Can I put my bird cage outside? This is a question most bird owners ask. Read this article to learn more.
Like other bird species, your budgie needs to spend time outdoors to interact with the environment, other pets, and people.
Dr. Kenneth Welle, a clinical assistant professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at University of Illinois, says, “Inadequate or improper socialization can also lead to aggressive behaviors, excessive fears or phobias, and inability to interact appropriately with people or other birds.” [1]
Your bird also needs fresh air and sunlight. Learn more on how to keep your bird cage outside.
Also Read: How Big Should a Cage Be for 2 Budgies?
Table of Contents
Can You Take Your Budgie Cage Outside?
Yes, you can take your budgie cage outside. It would help if you had outdoor cages designed to protect your bird from predators and bad weather conditions.
Keeping your bird outdoors ensures it gets enough warmth, natural light, and fresh air. Parrots are wild birds. Keeping the bird cage outside helps make the single bird feel it’s in its natural habitat.
Allowing your budgie to spend a lot of time outsides improves its mood. You will be able to develop a stronger bond with your bird pet because it will always be happy and ready to interact.
The sunshine your bird enjoys outside offers several health benefits. The sun helps your bird have strong body parts such as feathers, strong bones, beaks, and overall body immune system.
Sunlight also helps exotic birds develop better vision. It also helps to kill germs in their feathers.
As you can see, there are several benefits involved in keeping your budgie cage outside. However, you need to take care since there are also risks involved.
READ MORE: Everything About Budgie Lifespan
Consider these Factors When Putting Up a Birdcage Outdoors
You should consider several factors to ensure that your pet bird enjoys the time outside. It’s good you understand your bird pet needs to ensure it remains happy while outside
Here are other things to think about when moving your budgie’s cage outdoors.
#1 The Right Temperatures
The temperature is the most important thing to consider before putting your bird cage outside. You should make sure that the outside temperature is ideal for your budgie.
Your budgie is used to warm and more friendly temperatures inside your house. If you put it outside, the sudden change in the temperatures can cause stress to your bird.
Gregory Burkett, DVM, a North Carolina avian veterinarian, says, “In my experience, most pet birds’ comfort range is between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, they can withstand a much broader range of 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit .” [2]
Note that budgies are more adapted to tropical climates. Thus, it is good to ensure warm weather outside before you put the cage. They do not like long periods of time under sunshine.
When you put the bird cage outside, your budgie can’t escape the direct sunlight. This can lead to breathing problems or death due to the extreme heat.
Ensure you monitor your bird when you put the cage outside when there is sunshine. Besides, please don’t take it outside for an extended period when there is a lot of heat.
#2 Are there Predators Around?
You need to ask yourself this question because your budgie is vulnerable to many predators. Some of the potential predators [3] that can maul your pet include snakes, hawks, cats, and bats.
Before putting the bird cage outside, ensure there are no snakes since they can quickly get into the cage. Large prey birds like hawks or eagles can take away the entire budgie cage.
Your lovely bird is also susceptible to pests such as fire ants, mites, lice, mosquitoes, and others. So, before putting the cage outside, ensure that the area is free from these pests.
Since your parrot is caged, it cannot run away when attacked by these insects or animals. Therefore, you need to be on the look for any signs of attacks.
The good thing is that a budgie can detect any danger very fast. Thus, you will always know if there is danger around its cage.
READ MORE: What to Do With Birds Flying Out of Cage?
#3 Is Your Bird Cage Well Secured?
Naturally, the budgie is a wild bird, so it can always look for a way to move out of the cage and increase the risk of escape. This can occur if your bird is not trained or has yet to bond with you.
Before taking the budgie cage outside, make sure it has no room for your bird to move out. It should be designed so that your parrot will stay inside without engaging in a stressful activity.
Your beloved parrot likes pecking on the cage bar, so they can destroy it and move out. Thus, make sure that the bars are robust enough to make it impossible for your bird to destroy them.
#4 How Secure is Your Home?
You can still put the cage outside when you are not around the home, but you have to consider your home security.
Only leave your bird outside if you are sure no strangers can access your compound.
Your home needs to be fully secured with a fence or an installed security system to alert you when there is unauthorized access.
If you will be away for long periods of time, there is no need to leave the cage outside.
#5 How is The Weather?
Consider the weather patterns to ensure that you don’t expose your budgie to unfavorable conditions.
If there are rains, snow, storms, or other harsh weather elements, don’t put the care outside. Since your bird is more used to indoor conditions, it might get affected by these conditions.
If there is excess sunshine, take the pet parakeet outside for just a few minutes and return it to the indoor cage. This is necessary because budgies are affected by excess heat.
CHECK: Should I Let My Bird Out of the Cage?
What is the Best Place to Put a Budgie Cage?
Here are some of the places to place your bird cage.
1. Where the Bird Has Company
You should never allow your budgie to feel lonely. You should place the bird cage where you spend most of your time with your family or guests.
Some of these places include a patio near the swimming pool, the kitchen, the living room, or the family room.
Budgies are susceptible to fumes, don’t put the cage directly in your ironing room, kitchen, or scented candles. You should not place the cage in a high-traffic area to avoid disturbing your bird.
2. Against a Wall
Keeping your bird cage with the back against the wall is advisable. This makes your budgie feel more secure and less exposed to predators and bad weather.
3. Elevated Position
Make sure that the bird cage is in an elevated position. Avoid placing it on the floor since your budgie needs to experience what is happening around it.
If your budgie cage doesn’t have legs, you should place it on a table or invest in a cage stand. It is also easy to monitor the bird when the cage is placed in an eye level position.
4. Don’t Keep the Cage in Areas Extreme Temperatures
Budgies are stressed by extreme heat. Place your cage in a place with high temperatures. Avoid placing it where the bird is exposed to a blast of the air conditioner or heating vent.
Budgies can cope with extreme conditions for short amounts of time. However, constant cold weather or hot breeze on the body can cause long-term health issues to your lovely pet bird.
5. Avoiding Placing Near Chewable Materials
If your budgie is fond of chewing, place the cage away from chewable objects such as phone cords or antique linens. It’s advisable to put bird toys inside the cage for your budgie to play with.
Watch this video to learn more about putting your bird cage in the right place.
FAQs
Can bird cages stay on the floor?
You should never place a bird cage on the floor. Place it on its stand or table.
It should be in a high place where you can easily monitor the bird. This also allows your bird to explore whatever happens around it.
Should you cover the bird cage at night?
Yes, it’s vital to cover the bird cage at night to offer your bird a time of privacy. This also ensures that the bird remains quiet in the morning.
You should never cover the cage during the day to keep the budgie happy.
Conclusion
Can I put my bird cage outside? Your question is now well answered and explained.
Putting the cage outside allows your budgie to explore the outside world and feel like it’s in its natural habitat.
The most critical thing is to ensure that the bird is secure and consider the average weather conditions to avoid exposing your bird to bad weather that can affect its health.
Make sure the cage doors are well locked and place them where you can easily monitor the bird.
Have you tried putting your pet bird outside? Let us know how you handled it in the comment section below!
Resources
- 1. Paula Fitzsimmons. 7 Ways to Help Prevent Your Pet Parrot from Becoming Bored: https://www.petmd.com/bird/care/7-ways-help-prevent-your-pet-parrot-becoming-bored
- 2. Good Fox (2016). Caring for Rescued Birds, Food Facts, and Other Helpful Information: https://www.goodfoxbirdiehaven.com/bird-basic-facts
- 3. Daniel Burgas & Patrik Byholm (2021). The Ghost of the Hawk: Top Predator Shaping Bird Communities in Space and Time: https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.638039
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