Last Updated on July 6, 2023 by Mitch Rezman

He’s new to our family. I’m afraid to try to put him back in the cage, he may have unwanted reactions. The place is safe for him and closed, and he’s still in his cage now.

Catherine replied

Why are you making the assumption that your new parrot who came from a caged environment would have a problem with living in a caged environment in your home?

There are those who have bird rooms that don’t use a cage and instead allow the birds to use perched bird stands and have a free run of the bird room.

The room is their cage. However, a single bird kept in a room by itself will likely over time begin to scream for attention as they are flock animals and will be lonely and miserable and possibly, no probably, begin to pluck itself.

If you allow the bird to be left loose outside of the cage, the house becomes the cage.

Is your home safe for a wild animal that likes to chew and fly?

Do you have all of your personal possessions packed away out of harm’s reach?

Your books, albums, artwork, clothing, computers, furniture, etc?

Find All Birdcages for African Grey Parrots on Windy City Parrot Here

Your ceiling fans have to stay turned off as your parrot can be injured or killed by a moving fan. And your toilets must remain shut as a parrot can drown in no time and no standing water, fish tanks, or potted plants can be left out as they are also dangerous to the bird from drowning or poisoning.

A Better Bird Ep 13 How Bird Proof Is Your Home ~ Video

And do you have an inner and outer door for both the front and back of your home so the bird can’t fly or walk out a door while it is open for any reason?

How about the windows? You will have to keep them shut as a loose bird can chew its way out of a screen in no time.

A bird cage is not only to keep the bird in it, but it is to keep the bird safe.

Were you planning to go off to bed while the bird sits on the stand in the living room?

What happens when there is a loud clap of thunder and the bird is spooked and flies off the stand?

Where is it going to go? Are you planning to get up and hunt it down and try to fish it out from under the sofa?

An African Grey parrot should have a good solid cage to call its own no narrower than 30″, 36″ is better.

They don’t need the largest cage if they are going to be with the family during day hours sitting on stands placed throughout the house so the bird has its own furniture and does not eat the chairs and table tops that it lands on.

Please note that your bird must be supervised at any time that it is out of the cage. So if the bird is on a stand in the living room, someone must be there as well. If your bird flies or waddles into another room, someone has to go after the bird and bring it back or stay with it.

Bring your new bird home before late afternoon and put it into its new 30–36″ wide cage with at least 10–20 toys hanging on or in the cage, placed against a wall in a family area where it can observe the families goings-on and is not isolated but not in a high traffic walk through the area.

Do so for the day and night so it has the time to wander its new home, check out the toys, eat some food, and poop.

Arranging Your Bird’s Cage: the Cage Canopy Concept

Your experiences with your bird will be much more fruitful when it feels safe and comfortable.

I wish you the best for your new family member.

Written by Catherine Tobsing
Approved by Mitch Rezman