Greys and school

[eliholtman]

So I was wondering how greys will work with a school schedule I go to school 8-3 but I would have time to play in the morning and plenty of time after Bc I'm not in any extracurricular activities and of course weekends but I was wondering if that would be okay


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[clark_conure]

that's fine, your bird will be fine alone during the day for a few hours, but when you get home make sure you spend time with him/her. Also get him a lot of toys to play with/destroy.

 

[Scott]

Should not pose a problem. Quality of time is about as important as quantity. Time spent directly interacting with your bird is far more valuable than sitting in a cage in the same room while you pursue other activities. This is especially IMO true with an intelligent and sensitive bird such as a Grey.

 

[Taprock]

Our grey is my son's bird and even if I'm around I'm not his favorite. My son spends time with him in the evening every day. During daytime hours he has his toys, a cardboard box he loves to destroy and the radio on for him. He loves foraging toys. The more complicated the better. Part of his routine is I let him out of his cage in the morning and he goes and wakes up my son. It can work!

 

[bigfellasdad]

Absolutely no problems, I always make sure I spend at least 1 hour with Enzo in the morning, she comes out of the cage as soon as i get up. Allow her to do her first MASSIVE poop before taking her to your shoulder. She spends every minute with me until I leave for work, including in the shower in fact i thiink its her favourite part of the day, doing the dishes, making our breakfast etc. Allow her to have a fly around as she wont be able to during the day. Once bonded with your parrot she will make a fuss of you when you get back from school. Spend time with her as much as you can, homework or playing on consoles etc, get a perch for her so she can be with you when you need to do 'your thing'. African greys like a routine so she knows she has to go in her cage when you are leaving for school an go to bed at similar times etc.

I wish you well

 

[DRB]

Very much depends on the age of the bird, the age of it when you get it or if it was with another family and had a schedule prior to you taking ownership.

8 hours is a long time to be away from a bird with a complex personality.

Not trying to persuade you out of getting a CAG just giving you honest info.

It can work out just fine, but it also can not work out so great.

 

[itzjbean]

I'm going to be the odd one out, but I don't recommend someone in school (mainly anyone under age 21) to get a larger species like this. They take a lot of work and they are sensitive to changes in schedules. You schedule looks fine for now, but not when you consider the future and have to get a job/travel/start dating/want to go out partying with friends/etc. I always suggest completing school first, then re-evaluate your schedule, these guys live so long and they are a life-long commitment. This is only on top of the fact that they will need several hundred dollars a month in food and toys, as well as costly checkups at the vet.

 

[LordTriggs]

Re-iterating exactly what itzjbean said. Right now may be good but I can assure you when you leave school you'll struggle for a while to feed even yourself let alone look after a bird.

Also don't forget that you have your social life, hobbies, trying to find a partner ETC ETC your time will be stretched to say the least. For now I'd hold off, get some life experience live out in the "real" world for a while and then you can re-evaluate if a bird is right. Grey's especially are smart and will outsmart you whenever they can so they're not for the faint of heart

 

[wrench13]

Another vote to wait till school is finished. Greys are flock parrots, and they dont handle being alone for extended time well. I mean there is a chance this particular one will occupy himself with toys and cardboard boxes , etc, while your gone. You might have to literally teach him to do that ( like play with the stuff yourself, tear boxes up, do some foraging puzzles). Parrots want to be with their 'flock', which is you, if you adopt one. In a family setting, perhaps your spouse might work from home or just be home , and even if they are not your birds "person" they would still be part of the 'flock'. I'm sure you would not want to get a fairly well adjusted grey parrot, only to have him descend into boredom and start plucking feathers to kill time until you get home. And the other folks are right, there is graduating, getting a job and potentially being around even less. Parrots are wonderful companions, more then just a pet like a dog or cat, but they require lots of work and some sacrifices on your part. And they AINT cheap to maintain, by any means.

 

[CKP]

I was definitely a person who wanted a parrot my entire childhood... I made a powerpoint presentation to my parents when I was 10 about African Greys and explained the time and costs associated with them! My parents' response was: wait till you're older.

I appreciate that now.

With high school, teen years, my many extracurricular activities, then college and finding a job that ended up being night shift followed by moving and grad school... I am SO GLAD I listened to them because I could barely keep up with myself, much less be responsible for another living thing. Birds aren't like cats or dogs, you can't just leave them with your parents during college and expect them to be ok. They like their routines and their people, and changing that up doesn't go well with them ESPECIALLY in a bird like a CAG.

It sucks when you want something so bad, but I'm glad I waited so that I could be more prepared (mentally, financially, living situation, etc) and not burden my bird with getting my life figure out.

 

[LordTriggs]

I was the same CKP. Begged my mum for birds when I was young. got a budgie who was very sweet but died within a week! Then got another who wasn't as friendly (honestly I forget what happened to that one) I then got a tiel when I was a bit older, then my mum decided to get him a friend. The friend was the noisiest thing ever, she would not stop doing a chattery scream which scared the male. It got to the point my mum moved them to the shed as she was never quiet (and as I found out recently my mum is scared of birds) then at some point I got bored like children do. Then later my siblings let them out when they were cleaning the cage (I was informed they died)

Honestly it's put me off Tiels and Budgies for my entire life and I'd hate to have something like that to happen to you, plus you'll have a much better relationship when you're older and can understand them easier (plus behavioural stuff and medicines should be better by then meaning you get a good headstart

 

[itzjbean]

I was the same CKP. Begged my mum for birds when I was young. got a budgie who was very sweet but died within a week! Then got another who wasn't as friendly (honestly I forget what happened to that one) I then got a tiel when I was a bit older, then my mum decided to get him a friend. The friend was the noisiest thing ever, she would not stop doing a chattery scream which scared the male. It got to the point my mum moved them to the shed as she was never quiet (and as I found out recently my mum is scared of birds) then at some point I got bored like children do. Then later my siblings let them out when they were cleaning the cage (I was informed they died)

Honestly it's put me off Tiels and Budgies for my entire life and I'd hate to have something like that to happen to you, plus you'll have a much better relationship when you're older and can understand them easier (plus behavioural stuff and medicines should be better by then meaning you get a good headstart

I went through a similar experience also!! I think I was 12-13 when my parents finally let me get my first baby bird, an unweaned baby Jenday Conure. I had to hand-feed him for a few weeks after I got him (who would trust a 12 year old with a baby bird, I don't know what the heck my breeder was thinking) but he did just fine and we were like peas and carrots....until high school. Then suddenly I had swimming practice, got a boyfriend, and didn't have much time for my Jenday anymore. College was coming up and I was going to be living in a dorm, there was no way I could take him, and since my parents are NOT animal people at all, I had to sell him. I wish I would've waited much longer, waited until after college to get him.