Common sense tells us that common parrot behavior problems usually have some common contributing factors. A frequent contributor to many problems is when parrots aren’t given enough out-of-the-cage time. While there are certainly plenty of people who aren’t letting their birds out enough, did you know it’s actually possible to error in the other extreme? That you may be contributing to a problem parrot by not putting him in his cage?

This is the “free-range parrot factor”, and it can vary from a parrot having no cage at all to one that has too many opportunities to come and go from his cage as he pleases. While this isn’t usually the only factor involved in a parrot’s inappropriate behavior, it’s often a major player. For some parrots, it is one of the biggest mistakes an owner can make. Just ask anyone who has ever had to get around their home without stepping on the floor because they were being pursued by an attack cockatoo with a major Napoleon complex.

A parrot that comes and goes wherever and whenever he wants can become difficult to handle, to say the least. Biting and a bullying, territorial attitude are some of the possible consequences when your bird “runs loose”, as well as the risk of your home becoming one giant parrot chew toy. Setting some limits for your bird is part of being a responsible parrot owner. Having a parrot that’s out of control isn’t. We know our dogs need to stay in their own yards or on leashes when they go out. So why would we let our birds run amok around the house?

Often an owner thinks he’s doing the right thing for the bird by allowing all that freedom. The thought of a parrot spending considerable amounts of time in a cage is distasteful to us. After all, we know how much room a wild parrot has at his disposal. But look at it this way: Most of us have a room in our homes in which we spend large amounts of time, and are comfortable doing so. If you look at your parrot’s cage as his room, and not like it’s a prison cell, then you may not feel so guilty asking him to be in there once in a while. If you really feel bad that he’s in one spot, setting up multiple cages around the house is an option. Or at least have a couple of stands or play gyms where he’s taught to stay.

With a “free range” parrot often comes an “I won’t step up unless I feel like it” problem, often very common in Macaws. This tends to happen when the bird doesn’t have a strong sense that stepping up for his people leads to privileges, like getting to come out of the cage to play, or getting to go back in for a bowl of treats. It can develop in parrots that are kept at liberty, and also in those that are kept in a cage where the door is almost always open and the parrot goes in and out at will. I used to be guilty of the latter myself, so I know it’s an easy habit to get into, but in the long run, it’s not a good one. You can find that your parrot resists stepping up altogether. Why should he step up if he can get out whenever he wants? A solution to this is to teach your bird that he doesn’t get to come out unless he steps up. It may take some time, but is well worth doing.

I‘m normally a big believer in following through with a command. If you ask your bird to step up, you should see that he does. But I’m also a believer in keeping stressful “arguments” to a minimum. And I think parrots can be given some choices about when they want to come out. So teaching your bird to come to a certain area of the cage when he wants to come out is a good idea. This way, you’re likely to get the response you want when you ask for it. Otherwise, you may be frequently reaching way into the cage, dodging toys and perches, chasing after your bird, pleading for him to listen to you. This is a problem, and our own good intentions may have contributed to it. A parrot that doesn’t mind being in his cage, and doesn’t mind coming and going when you ask is a lot more pleasant to have around. And common sense says that’s no problem!

Written By Kim Bear
Parrot Behavior Specialist