As you browse thru my site, you'll quickly realize how much info I have here.  However, I'm going to use this article to recap what my gyms are designed to do and why one of my gyms can really change the life of your bird and improve the relationship you and your family have with your bird.  This page applies to types of gyms I offer, Play Gyms and Hanging Gyms.

The basic concept I use when building my gyms is the idea of providing your bird with a  FAVORITE PLACE.  You and I are creatures of habit, and so is your bird.  If your parrot loves his gym, feels safe and secure there, and knows you know he's there because you visit him on a regular basis, he'll stay there happily.  After all, why be over there when I like it here.  All the features I build into my gyms are designed to do this, and it works.  However, there's a bigger picture here and the reason for this article.  

Your bird needs a life!!  Most of you fit into this category.  You bought your bird a big, nice cage and that's where he spends his days.  When you and your family have time you take him away from his cage and play with him, etc.  However, consider this.  

He's in his cage for 8-12 hours a day while sleeping.  (PLEASE, I know you've been told your bird needs 12 hours of sleep.  Utterly ridiculous.  For my reasons why, visit Ask Rio, Parrot tips, Tricks and training. This is my articles page. I stand on my soapbox and HOWL! and read my article about sleep.)

Anyway, your bird spends 8-12 hours a day caged while sleeping.  Then, your bird is caged while you're at work and your family at school, etc.  So, we're up to 16-20 hours a day caged.  That means your bird really doesn't have the one thing he wants the most, freedom and a life.  And, the only way he can get away from his cage is when you take him away.  

Here's a typical scenario.  You wake and uncover your bird.  However, you're getting ready for work, school and really don't have time for him so you let him play on top of his cage.  When you leave for work, back in his cage he goes, and sits there all day waiting for you to get home.  

When you do finally get home, he's been waiting for you all day.  However, you have stuff to do, cook dinner, check mail, e-mail, laundry, homework etc etc etc.  But, he doesn't understand about all that, he wants your attention, he needs your attention.  So, maybe he calls, screams for you.  And, when you do pick him up, he won't leave your side, after all, he's lonely, and afraid you'll lock him back in his cage again.  Looking at the same 4 walls thru the same bars day after day is a downward spiral for your bird and your relationship with your bird.  My gyms were designed from the ground up to fix this and they do.  Here's the scenario with one of my gyms.  

You uncover your bird and place him in his tree.  Immediately, he's in a new place he likes and can climb, explore, play while you get ready for work.  Now, initially, you'll cage him while your at work. When you get home, again, you take him out of his cage and back on his play gym he goes.  And, again, he can climb, play, have dinner, and interact with you at your convenience because he's getting a life and doesn't need you to give him one.  When you have time, you play with him, and when you don't, you don't need to feel guilty about locking him is his cage because he has a great tree to hang out in, which is where birds want to be.  

However, after he's Play Gym trained,  (see my article Play Gym training your bird), it gets even better.  Imagine your bird spending his days in a tree, again, what birds do naturally.  Gone is the neediness, Velcro Bird many of you have.  Your bird has a life like you and I do.  And, once your bird has a life, you can get yours back.  Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

Wayne