Parronts Please do not take your babies outside without being restrained in some manner. It just takes a split second for disaster to happen. Clipped or unclipped. Even the calmest can be suddenly frightened and instinct WILL kick in. Keep them safe.

I could not agree with you more. It just takes something to scare you bird and that could be it.

I will NEVER understand ppl that take their birds outside w/ them unrestrained. There is a family that lives at a MAJOR intersection here locally and I see them outside w/ their birds alot in the summer and I cringe every time! They seem to bring their African Gray out alot

I absolutely could not agree with you more. It is a disaster waiting to happen. Even tho a person has taken a bird out a few times and nothing happened, doesn't mean it won't

I couldn't agree more either. If the chance is never taken, that kind of loss can't happen. I am so paranoid that nothing can happen to my birds unless it is a freaky, uncontrollable accident...indoors. I never take ANY chances with them. They are my sweet babies.

If my birds are to get the fresh air from outdoors, their cages are placed by an open window ot the patio doors. (locked up tight of course).

Mine are always clipped so they can't fall behind heavy firniture, like a china cabinet and die before I can get it moved, or hit the ceiling fan, or fly into the bathroom and land in the toilet...and drown before I find them, or fly and land in a skillet of hot grease, or bite into something electrical and get fried and a thousand other dreadful things.
I know things can happen no matter how careful we are, but I try really hard not to let it.

I get told I am way too protective of Ekko. My teenagers whine that I worry more about Ekko than I do them! LOL!
Seriously tho, we are their caretakers and their lives depend on us making sure they are safe. NEVER take them out unrestrained!

Kate, thank you for posting. I agree we just need to stop and think for just a moment, because it CAN happen.

I totally agree. A friend of mine who bought my three tiels didn't even have them outside. They were loose in the sunroom and one of the screens was loose, somehow the screen came out enough on one side and she lost 3 tiels, one of them was one of the babies she got from me. Her heart is broken and they have been gone about 3 weeks now with no sign of them despite a tremendous effort on her part to find them. You just never know when a accident can happen no matter how much we think we have taken precautions.

i admit, i'm not a believer in clipped wings but after 2 scares with Cricket, i got his wings clipped.

I too agree you should get their wings clipped -to prevent crashing into windows or walls etc. It could lead to the death of your bird. Also I think you should never take your bird outside unless it's in a cage and protected from the sun. Also you should not ever leave it alone outside.I am very overprotective of Pico. He's worth it and more to me.

Von, I have seen her ads begging for their return, its so sad! I keep hoping she will find them!

Well as bird-man has informed us previously, even bird "experts" don't always take responsible care of birds indoors (What kind of lunatic lets a macaw out of their cage unrestrained at a bird show?). Anyways safety first. Never be arrogant with your "control" over any situation that may be dangerous, and remember over the holdiay season to resist the impulsive temptations to let your birds out while you have company over.