Consider this.  Your reading this on the internet with your computer.  20 years ago, computers we're in their infancy, and the internet didn't exist.  How many cell phones do you and your family have?  Again, 20 years ago, cell phones didn't exist.  Our lives have changed dramatically over the last 20 years, so, here's my question, why haven't we changed the way we keep our parrots?  Right now, your bird has a big fancy cage, and is locked up most of the day, for his SAFETY.  My question to you is WHY?  

Lets look at birds from 20 years ago and compare them to today's birds.  20 years ago, most parrots were wild caught and hand tamed.  These we're basically wild birds who learned to tolerate people, and eventually, many became very tame and loving.  These we're the birds I dealt with way back then and these birds needed a cage.  No matter how tame they got, they still had a wild streak in them.

Today's birds are completely different.  Most are hand fed, human imprinted, and basically think they are people like us.  These birds were never free flying, and have never known that kind of freedom.  They grew up around people, and consider people mom and dad.  So, here's my question?  Why do these birds need to be caged?     

Some of you are going to call me insane and crazy, and are so set in your ways that you'll never change.  I'm fine with that if you are.  But, for those free thinkers out there, consider this.  The locks on your doors are to keep people out of your home.  Why are the locks on your parrots cage designed to keep him in?  What's natural, locking your bird in a cage, or allowing your bird to live in a tree?

Caged birds are lacking in what they want the most, freedom.  The more they're caged, the less freedom they have.  When they do finally get OUT, they realize they only have so much FREE time, and try to cram as much activity into that free time as possible.  The marauding birds we all hear about are acting this way because they have no FREEDOM.  If I locked you in your home, and only let you out for a couple hours a day, you would maraud as well.  

Once your bird has freedom, they no longer obsess for freedom.  You have freedom, and don't think much about it.  Prisoners have none, and that's all they think about.  

Velcro birds are afraid you're going to but them back in their cages, and they don't want that.  Birds on top of their cages are aggressive because they're also afraid your going to lock them up again.  In my opinion and experience, about 90% of all parrot behavior issues are cage related.  Here's why. 

What's wrong with cages?  In the wild, birds wake at sun-up, unite the flock, and go to work making a living.  For birds, that includes looking for food, hanging out with flock mates, dodging predators, all the things a wild, free birds does.  As sun down approaches, they return to the vicinity of their roost, and only return to roost at sundown.  Why!  If a bird hangs out where they roost, predators would take note, and that could be life threatening for a bird.  

The only time a bird spends their days where they roost is when nesting, and that's the most stressful time of their lives.  With breeding birds, once the young are fledged, they can return to their normal non breeding lives.  Your caged bird never has that chance.

When your birds spends their days where they roost, in or on their cage, over time they think of their cage as a nest.  The longer their in their cage, the worse it becomes.  In my opinion and experience, about 90% of all parrot issues are cage related.  These include excessive screaming and behavior, Velcro bird behavior, plucking and self mutilating, depression and many other symptoms of an unhappy bird.  

So, suppose you could allow your bird to do exactly as they do in the wild, sleep in their roost, and hang out in a tree during the day.  Not possible!  Unnatural?  Crazy, something you would never do!  Here's why it is possible, and why my gyms were designed to do exactly this.  

First, I set out to develop this kind of gym in 1992.  There are several critical factors we need to explore.

• First, I use Bottlebrush.  Bottlebrush is a type of landscape tree imported to South Florida from Australia.  If you're not familiar with Bottlebrush, I have a page you might want to read.  Why Bottlebrush, why you need it, your Parrot needs it, and why it's all I've ever used?  
• Simply put, Bottlebrush isn't hard and slippery like most material used for parrot perches.  It's comfortable, 100% natural, and doesn't require Holding On.  Your bird will feel sure footed, and feel like climbing, playing, hanging upside down, all the things a happy, free bird does.  Plus, it's great for chewing, and even better for Gnawing.
•  If I substituted Manzanita, or Java Wood, or PVC, or wooden dowels, etc, for Bottlebrush, your bird wouldn't like their gym, and wouldn't want to stay there.  As the saying goes, IT'S THE WOOD THAT MAKES IT GOOD, in this case, Bottlebrush.

Second is the tray in the middle.  

• The tray in the middle is critical for Play Gym training, here's why.  Consider the tray like a fenced in yard.  Your bird can climb all over his gym, but can't climb down.  Because he can't climb down, his options are to flutter to the floor, or jump down.  That's what we want.
• When you place your bird on his Play Gym, tell him to STAY THERE or whatever phrase you choose, but use the same phrase over and over.  Leave the vicinity of the gym for 5 or 10 minutes, then return and praise your bird for staying there.  If he jumps down, pick him up, give him no attention at all, place him on his play gym, and repeat the STAY THERE process.  Your doing two things here.  
• First, your teaching your bird that if he STAYS THERE, you will give him all the attention, treats, etc he wants, for STAYING THERE, positive reinforcement. 
• If he jumps down, and every time, you place him back on his Play Gym and DON'T give him what he wants, attention, affection, etc, in his mind, jumping down doesn't work so why bother.  
• Birds are very smart, much smarter then most people realize.  They will quickly stop jumping down if they get no benefit, AND, they like their gym, it's their favorite place to be.
• They will also quickly realize that you know where they are, and you always return, so they will wait for you to return.  So, at the beginning, you condition them they expect your return visit in minutes, but as time goes by, you extend the time between visits.  While your bird is waiting for you to return, he'll begin to explore his TREE, and before you know it, he's busy climbing, chewing, gnawing, and doing what birds do. 
• As time goes by and Play Gym training progresses, a week into the training process, you return in 30 minutes to an hour.  On weekends, you allow your bird to spend the whole day on their gym, and you go about your daily routine.  You run to the supermarket, and when you return, he's still happily playing on his gym.  At some point, YOU'RE going to realize he LOVES his gym, and staying there is where he WANTS to be.  I have many of my clients tell me they have a hard time removing their birds at roosting time, they want to roost on their gyms as well.  

My gyms actually have a lot of USABLE, FUNCTIONAL space.  

• As you look at the design, I use a main vertical with a main top branch and bottom branch, connected by a spiral staircase of perches.  The number, size, and spacing of this staircase depends on the bird it's built for.  For example, a Large Gym for a Macaw would have about 6-8 FEET of USABLE perch space.  A Deluxe for an Amazon or Grey might have 8-10 feet of usable perch space.  I use lots of forked branches that can double or triple USABLE perch space.  Also, I vary the diameters of these perches to prevent foot cramping.  

I custom build each gym specifically for the birds it's ordered for.  More perches aren't better, what's critical are the right number, with the right spacing.  That's where my experience and expertise come in.  

I use the concept of the FAVORITE PLACE.  If your birds favorite place is his Play Gym, he will stay there because he wants to, likes it there, the feels safe and secure there.  

So, lets look at how YOUR bird can live cage free.  Your bird needs two distinct places, a roost, and a tree to hang out in during the day.  Let's start with the roost.

• Most of you have a cage for your bird.  These make a great roost.  So, here's your birds day to day routine.  He wakes in the morning, and you uncover his cage, greet him, and while he's waking, you prepare his gym with fresh food, water, snacks, etc.  Once that's done, you place him on his gym and go about your daily routine.  During the initial training process, you can place the gym next to, or in the same room as his cage.  You monitor the amount of time he's spending on his gym by the number of droppings in the tray.  You can also place the gym in front of a window in the same room as his cage, and if you find him on top or in his cage, he's still in training mode.  You can also hang a chain from the Aluminum border around the tray of the gym to the floor, and teach him to climb up if he finds himself on the floor.  Parrot psychology says they won't climb DOWN because they like it where they are, again, their favorite place.  Why do I want to be OVER THERE when I like it here. 
• At some point, you'll realize he LOVES his gym, and stays there because he wants to.  You'll begin to notice some changes in his behavior.  He might become less CLINGY because he doesn't mind being put back on his gym.  (Clingy or Velcro birds are like that because they DON'T like their cages, it's just that simple.)  You might notice more playing, his feet feel better, or more talking, because he's happier. 
    

Living in a tree is NATURAL, it's what birds do.  Now, I realize many of you are shaking your heads, and shuttering at the thought of leaving your birds out during the day.  I have a saying I tell my kids, you don't know what you don't know.  Suppose, just suppose it WORKS, and your bird could live this way.  Is it really possible?  The answer is no and yes.

If you don't try one of my gyms, I guarantee it won't work.  Or, if you buy a cheaper or different kind of gym that's convenient for YOU, easy to clean, indestructible, a decorators piece that's looks great in your living room, etc, but isn't designed for this, the answer will likely be NO.  My gyms we're designed from the ground up to do exactly this.  I've built over 9200 of my stationary gyms, and thousands of my Hanging Gyms.  They're custom designed for YOUR bird, to be your birds favorite place to be. 

If you try one of my gyms, and follow my Play Gym training techniques, you have a great chance of allowing your bird to live a completely natural lifestyle.  After all, what's natural about cages?

The most difficult birds to Play Gym train are Cockatoos.  These birds can be very stubborn, but with persistence, they'll decide they like their gym and happily stay there.  Macaws are easy.  Amazons are easy.  Greys, once they accept their gym, are easy and seem to love Bottlebrush the most.  Most Conures, Quakers, Caiques, Meyers, Capes and other parrots will stay in there tree because it's a natural thing for them to do, and they like it.  

Now, as your bird gets more and more comfortable on his gym, and you become more and more comfortable that he LOVES his gym, and stays there because he likes it there, you're going to be presented with a quandary.  If all your bird is doing in his cage is sleeping, why do you need that huge, fancy cage?  The answer is, YOU DON'T.

You need a roost.  Consider this.  If your bird spends his whole day at the gym, at bedtime, he's ready to sleep.  I call these Parrot Play Gyms because they're designed to encourage climbing, playing, hanging upside down, all the things parrots love to do.  So, at 10PM, or whenever your bird goes to roost, all he needs is a comfortable perch and enough space to move around and get comfortable.  

Consider a pet or dog crate.  Your bird has freedom, so he won't feel the need to ESCAPE like caged birds do.  Or perhaps an inexpensive, plain wire cage.  With an Amazon, Grey sized parrot, this cage might measure 18" X 18" X 22".  Nothing big or fancy, like a Holiday inn when your traveling, a place to sleep and a bathroom.

Many of my clients use my Hanging Gyms as a roost, and have sold their cages.  Their birds spend the day on their Play Gym, and at bedtime, they roost in one of my Hanging Gyms placed in the corner of the room.  As a roost, my Hanging Gyms are perfect, up high, comfortable and completely natural, like roosting in a real tree.  Again, what free birds do.  

For those of you getting new birds, don't fall for the BIGGEST CAGE YOU CAN AFFORD advice.  That's great for everyone except you and your bird.  Consider this.  You new bird is a Hand Fed, human imprinted bird that doesn't even know he's a bird.  He wasn't wild caught and tamed like parrots used to be, so why are we treating them like we treated wild caught parrots 20 years ago.  Again, the reason is simple, it's good for the cage business, not you or your bird.

I realize many of you are skeptical.  If I we're you, not knowing what I know, I would be skeptical as well.  However, consider this.  Your bird NEEDS a Play Gym, period.  Being caged during the day is the worse thing you can do to your bird.  It's the same thing we do to convicted criminals, but they're criminals, convicted of crimes.  Your bird isn't a criminal, so why are you locking them in a bird prison. 

Look at my gyms as just a nice gym your bird will love.  And, consider that they're well made, will last virtually forever, and at some point, after years of chewing and gnawing, you can replace the complete branch assembly and have a brand new gym.  And, consider that once you get your gym, it will pay for itself in no time because you won't need to buy any more chew toys.  How can you lose?  And, you'll see a bird you've never seen before, living free in a tree.  Everyone wins.  And, at some point in the future, when YOU realize your bird loves his gym, and stays there because he wants to, you'll realize what you really bought, and how it has really changed all of your lives.  That's what I offer, that's what I build.  If you don't try one, you'll never know, will you.  

So, does it really work, the answer is YES, because it's natural for birds.  What's sad for me is that most of you will never try it, never give your bird a chance to live CAGE FREE.  

For those of you looking for more info about my gyms, and what to look for in a gym, my site has a ton of info.  Check out Lets compare parrot play gyms. How to choose the right Parrot Play Gym for your bird.  And, if you want to see what my clients think, check out Client Happy Letters, what my clients, and their birds, think about my Bottlebrush parrot stuff.

Wayne