Music for birds left alone during work hours?

[66corvair]

My fiance started working recently, before that she was in college so our GCC was out of the cage a lot more than he is now. He seems to be doing fine and we buy toys and change his cage so hopefully he doesn't get bored. So far so good.

I'm wondering if playing music is helpful to birds when they are alone for 8 hours at a time? Or should I put a TV show on and move his cage so he can watch that? I could splice together bird footage from youtube for an 8hr video that I could restart every day? or does it not affect him if he's in a quiet house or if there's noises. Thanks!

 

[labell]

I play music, nothing jarring, even low volume Classical and foraging toys or things to shred when I have to be gone a few hours.

 

[Minimaker]

I have a playlist on my computer titled "Birds" with a random mix of songs and more soothing classical pieces that couldn't annoy them played on low volume. I try to change it up with TV some days on a children's channel with lots of songs and bright colors and then some days they get the computer music. If I'm busy and can't be with them I try to use both avenues to keep them entertained and feeling like there is some life in the house. And I make sure they have lots of natural light with the shades and curtains open. Otherwise they just sit there motionless like they're tired or bored. The activity and light seem to keep them busier.

 

[weco]

Until I decided to retire, my birds, because of work, sometimes didn't see me for up to six months at a time, when they would listen to music & watch videos & TV.....I even made a couple of CDs & DVDs so they wouldn't forget me.....actually they were more for my self-preservation so I wouldn't get eaten up when I did come home.....

I had a very good bird sitter who would come by twice a day to change food, water & interact with the flock...often her granddaughters would help her, so my guys were well taken care of...at least none of my flock ever submitted any complaints.....

A lot of parronts worry about being away from their birds for several hours, but as long as you have a good relationship with them and they can entertain themselves with toys, chewables, etc., they are more adaptable than we often give them credit for.....

As to choice in music, I found that my guys would usually scream if I played something they didn't like & the same with videos/TV/movies, you just need to take the time to figure out what his likes & dislikes are. You may also find that he might scream when you come home, but I wouldn't get too concerned.....that's often because he's heard your car, foot steps, etc. and is excited you're home, instead of having screamed all day.....

Like Labell & MM have mentioned, most birds are not into loud music...and variety seemed to work best with my guys too.....

Good luck.....

 

[66corvair]

yeah I am aware he doesn't scream, but as soon as the door opens he starts chirping and he increases intensity unless I call out to him and tell him how much i missed him, ask how his day was, etc.

I can start playing some soft music I know he likes Tchaikovsky from when I was vibing on his music. Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[labell]

Okay I have to ask do you have a 66 Corvair? If so I am jealous VERY sweet classic car!

 

[66corvair]

yeah it's kind of my handle across forums. it's sort of weird on this one but [FONT=&quot]¯\_([/FONT][FONT=&quot]ツ[/FONT][FONT=&quot])_/¯[/FONT]

 

[horsesculpter]

I bought a DVD made for the purpose but I would caution about an endless loop of anything. These extremely intelligent creatures need new stimulation and I believe would be just like a person forced to watch or listen to something over and over. Our macaw Sunny loves TV if it's something fun like children's shows. Her favorite show is Americas funniest home videos. She laughs uproariously at the wrecks people have, but animals not so much. She is quite good at entertaining herself with just a good supply of toys to distroy.

 

[Taw5106]

I'm guilty of my birds having their own IPod and speaker dock. If we leave the house we turn it on and it rolls through my music, nothing crazy but mellow. I've done this with all pets since living in an apartment, I find it drowns out most outside noises and keeps them happy, but when we get home the welcomes are loud so we spend time with all of them saying hello.

The IPod is a very old IPod I use to travel with. What I find as funny is we have no radios at all and when I thought about buying a radio, wow they are pricy so I used what we had. It works.

 

[66corvair]

sounds good. I have a bunch of classical music so I can set up a 40 hour playlist on shuffle.

 

[flyingron]

I tried putting VH1 on for Bacca but she doesn't seem that interested in it. She does share the room with a Disklavier, so I let her listen to it playing Teddy Wilson and she will chirp and dance along with it. The piano tuner was just here and Bacca was chirping along with the song she played for her.