"focused" and "diffused" attention

[veimar]

I've been thinking of this for a while… How do you guys spend time with for parrots? I mean, are you just doing your stuff at home letting your fids just be there maybe talking to them once in a while, or you spend time actually focusing on the parrot?
I noticed that although being at home a lot I almost never really spend time on "only" communicating with any of my parrots. I rather observe them communicating with each other and with me. I'm always there, I talk to them a lot, let them step up and give them treats when I happen to pass them on my way to kitchen, but I'm just doing some other stuff I need to do. I take my tiel with me to cuddle (he is the only cuddly one) when I sit with my computer, and the others just sit on the lid or climb all over me. I let them drink for my cup and eat from my plate if they want to (and if it's safe). But still, I'm doing MY STUFF and I'm focused on it.
I spend some focused time with Riko, because he is new and needs a lot of work and training.
I was just wondering if that is right? When I read about cockatoos that you need to spend 5-6 hours a day with them does it mean you really have to focus on THEM (who on earth could afford that???) or just being around them?
Maybe it's a stupid question, but I was just wondering if the birds are fine just with you being around or they need more focused attention?

 

[strudel]

My budgies and weiros aren't that tame, they just do their own thing and I talk to them and they are just there, hanging out. With my galah, she's tame and she comes to sit with me. She seems happy just hanging out. I'll give her some direct attention, but she'll climb up on my shoulder. She seems happy to sit there and play with her feathers and say "hello" to me, but she doesn't really go in for me tickling her or focusing on her so much. She just sits there or wanders about trying to eat my things. She'll play my games and do her dancing and stuff, but she's happy just to hang out, grooming and getting scritches.

So, to answer your question, mostly just hanging out together.

 

[Jayyj]

Same as Strudel - she's out and about whenever I'm home but for most of that time I just get on with what I want to do and she hangs out with me or plays with whatever toys I've left out. She's very cuddly and will often nestle up to me when I'm watching tv or on the computer, but she doesn't demand or need my full attention all the time.

 

[weco]

Like Strudel's pink & grey, all of mine are out of their cages when I'm home, unless they're in their outdoor cages, but when in the house, the only two rooms they're they're not allowed in freely are the computer room...it's also a computer workshop & my downstairs workshop...where I build & work on dollhouses, then also both girl's bedrooms, but they usually entertain themselves, but they each get their own individual time, though none demand more than about 15 minutes at a time, unless I've been out of town for several days or longer...then they may want more.....

Heidi, my patty started bullying the others when I came back from a six month trip one time, but when she got put back in her cage & ignored every time she tried it, she was very quick to figure out why she was getting ignored.....though both of my suns would stand their ground if they were on my shoulders & she started bullying, but they would challenge & run if I wasn't within arms length.....

 

[Birdman666]

Depends on the bird.

My Red lored has to get greeted and picked up and do her evening routine... takes about 10 minutes? Then, after her head scratchies, she wants to be in the window, with her playstand and her toys...

My CAG and my other zon, want about the same - 15-20 minutes. Then they want to run around and be independent...

My macaws on the other hand would spend the entire evening rolling around on my lap and playing if they could. They won't even stay in the tree... They will self entertain, but they prefer to be lap birds. Don't pay attention to them at lap time, they will pinch you to get your attention!

My birds ARE my evening entertainment... so, that's how. They survive on the days when I can't, but play with them enough of the time that it isn't a problem.

Toos are even more interactive than big macs, and some of them were never taught to self entertain. And that is EXACTLY the problem. People don't or can't meet their attention needs, and then the problem behaviors start...

 

[Birdman666]

Sitting outside with half my flock playing in a tree and getting talked to, while the two macaws get their lap time seems to do the trick quite nicely...

It's my relax after work time. Have a drink, and sit outside and play with the birdies... LIFE IS GOOD! Two direct attention, three indirect attention. Same thing happens almost every night.

(As soon as they are all clipped again!)

 

[RavensGryf]

Depends on the day, but even when I'm at home (but busy), I can't always afford the time to let them out of their cages until the late afternoon/evening. They are absolutely fine with it. They all LOVE their cages. It's their comfort zone, where their favorite stuff is... just like a bedroom is to a teenage human lol. Each has enough toys in their cages for several birds! Even when their cage doors are open, they are inside a lot ... Playing with the toys

They are all in a room, but if I can't be IN the room with them, and need to step away for more than about 20 minutes, I need to put them away. I don't want them going all over the floor, under Raven's cage grate, etc.

DIRECT OR AMBIENT INTERACTION:
When I'm in the room with them, I'll most likely be occupied on the iPad, etc. I'm fortunate that out of 4 birds, no one complains if they don't get one on one interaction time with me. Sometimes they're too independent though lol.

ROBIN - Robin is my cuddly old man. Still, he never demands. If I don't have one on one with him on a particular day, he's fine and doesn't even care. Even if he wants attention, he's never persistent about it. If I'm busy he'll give up and go play with his toys. VERY go with the flow, very low maintenance bird. At the same time he's a cuddly bird, but he's completely okay if it's on MY terms. Had him 20 years, and he's always been like that. He's simply the BEST bird .

RAVEN - Raven is very particular about his interactions with me. Unfortunately, he prefers daddy (who says hi and snuggles him but not every day). I'm the bird person here and Raven is MY bird . Raven does enjoy having me near at times, and will walk over on his cage or playgym close to me and say "hi!!" That's about as close as he likes me, to be near but not touching him. Most of the time he will not step up for me (runs away screaming) unless I have a treat bribe. So 99% of the time Raven does not want direct attention from me. Last night he came over to where I was, so I put him on my shoulder, but that is very rare for him. He is happy as long as he has his toys, his dad, and his best friend Griffin.

GRIFFIN - Griffin is cuddly with me, yet I'm usually the one to have to initiate one on one and cuddles. He is happy as long as he has his (and Raven's!) toys, and Raven to play with, preen, and harass. Raven and Griffin babysit each other. I think they often forget I'm there in the room :49:

TWIGS - He's just a "bird's bird". He'll step on my finger to come out of his cage, but that's all. He acts like a wild Budgie once he's out of his cage, but he's 'usually' pretty good with verbal commands such as "Twigs, in" to go back to his cage and inside.

I'm pretty lucky to have 4 independent, quiet birds . The Poi's are cuddly, but undemanding.

 

[veimar]

Wow, that's very interesting insights! Thank you! I feel like my birds are so bonded all together, that they don't need me THAT MUCH. They all are very independent - or did I make them like that? Right now while I'm typing this they are all around or on me, but they are playing their games. I have a feeling that I'm just a member of their flock in their understanding, and they enjoy spending time with me as much as they enjoy each others company.
Birdman666 - I LOLed when I read about your macs wanting to roll over your lap all the time! That would look really funny!

 

[RavensGryf]

Wow, that's very interesting insights! Thank you! I feel like my birds are so bonded all together, that they don't need me THAT MUCH. They all are very independent - or did I make them like that? Right now while I'm typing this they are all around or on me, but they are playing their games. I have a feeling that I'm just a member of their flock in their understanding, and they enjoy spending time with me as much as they enjoy each others company.
Birdman666 - I LOLed when I read about your macs wanting to roll over your lap all the time! That would look really funny!

I think both... Some of it is having naturally independent species, although your GCC has the "potential" to be clingy, so a lot of it is how you taught independence through your lifestyle

 

[Birdman666]

That's one of the secrets of bird keeping. Sometimes ONE needy species bird is more work than six birds who have bird buddies and toys...

How do you do it with six birds in the house?! I only have one, and I can't seem to leave him alone for five minutes...

 

[Birdman666]

Birdman666 - I LOLed when I read about your macs wanting to roll over your lap all the time! That would look really funny!

Macs roll around on your lap when they are playing, pretty much all the time... They are lap birds!

Actually, it looks something like this, (or check ANY picture of Zoe poster bird for macaw laying on its back/in unusual positions - if you aren't used to them:

 

[Scott]

All my parrots get plenty of personal attention with both dedicated and spontaneous time. When preparing their fruit/vegetable bowls 3 to 4 times per week, my most bonded Goffin sits on a shoulder the entire time and gets some "previews" of his favorite foods. I usually alternate some of the other Goffins when cleaning and replenishing the food and water bowls. Certain birds are put in cages when their paper is changed as they become pains in the asses as they love to tear/shred the clean stock. Usually one or two are being cuddled when I read the newspaper at the table. (A daily delivered paper, how quaintly last century!!) Many visits to their room/aviary are spontaneous, and depending on their mood they'll immediately fly over to cuddle and get some love.

Unfortunately my job takes me away from home typically 4 times per month for 3 to 4 days, alternating with generally 3 to 4 days off. I have learned to say "goodbye" before dressing in uniform as they KNOW it will be an interval of time. There is also a "honeymoon" of at least one day upon return when some are a bit more clingy/cuddly than typical.