How long?

[Alyse]

How long would you recommend to wait between bringing home a new parrotlet and taking him out for the first time? On the one hand I can see waiting a while and letting him used to his cage, but I don't want to wait too long and have him get very attached to his cage and not want to get out. On the other hand I also can see taking him out early so he can get used to being out of the cage and so he learns that this will happen often. What do you recommend? Thank you!

[musicjan]

I think it depends on the bird. I would try taking him out- speak softly to him - offer him some millet while he's out. If he seems freaked out, you could wait a while longer. However, let me say that BEFORE taking him out for the first time, I'd talk to him through the cage and I'd put my hand in there multiple times - each time offering something yummy to eat.

[Sally]

I think it depends also. I would bring it home and wait a few hours. Let him look at the surroundings. Have some good treats, food, millet there. Later, bring him out and talk softly, but if he is nervous do it for short periods, several times a day. Takes a while to get thier trust. We are so big and they are tiny. Has to be scary for them.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/Sally11/flowerwreath.jpg

[Alyse]

That reminds me! I've been meaning to ask about millet. I've seen some websites that say millet should be in the cage at all times and I've seen some that say it's like candy and should only be given as a treat. What do you all do?

[Azale]

I believe its supposed to be a treat.

Since mine is quite used to eating pellets yet, the lady I got him from said to keep some in his cage at all time, and slowly ween him away from it so he would only get it maybe once or twice a week as a treat.

[paula]

I agree it depends upon your bird. I was told to wait 2 or 3 days before even attempting to get him out. For the next several days, I would go to his cage and "talk" to him while putting my hand in the cage. Eventually, he understood "up" got right on my finger. Now (after 6 wks), when I ask him if he wants to come out and play, he either ignores me or perches on his seed cup facing the door, which indicates he wants out.

Also, Oliver will not touch any kind of treat. So, from my experience, treats are not always the answer.

Good luck - it just takes time and patience.

Paula

[musicjan]

I've read that the millet should only be for a treat - it is so tasty for them that they will eat that in preference to nutritious foods and even instead of their seed.

[Sally]

Chipper eats millet. I always keep it near the bottom of the cage. She also has seed out all of the time. You just have to see what your bird does. Chipper eats it, but not all of the time, a bit at a time. Each bird is diff.

[Azale]

I have to agree with musicjan's comment.

If there is millet in the cage, Kai will eat it and then bug me until I give him more. So if I want him to eat his pellets I have to take the millet out.

Also for the original question:
The breeder told me he would be ok to come out right away. Some people say to wait a few hours to wait for them to settle down and relax. I guess it completely depends on the bird. Kai was really inquisitive of me, so he was happy to come out and play ^^