a few minutes is NOT enough with a small cage. Since you're not providing him/her with a more suitable cage, then you should be letting him/her out for HOURS. not minutes. ALL birds should be out for hours.

We have to closely monitor him to make sure that he doesn't get into trouble, all the rooms have at least on hazard. Mostly tight spaces. A lot of our rooms are connected (bottom floor).
Family Room(Where we usually let him out), the Kitchen (thats why we have to monitor him), family and dining rooms(tight spaces) and a hallway with a door to the basement, and bathroom(danger ). I feel his cage is sufficient, and quite big for a small budgie.

I let mine out from 3-5 or more depending on the day!
You definitley need to let them more especially because you have a smaller cage.

canadamoose- I'm not trying to sound harsh but a 17 x 17 x 20 cage really isn't that big. It's the very minimum size required for a keet. He needs a lot of time out of the cage so he gets the proper amount of exercise and interaction with people and to keep him from getting bored.

Do you have any pictures of him?

I agree, but if you read one of my previous posts in this topic, you will see that there are not many rooms to leave him in. My brother cleared his walk-in closet just for Citro, and we have let him in there a few times, but its pretty confined. Maybe 4'x3', but bigger than the cage. Now what you mention it, there isn't much room to fly around in there, but it does serve as the essential resting and feeding house.

My dad has the camera right now and he's in Rome right now and won't be back for a while, so no pictures right now.

I 2nd birdfriend!

LLPB- I deleted the post upon birdfriend's request.

I am sorry for speaking without thinking first.

It's ok...we all trip a little

I deleted mine as well.

LOL