.

Probably not much help, but I can sympathize with you.

[guest1717171]

mine usually stay on their play tops or playstands all day

the only one that ever goes back in her cage is chicken...and even then its just for a time out and then she comes back out

[Astrid660]

"mine usually stay on their play tops or playstands all day"

same here ... I have nine, including a cockatoo, but none are so overly demanding that I have to give separate out of cage time. I make sure to spend a lot of individual time with each of them so no bird feels left out.

eta: I guess I got lucky

[birdlover337]

i let mine out and they stay on top of their cages, each one has a playtop. Every once in awhile i get one that wants to check out another playtop but they all enjoy their out of cage time

[jimpierce7]

we take turns.

[Izzy]

I have two cockatiels and a Meyers Parrot. The cockatiels share a cage, and tolerate each other (they aren't buddies yet, but I think they enjoy each other's company). The Meyers hates the cockatiels, and has actually bitten a cockatiel's toe in her previous home.

I have their cages on opposite sides of the room, probably about 20 feet apart (it's a living room and dining room). Sweety, my original tiel, is fully flighted, and has been for the last 18 months. Lily, my meyers, just started flying about 2 weeks ago. Zasu, the newest cockatiel, is still clipped but I'll be letting her wings grow out.

They are all out at the same time, playing on their cagetops. The two flighted ones will often fly to me to hang out, so I watch to make sure I only have one on me at a time. So far the Meyers hasn't flown to the cockatiel cage to attack, but I don't know if that is going to become a problem or not. If it does become a problem, I'll have to do seperate out of cage times or clip the Meyers.

I like having the tiels flighted so that they can get away if they have to.

[Halo]

I have 13 birds. I have four that rarely leave their cages, the tiel and keet because they are extremely antisocial and two of the macaws because they are bonded and while they will talk to you for hours, they really don't crave or want human contact. Two of my birds, Lilly and Tuck Tuck (GCC and G2) are in my bedroom and are out all day and get along just fine. In my living room, I have all male birds (G2, CAG, U2, WFA, MRHA, Harlequin macaw) and Minga (B&G) is out there during the day as well. They all get along with each other and when they want my attention, they will come sit with me or talk to me or whatever but we very very very rarely ever have any conflict. Honestly, they could all sit on me without issue although it doesn't happen very often that all want me at the same time.

Of course, this is probably not the norm; I have just been very lucky. Even more lucky that all of these birds (except two) were rescues/rehomes.

[birdlover912]

Lady (tiel), Sydney, Daphne, and Penny (budgies) all get along and spend time out of the cage together. They are all partially flighted, but Daphne and Lady usually stay put. I give them individual attention when they are out.

Orrin is very protective of his cage and will chase any bird that lands on it (he rarely flies), so he gets out of the cage time seperatly. If he's not on his cage, he is usually fine though. He is my computer and breakfast making buddy. He is such a big help! :)

Apple-Jack is the most aggressive bird I have ever seen. Whenever I let him out of his cage, he will attepmt to attack Ori though the cage bars (he leaves the budgies and Lady alone, probably because they ignore him). I'm so afraid someone is going to get hurt! Since those little lovies are such strong fliers, he can fly very well even when clipped. I have to let him out seperatly in a different room when everyone else is in their cage because I'm afriad he will hurt someone or worse. Hopefully he will get better about this!