My job just changed, less time to spend with Blue :(

[OzBlue]

Hi all, hope you're well.

I've just been re allocated a new job and new hours. Which is great ,but means I won't be around the house as much any more. I wasn't expecting this at all, even with what's going on In today's world.

I'm really concerned this is going to be tough on our little Quaker whose enjoyed being out of the cage for a few hours or more every day. I'm returning home now at around 5:30pm tues, weds and Friday. Thursday is a half day.

Due to winter here that means I'm leaving when it's dark and returning when it's dark.

I tried having blue out for a couple hours when I got home but she became really interested in bed after about 40 minutes so i let her back in her cage. Currently I have 3 full days off from work and a half day.

I'm afraid with my schedule things might lead to some stress induced behavior during winter, also general health issues.

Any thoughts or insights here? I've considered getting another bird, a cockatiel which I've always wanted but was thinking of doing this at the end of the yea. I was also not expecting my hours at work not to change so having a second bird now might just mean two stressed birds.

Thanks all

 

[fiddlejen]

My first thought on reading this is that, she Will adjust. Although certainly it makes sense to be concerned about possible stress, etc. Second -- well I don't know about a bird such as a cockatiel but myself working full- or more-than-full time, I have relied on the budgies' in their large cage next to Sunny's to keep her company while I was gone all day. (Now with working at home, they are all getting spoiled...) Not to tell you to get budgies if you didn't happen to want them -- but. Since I got the two budgies at the same time (before Sunny), they bonded to each other. They Tolerate me, but I am most definitely Not the center of their world. More like their inadequate servant with whom they put-up. So as long as I provide food, they don't care that I'm not there. Sunny definitely prefers my company -- but she also is definitely aware of the budgies' company. So I leave and, depending how long I'll be gone, I leave youtube coral-aquarium videos (few hours) or else no-video and Classical Radio (gone all day). Although Sunny definitely is not focused on the budgies, still, she knows they are there to keep her company. AND by playing Classical Radio when I'm gone all day, she knows not to worry unless I'm really late.

So - you could get a pair of budgies or maybe some finches to keep your quaker company. IF you wanted to.

But whether you do or not, I suggest put on something calming like video or radio, something which you woN't put on when you're home. (I don't actually dislike classical... but... somehow if I have it running, after a little while I will un-thinkingly turn it off or change the channel. So it works really well as a cuing device. Something relaxing that you woN't leave running when you're home. Maybe light-jazz. Maybe country. Maybe easy-listening. Etc.)

 

[1oldparroter]

To keep her current schedules of eating, being out of cage and etc; how about having someone stop in and cover those things at those times? jh

 

[OzBlue]

Thank you both for the ideas and advice! I do have a house mate but i'll definitely need to check with her and make sure she's okay with spending time with her. Really like the idea about music/videos etc in the background.

I'll keep seeking advice on compatible species for Quakers but most of the vets and breeders i've spoken to are suggesting another Quaker and getting them used to one another over time. They're even saying they could potentially be housed together at some stage. They might just be saying that to play on my heartstrings and get my $

For now i'll spend as much time as i can in the morning with her before i head off to work, then hopefully get her used to a couple of hours at night. Thankfully there will be 4 days we will be able to spend more time together! I suddenly feel like i might be overly worried! I handle change as well as my Quaker

 

[itzjbean]

Most of us have to work the usual 8am-5pm and be away from our birds for this entire time, it can be sad to be away from them but they will adjust1 What exactly are your new hours? It is 8 hour days, or 12? 12 hours is harder but hey...we all have to pay the bills!

this is common and you just have to work your new schedule around your bird. Let him/her out in the morning while you get ready, have them on your shoulder, etc or have breakfast, then let them out as soon as you get home for more play. It will come to be your bird's favorite times with you! And of course half days and weekends will allow more play time!

 

[OzBlue]

Generally my hours for tuesday and weds are depart by 7:15am, and arrive back home around 5:30pm. It's winter here so she doesn't last more than an hour after we're back from work. Last night she tried to go to bed behind a tea pot on a shelf