New House= New Erin

[MaraWentz]

So I came across my childhood home and the new owners were renting the upstairs out, well, I got fired a few days before Christmas and couldn't afford the whole upstairs, but we needed more room with our baby coming in 4 months, so we took one of the rooms upstairs which was bigger than our last place by an extra 50 sqft or so. Well, since the move Erin has been different. Idk if it's the move itself, me being home (I've only actually been home 2 days since being fired), or what but she is... different.

This is her 6th move with us (we move alot due to trying to find bigger and cheaper places, closer to where I work). She always does fine with a move, and she's fine this time, but is being different in a good way. Idk if it's the temperature being in the high 70's- we both love it hot, but hubby hates it lol or maybe she just likes the layout better.

She hasn't screamed once- she started up a few months ago with yelling, but is decreased once we fully started ignoring- but not a single peep from her since we moved. She only gives tons of kisses, says hello more and tries to say other wrds (I think I love you and/or how are you). Also today se as been randomly flying over to where I am at or on my should just to give me a bunch of kisses and then flies back to her stand. What a sweetie.

However, her appetite has decreased by about half at least and she spends the new time not eating giving kisses, playing with her old toys or flying around the ceiling.

 

[weco]

I can understand your problems finding suitable housing, what with two large birds and a pitbull mix, but your respite may be short lived, because some birds become jealous of new babies & the one-on-one time they take from the bird(s).

Several years ago I read an article about a couple in Europe who got the jump on any potential problems by getting a doll that cried & they started dividing their attention between the doll and their African Grey.....the grey had problems for a while, but when the baby arrived there were no problems.

By the time I got involved with birds, my daughter was grown, so I can't offer any further information than both of your birds may see the response the baby gets when it cries & that could pose unforeseen problems.

 

[henpecked]

Commonwith many birds, in fact that's why i recommend moving your birds cage when having behavioral problems. It gives you a chance to fix those issues because your bird is out of his comfort zone and is needier. Chances are things will return to the way they were before long. Similar to what people call the honeymoon period with a new bird. Sorry to hear about the job situation, hope something better comes along.

 

[MaraWentz]

I'm not worried about the her being real jealous of the baby- she's always been independent and she understands when I need time alone- although it takes a minute for her to fly away. We've added many pet additions to our family through out the years- from independent pits to sick bulldogs, other parrots, clingy (and extremely whiny) chihuahuas to reptiles and then of course hamsters and ferrets, etc, s she is used to me dividing the attention esp. with the dogs, as I'd have to leave her alone everyday to to take them to parks, where I obviously can't take her (we just had dog parks- no community parks). However the baby doll idea does sound interesting.

@Henpeck we don't have a cage for her but when se first started her little tid bits of yelling we did move her around and that never worked. It's just strange that she is acting different, when we have moved 5 other times and just know she is being different. What does bother me is the decrease n appetite, but she s replacing it wit paying and flying, so maybe she was just bored from being alone all day and ate instead?