| Flight is an expressive indicator of a bird's status and
a component of courtship. It is a must for breeding birds.
Your bird's psyche will benefit from the ability to
move about and fly. A companion bird typically sits
in a cage for hours each day. This sedentary lifestyle
can contribute to behavior problems such as excessive
vocalization and aggression. Although you don't want to fill
it with toys that would make flying hazardous, a larger cage
allows for both toys and flying.
Flight maintains your bird's mind-body coordination
and her senses of balance and timing as she launches
herself, flies, and then lands.
How big should your flight cage be? Long enough
to allow side-to-side flight and wide enough for flapping
clearance. In addition to flight space, make sure your
selected cage has easy access to all areas for cleaning.
Arrange your cage to allow your bird maximum use of the
space. Position perches, swings or toys, and feeding dishes
to avoid blocking flying space. Note: If your bird is not used
to a flight cage, it may be best to place a divider in it at
first until her mind and body are more used to the larger
amount of space. |
