Night Shift

[Desertrose]

Hello, I'm new to this forum and looking for some advice. I've been researching conures for months now, I've always wanted one, and plan on getting one soon. I've read mostly everything on them, except for one topic, which might be a dealbreaker to me... I work night shift, 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 am. Would a conure adapt to this schedule? Would it even be fair to the bird? I was wondering if they would adapt to sleeping until maybe 1:00 pm until I able to wake up and spend time with it... I don't want the bird to be upset or screech in the morning, seeing as I get home at 6:30 am. Has anyone had any experience with owning a conure and working night shift? Any information or advice would be helpful...

 

[Auggie's Dad]

There is a solution to every problem... almost...

I don't want the bird to ... screech in the morning

Then I'm sorry to say a conure really isn't a good idea. They greet the morning every morning and they are not shy about it.

You COULD shift his schedule so that he thinks day is night and night is day. This would take a bit of effort though blocking all windows during the day and getting an artificial full spectrum lamp. Even then he would likely hear other animals outside that would clue him to the time of day.

I really hate to say it - I would usually be the last to - but I don't think a parrot would be a good idea if that schedule is to be long term.

 

[Ecclipse]

Hi, I have owned a conure before and they are noisy - earblasting sometimes. He was a lovely, friendly bird but he was very vocal in the mornings. Being a parrot, they crave attention and I found that when I was away for the day he would be even more vocal. I just wanted to say that I have great respect for you because not everyone is prepared to ask first and find out what is best for the bird. Here in SA there are so many unwanted parrots because people dont take the time to make sure that they have either picked the right one or their lifestyle is suited for a parrot. I hope that you can think of a way and good luck.

 

[Desertrose]

Thank you for the advice, yeah, I'm still not 100% sure I'm even getting it.. I really don't want to stress the bird out with a lifestyle that wouldn't suit it... in response to the blocking off windows and artificial light, has anyone ever attempted this before? What sort of light would be needed?

 

[Auggie's Dad]

I think it would be much easier to shift your own sleeping schedule rather than the birds.

Many of us do keep happy parrots even though we work a shift during the day and sleep at night. I get up in the morning, spend time with Auggie, put him back in his cage while I go to work, then he is out with me in the evening and he sleeps at the same time as me.

It seems you go to sleep upon getting home after your shift? Could you instead sleep right before work? If you get up a bit before 10:30 that could parallel my 'morning' - you could spend a little time with the bird, have breakfast, get ready for work, then put the bird to bed right before you go to work. You'd be getting home then just in time for him to get up. Take him out and spend the morning (or your 'evening') with him, then leave him with some alone time while you go to sleep.

I actually see one ADVANTAGE to this over many of us who work days: Once he is settled in you could leave him out of the cage in a bird safe room while you are asleep. Auggie is in his cage for sleep and while I am away from the house - for your bird his sleep time would be the same time that you are away.