Bad companion?

[Iago]

Iago has been really testy and moody lately. I haven't been able to be home much due to work and I think this is the main reason. He wakes up with me at 5 when I have to leave for work and is usually sleeping by the time I get home. This has been going on for a month and a half now.

Earlier this week he bit me really hard for no reason at all, we were laying down watching tv and was completely unprovoked. He hasn't bitten me at all in the past couple years so this has made me realize my work schedule has been effecting him. I live alone and was wondering if there is anything I can do to help this? Is there something I can do to let him know that he is still loved? I feel terrible about this and just feel like a horrible companion

 

[BoomBoom]

Sorry to hear about the difficulties. With your schedule, I am pretty certain it impacts Iago in a negative way. Birds are flock animals and need to be around someone for companionship, security, entertainment.

If your schedule keeps you from spending at least an hour or two of focused time with him everyday, I highly recommend you look into getting a second bird for a companion. You may even want to get a pair of parakeets and house them in a cage a good distance from Iago. Bear in mind, that the additional birds are as much a commitment and will require the same amount of resources, care and attention. The upside is the peace of mind for you and Iago whenever you have to be away for long hours.

 

[Iago]

BoomBoom, I have seriously thought about that option but I'm not sure if I can handle the added responsibility and commitment for additional birds. I don't want to bring in additional birds into the house if that means that they will end up being neglected too. The thought just breaks my heart

 

[BoomBoom]

The intention is for the additional birds to keep each other company. As long as they have a clean space, food, water, toys, etc.

I completely understand your reasoning though. To be honest, I don't always recommend getting additional companions because you run the risk of the birds not liking each other, diseases if not properly quarantined, and most of all the added responsibility and drain to your time and resources. However for your case, being that Iago rarely has any quality interaction with you due to the long work hours, I believe it is the best route. Prolonged isolation for birds can lead to so many unwanted behaviours such as screeching, plucking, biting, etc.

Toys, foragers and activity stations, tv/radio can only do so much. Other solutions I can think of (but are not always viable) are:

-Taking Iago to work with you
-Asking a friend or family member to visit with him an hour or two
-Visit him on your lunch hour
-This is a bit extreme but I considerd it once... Maybe facetime with him if you have an Ipad and an iphone. I heard other members do this before.

 

[JasmineGCC]

How about paying a pet sitter to come in once or twice a day? Just to say hello? Mine is great and it doesn't cost much. I use one when I'm away and she does 3 visits a day and just spends time with Jasmine. It's no different from using a dog walker!!!

If you decided on getting some feathered companions - how about birds that don't need much human attention such as finches or canaries? In a big cage they'd be happy I'd imagine.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I went through something similar and it's hard. When I got Rosie I had a brief few months before the school semester started. I would leave the house at 8 or 11am depending on the day and get back at either 6 or 9pm. I was gone for so long, and Rosie was already barely eating and I only made it worse. It's hard, but I knew we would get through this. I later made it so I was gone only 2 two really tiring long days rather then four 10 hour days.

You might need to find a new job, or ask to do part time rather than full time. Do you leave the TV or radio on for your conure when you leave? And foraging toys are fantastic. Start with easy puzzles then move up to more advanced. Foraging boxes are great too.

 

[Iago]

As of right now I am leaving the house around 5:30/6 and getting home around 7 or 8. This is Monday-Friday. I can't go to part time due to the nature of my job and finding a different job isn't an option at this point. I do turn on either the tv or radio before I leave, I tend to switch it up. Iago has never shown any interest in any type of toy, no matter how much fun I'm having with it right in front of him.