Thinking about a playstand--but what if bird only wants to be on you?

[celes]

I know I've posted a lot of questions--lol. I have a new Jenday conure. I want the bird to have interaction and feel like it's a part of things here. The cage is located in my living room and it's very large, but does not have the playstand uptop like I've seen on many cages. I was thinking about getting a playstand, but I'm wondering if the bird would use it.

What I mean is--the bird only seems content *on me*. It doesn't want to explore. It doesn't want to stand close by or even beside me, it wants to sit on my shoulder and do god-knows-what--groom?(himself and me). I would think he'd get bored up there. lol Obviously, I can't just leave the bird on my shoulder all the time when I'm home. I need to be able to walk around, do other things, all the while staying close by.

I honestly wonder if I got such a stand--with food, toys--all that, if he'd stay on it or just stress out because he's not on me? His wings were already trimmed when I got him--and apparently they're pretty short because he has no gliding capability. He just falls. So I don't want him trying to jump off the stand to come where I am. lol

Advice?

[Chicklette]

Your bird needs to learn independence. It is not healthy for him to always be on you, this is what this forum taught me. So once you get the play stand set up and he goes on you, put him back on the play stand. Try to get him to learn he is ok to be happy on his own. It also means you have a very close bond with him which is great. Try to give him 50% on you time and 50% off of you time, playing on his own.

I do think stand will help you out in this situation.

[sailorkelly]

Playstands are great. Abbey had never had one before she came to us. So It took a little while for her to learn that she can play on it.

I do not have a cage top playstand. I have her cage set up in the dinning room an the playstand in the living room. She is flighted though. So she flies around as she pleases.

[Falsk]

When I got my GCC she wanted nothing to do with the stand I made her. I actually had to teach her to play with toys and learn to be NEXT to me and not ON me. I spent 20 minutes one morning holding up toys and when she touched her beak to them I would give her a little millet. Then she had to beak them twice before millet. I did this with some foot toys and the toys on her stand and within a couple of days she became content chewing and crawling around on the stand. I also have a hanging one that she's on AT THIS VERY MOMENT. She'll preen or chirp to me or play with her toy, but she's learned to be content without having to be right on me.