I was again watching some cool videos of pet birds. Their owners do not even use cages for them, because these birds will not get away. They are so attached to their owners that the owners can take them out for a walk on the shoulder or on the arm. I am totally jealous.
When I was a kid, I have had some parakeets. The best I could do was to take one of them out and put him on my head, although I had to close all doors and windows before I could feel safely to do that.
In one of the bird videos I have seen, even parakeets could be attached to the owners. I wonder what the trick is. I'd kill for a bird who can be with me everywhere I go without having to use a cage.
Have you ever had a bird you can take out of the cage without fly away?
What species is it?
My cockatiel does have a cage for sleeping and for security when I'm not home, but I let him out whenever I'm home and awake. He spends about 90% of that time on my shoulder. I've never tried taking him outside for a walk though, because I have to walk very slowly when he's on me or he loses his balance and falls off. (He's clumsy and not a good flier). I often take him with me to family gatherings, and he does seem to enjoy sitting on other people as well. I don't know if there's any real trick - I think he just likes being around people (or he likes sitting on warm shoulders). He's a rescue though, so that might have something to do with it.
Are you able to take your cockatiel outside without using a cage? When you take him to see your friends or family, he had to be transported there. Was there any occasion he ever tried to take off?
When you are at home, do you keep your doors and windows shut?
Sorry for the short memory if you have told us the story. I'd like to hear a bit more about the rescue.
I have a carrier that I use to transport him to the family gatherings and to the vet's office so that I can concentrate on driving without worrying about him stumbling around and ending up on the floor of the car (primarily for sanitation reasons - my car floor isn't the cleanest place). I'll open the windows at home when it isn't too cold, but we have lots of bugs in our area so we have screens. On the other hand, the neighborhood kids like to come over and visit with Buzzy now and then, so I'll bring him out onto the porch without his carrier if the weather is nice and there isn't a lot of wind (I have a former co-worker who lost her cockatiel on a windy day when the bird simply spread his wings, so I use the carrier if it's windy). I almost forgot - I had permission to take him to work with me once when we were getting work done on the house, and he sat on my shoulder (or on a co-worker's shoulder) the entire day.
As far as his rescue - he had been kept by an animal hoarder, and was originally housed with about 20 other cockatiels in a cage designed for one or two. He was the smallest of the group, and was literally at the bottom of the pecking order. The other birds entertained themselves by pulling Buzzy's feathers out. A local bird supply store actually did the rescue and had all the birds up for adoption. I went to check them out and fell in love with the little bald one, so I took him home. He's grown back quite a few feathers in the two years he's been with me, but his neck is still bald. He's also rather nervous around other birds (understandably so), but loves being around people. I do what I can to spoil him rotten.
Yes I did! I had a budgie for about 8 years and I could take him out of the cage and he would just sit in my hand a chirp, but when I wanted him to fly he would spread his wings and go.
I never took the chance to bring him outside when we was out of his cage because I don't know what he would have done then.
He passed away a couple weeks ago but he was a really great bird.