I love having birds! The easiest way to explain what they're like is to equate them to a toddler of sorts. You can't just leave them alone or expect them to figure it all out themselves, like dogs or cats might. Instead you have to show them what your routine is, how to use things like toys/foraging toys/tools/etc. You have to show them what your environment is so they understand it better. You also have to be sure to bird proof everything so little prying beaks don't get where they shouldn't, haha!
Our most recent problem is Shiko going to our garbage cans in hopes of finding snack scraps like rice cakes. So now we have to buy garbage cans with lids... and this JUST started. He's done fine for nearly three years, but just a few weeks ago he's become a dumpster diver. They adapt to their environment and learn so very, very quickly, and sometimes they do happen to figure things out that you really hoped they never would [emoji13]
My routine is pretty simple...
Morning: Uncover cages. Feed/water animals (I have a snake and rabbit, too). Check their cages are still in order and nothing is out of place or super dirty. If I have time, let them out with me for an hour. If not, prepare their fresh food and let 'em at it.
Afternoon: Check their water/food bowls. Make sure things are clean still if I'm home.
Evening: Out and about time! Also make sure to switch our morning chop and replace with pellets. Our schedule is that after 5:30 it's bird time. They stay out until 9:30-10. We make sure to be home by 6 at the latest, and if we know we won't be home that evening we make sure they've had time out in the day or at the very least for an hour when we get back. Our rabbit also needs that same amount of time out, so it's doubly important we have at least four hours dedicated to them being out.
Depending on the day/week, I train them for 5-10 minute sessions and recap what they know. Sometimes it's just stepping up, others it's recall, when I know they're in the mood it's trick training. My birds are difficult to train together as one gets very jealous and will destroy the concentration or efforts of my other bird. Because of that I often have to go to a separate room or place one of them in the cage covered while I do it.
Once every two months I prepare my chop.
Every other day I do a wipe down of the cages with baby wipes, and then at the end of the week I steam clean the cages.
Every other month I order new toys and food if needed.
Every six months I take them in to get their nails dremmeled. It includes a general check up ($60 fee).
Once you have birds, certain things just become routine and it's easier that way. On weekend I still rarely take the birds out before 5 so I can make sure I have "me" time. Sometimes it includes the birds for awhile, sometimes it doesn't. But at this point so many things are habitual that I forget I even do it, or if someone else has to do it I really have to think about the in-between things that I do. Your birds will be quirky just like you, and you just find a great way to mesh together once you've figured them out a bit.
Congratulations on your soon-to-be adoption! We look forward to hearing more
