How Stressful is Changing a Bird's Schedule?

[Rainy]

So I'm looking for advice for the future with my green cheek conure, Haku. For some background, he is my ESA in college and as such lives in a dorm room with me and my roommate. Because we both are in the same room and are considered "homebodies", one/both of us are in the room all the time. As far as living goes, he is an absolute angel (he's relatively quiet and will let anyone hold him and while my roommate was originally terrified of him, she now loves him); although because of the college dorm layout, his cage is rather small (so as long as he's being quiet and behaving we basically have him out of the cage for the entire day).

Now, for the summer I am going to be back at my parents house with Haku and while I'm going to put him in the large cage we have, I am going to be working 40+ hours a week (I will make sure to spend as much time with him as I can though!). This is going to be very different for him because right now he interacts with people all day.

There's also an issue because next fall semester I'm thinking of staying in a single dorm room instead of a double (mainly due to my mental health) and am participating in DIII cross country (right now I am taking a season off).

While I'll give him a bigger cage because it'll be just me living in the room, I know I won't be in the dorm nearly as much as I am now.
I am wondering if anyone has any advice for the transition and/or if it'll stress him out to change his schedule so much?
thank you!
(also for context he is currently only 8 months old)

 

[Scott]

Welcome to you and Haku, thanks for joining. We have many members deliberating the acquisition of companion birds at uni. Your ESA status clears many of the logistics, legalities, and ought prove helpful as reference.

Haku will experience many changes over the course of his life. His level of socialization and depth of bond with you will be determinants of success. Well socialized parrots learn to enjoy human company and solitary time at play or rest. He may enjoy the larger cage during summer break, but return to original next semester may prove problematic. Might a single dorm allow for something larger? In any case, plenty of chew/challenging toys are helpful, as are visual/auditory stimulants such as TV/video and music.

A note of caution if he is outside the cage unattended. Our forums are filled with tales of destruction or worse in absentia. I assume you've bird-safed your dorm from common parrot hazards?

 

[Laurasea]

Very handsome GCC!!! Stunning!
Teach foraging, have stuff that is easy to destroy daily. GCC like to untie knots, so use parrot safe stuff and give them that to do.

Have part of your time with him doing flying and trsini trucks to burn engery and help keep mi d and body healthy.

 

[Rainy]

Thank you for the responses.
For some context, I am going to try and bring a big cage to campus next semester since I won't be having a roommate. I also made sure to bird safe the room, because with how small the room is I know it wouldn't take much chemicals to cause harm!

I will certainly keep in mind challenging toys and using a visual and/or audio stimulant (especially when I'll be gone for awhile!), I also haven't thought much of having him fly around but I will certainly keep that in mind! (his flight feathers were trimmed awhile ago but I'm going to be letting them grow out)

 

[Conurecorner]

I usually leave cartoon network on for my GCC. When I leave or music is usually playing. Lots of foraging toys and new toys keep him busy too. I do change our routine with the weather. I run with my dog in the mornings so, in the winter it gets pushed back with the sunrise. So, we arent running in total darkness. My bird is pretty chill when it comes to some change. He does get angry or moody when he isnt on a schedule though.