A Walk to the Store

[Monica]

On Sunday, around 6pm, I decided I might as well walk up to the store (not the local 7/11 which is close, but rather to the other one up near the highway which is a good far distance to walk) and buy myself a drink. It was my third time walking up there, and I had never taken Noel and Casey with me in that area, so I decided to bring them along. Noel can't fly, an will not leave my shoulder, however, after a few minutes, as usual, she starts to complain and keeps squawking telling me she wants to go back home. Casey, she's clipped so she can't fly, and enjoys going out and seeing things.

About halfway there, I met a couple of friends, and one of their friends that they knew, so Casey got to get some extra headscratches from someone she knew (if she were not admiring his earings), and play with the other's necklace. We walked up to the store (saw a snake whom sadly got ran over on the way up), I got myself a drink (no one else wanted anything), and we left.

We were walking back and ended up going over to one of their houses, when upon entering I got bombarded with questions from the two youger siblings, a couple questions from Grandpa, and questions from Grandma.... Tried to get some peace but the little tikes ended up following me and wanting to hold and touch the birds (I let them handle Casey, and would have let them handle Noel as well, but they were just too jumpy... only young kids are allowed to hold Noel with me around... adults are more on the no can handle side...). I stayed for a few minutes as it was getting late (it was around 8:30pm, it's quite a walk up there to that store!). Before I could leave though, I got bombarded with questions again by the two siblings, their mother/sister (their mother who is more like a sister, I guess), and the grandmother... (sort of similar to how I got bombarded earlier in the day with around 40 pop ups all at once... a first...).

I wasn't able to head home till around 9pm, so that I could go home, let Noel and Casey rest, and get some food... however, my friend wouldn't let me walk home in the near dark so I had to go back to their house. Since it had gotten so dark though, Noel had finally quieted down, and ended up snuggle up to my neck (she's not the snuggly type of bird, she is a hands off bird), and Casey tried to snuggle up under my short hair (just barely down to my shoulders and I had most of it up in a ponytail). It was a nice warm night, so I didn't worry about them getting cold.

I ended up getting a ride home with one of my friends step-father at around 9:40, and Noel was quite happy to be back! I just wish I could get her to liking leaving the house for more than 5 minutes without her having a fit, however, I'm glad that she doesn't bite at my ear or hair when I take her with me... she will if I just sit in one spot (such as at the computer), and even with attention and setting her down on my shoulder, she still goes into fits and squawks untill I take her back to her place....

[Monica]

I usually only bring them out into the yard during the day, however, earlier in the day I couldn't do much with them as they were painting inside house... They had to stay in my room, and sadly to say all the windows were closed and the swamp cooler was on... If I were to have opened the windows in my room to try to ventilate the house, the air would have gone under and over the door (the door remains shut all the time because of the cats and dog). I could have taken them outside, however, the cats, and dog at times, were forced to stay outside while they painted... Add to that, it's hard to move the bourkes n budgies outside without having to transfer them to other cages... I'm glad that the house did get ventilation later in the day, and that the paint was water baised (compared to oil baised, however, it still has fumes).

I would much rather put the birds outside for a few days to try and get them away from the paint fumes, however, it's quite hot outside during the day (near 90*), there are the cats (as well as neighbors cats), the dog (and any others who may venture into our yard, as that's a somewhat common thing), skeeters, and we are suppose to have someone spraying our backyard for weeds (not sure if this has been done or not yet)...

So I've been getting quite frusterated over quite a few things (computer problems, problems with being able to keep my birds away from any toxic fumes, and keeping them safe mainly). Add to that I had branches that I was going to use, but before I knew it, they were hauled off (my mother and her roommate know that I need branches, though they didn't tell me when the rest were going to be hauled off, they need to dry out first before I can use them as they were recently cut)...

[Xavier]

Nice story

How do you take your birds out? I saw a harness thing for birds in a petstore. Do you just let them ride on your shoulder or do you use a harness? Stupid question, I know, but I want to take my (soon-to-be) bird outside, and I want to know how.

Thanks!

[Monica]

I only take two of my birds outside normally, without cages. One of them, Noel, cannot fly what-so-ever, so remains fully flighted (she can't even get an updraft... no matter what, she falls like a ragdoll). Casey on the other hand has to be clipped before I take her out. I do not use a harness or a flight suit as I have neither.

However, it's not something that I recommend, as I once could have lost Casey as she ended up being able to fly better than I thought at that time and so I had to clip her a bit more (at this moment though, I wasn't paying attention because I was quite pissed off and had good reason to be...)

Dealing with hawks, osprey, etc, and winds/breezes, it's best that if you do want to take your bird outside, to have your bird in a harness or a flightsuit (you have chosen a maroon bellied, right? that is, if you can find one at a reasonable price?) or in a 'backpack' or other carrying device for birds or small animals. If you plan on letting him be out for a short bit, be sure that he is well clipped ( but not overly clipped and probably have a harness of some sort on to be safe incase something happens, though you'll have to train your bird to accept wearing something).