A surprising number of bird owners walk their birds. I’ve seen a beautiful white cockatoo on a tether strolling around the Lafayette reservoir with its owner; one time at the post office I encountered a man who had his parakeet in a cage (I spoke with briefly and he said that he tried to take his bird out as often as possible).

Exposing your bird to the great outdoors is a wonderful way to expose your bird to natural sunlight, provide variety to his day-to-day routine, and provide you and your bird with some quality bonding time. Keeping your bird on a harness well help ensure your bird’s safety. Harness Training Your Bird provides excellent step-by-step instructions for teaching your bird to be completely comfortable wearing a harness.

In the winter months, the cold weather will prevent the vast majority of bird owners from taking their feathered friend on outdoor excursions. Vitamin absorption, egg production, molting schedules, and waking/sleeping schedules are all directly influenced by the amount of sunlight to which your bird is exposed.

Putting a full-spectrum light (be sure to choose one specifically designed for birds and bird cages) in or near your bird’s cage will provide your bird with all the benefits of natural sunlight. In addition, you can attach a perch to a window, or put your bird’s cage near a window. This has the double benefit of allowing your bird to experience some natural sunlight, while allowing your bird to benefit from some new sights and sounds.