Letting finches loose in a room

[zhavener]

Does anyone let their birds out to fly around the room or the house? I remember my parents letting our parakeet out to roam the house when I was little, just wondering if this was a standard practice or not

[JohnBoy]

I would not let my finches out to fly around the house. This would put finches in too much danger. Flying into windows. Getting stuck under the refridge or other fixtures. Flying out of open doors. The dangers list is a mile long.

[Sally]

I agree that loose birds in the house could be put in danger in many ways. I have just started letting some birds loose in the birdroom--not the breeding room, but where I have some juvenile flights and the foster cages. Just before lights out, I would start trying to catch them. At first, they flew fairly quickly back into the big flight cage, only having to net a few birds, but now they really like being out, so it became a real chore to catch them all up. Stressed me and stressed the birds. For a few days now, I have left the door to the big flight open day and night--about half the birds go back in the cage, the rest roost on top of the cage, and a couple of Owls have made a sleeping nest in a hanging fern basket. They are having such a grand time, I am leaning more and more to doing away with some of the cages completely.

[dfcauley]

I am leaning more and more to doing away with some of the cages completely.

Isn't it great being able to do that? It is such a pleasure to watch them fly.
When I have birds in quarantine (as I do now) I am not enjoying them as much as I do my free ones. Good for you Sally!!!

[cindy]

With a trained hookbill yes with supervision and not during the cooking of a meal. With finches I would not chance it unless the room is designed with only their complete safety in mind (such as an indoor aviary.) Windows and mirrors covered, electrical sockets plugged, ceiling fans off, even a piece of wire to cover the vents but still let air flow out.

I would restrict them to one room, not giving them the freedom of the entire house. It could be dangerous, especially the kitchen and bathroom, laundry room.

If this is something you want them to do permanently you may consider removing the door and replacing it with a screen door. The screening on the door can be replaced with wire safe enough for them so theu don't get caught up in the mesh. Remove any furniture they may get caught behind or injured on.

I personally would not do this unless the room was set up like a large cage like some of the indoor aviaries on this forum. I am not sure I want little finch poo all over my home.

[dfcauley]

I agree. Be very careful about that. I have had one on occasion to get out of my aviary and fly into my house. You should see me scrambling trying to get the dogs, shut off fans, close door, check the stove top....etc.... it is quite scarey.

[Ursula]

I am leaning more and more to doing away with some of the cages completely.

Isn't it great being able to do that? It is such a pleasure to watch them fly.
When I have birds in quarantine (as I do now) I am not enjoying them as much as I do my free ones. Good for you Sally!!!

I agree!!!

[zhavener]

I decided to let two out in the Bird/Fish/Plant room today and have decided that letting them have free reign over the entire house is out of the question. After about an hour of free time, I went back to visit with them and could not find them! One was sleeping under a large Jade Plant and the other was perched on top of a neon sign and was almost invisible to the naked eye!!!! I will be letting them out a few days a week to fly around the room but not the house! Thanks for the words of Advice this is turning out to be quite a rewarding hobby. Birds are much more personable than my fish but so much more work.

One other thing- I have a 200g aquarium in the room with the birds and when i let them out today they perched on the side of the aquarium and started drinking aquarium water. It is fresh water and I keep it very clean. are there any known problems with birds drinking water from a fish tank?

[cindy]

Just be careful of the open tank, little birds can fall in and get so wet they can't fly out and drown. I have know of a few people that had unfortunate accidents.

Even though fish tanks have filters, you still might want to avoid them drinking it since it is fish fecal matter and bacteria, possible nasty levels of salmonella.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/18/health/18cons.html

http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/may06/060501k.asp

If you use chemicals in the water it may be toxic to the birds. I would cover the tank with a board during "free fly time".

[kouma]

While chasing one of my finches in the cage trying to catch it, another one escapes and lands in the water of my saltwater fish tank 320gal. I almost had a heart attack I thought it drowned and i was looking in the water to see where it went and then when i peaked at the top of the tank i found it floating like a little cute duck so i picked it up and placed it in the tank..I never knew birds floated. It was an adorable scene - though never again

[cindy]

You are lucky your bird was floating, it might have a little to do with it being a salt water tank. A tank with plain water may not help aid in the bird being able to float.

Any deep water should be covered, if the bird gets startled and is soaked I may not be able to fly out.