Parrot is ANGRY w/ me - 1st day back to school

[Ann333]

Today was my first day back to college sense getting Pumpkin. I spent about 45 minutes with him this morning, then was gone for 12 hours but now that I'm home, im trying to get him out before bedtime and he's making this horrible angry noise and threatening to bite. Will he adjust on his own or should I do something? We sleep from 10-6 but he takes naps during the day.

 

[Violette]

The same happens to me when I go to uni... Mine seems very grumpy that I left her and then refuses to step up when I return that evening. I'm not sure what to do either!

 

[Birdman666]

He'll get over it. They adjust.

 

[Ann333]

The same happens to me when I go to uni... Mine seems very grumpy that I left her and then refuses to step up when I return that evening. I'm not sure what to do either!

Mine refuses to step up or if he does he is aggressive once hes on me and bites. I hope youre right birdman666, im sure you are. I was worried maybe the "honeymoon phase" was over. I read that some birds just decide they dont trust you anymore a few weeks after being home with you. But i dont think thats what it is, i think hes just mad i was gone so long. hopefully he adjusts soon. I dont like him mad at me. lol

 

[EdwardH]

Your experience highlights the problems which can occur when you get a new bird whilst on holiday, spend every waking minute with it and then suddenly go back to work, school etc. The bird feels like it is being abandoned or ostracized. He will get used to the routine however make sure that there are plenty of toys and foraging opportunities to keep him occupied during the day. You will need to be patient with him until he gets used to the new routine.

 

[Ann333]

You're right i did get him on Holiday, but i anticipated this happening (just not this bad) and left him in the cage during the hours i WOULD be in school when it started back up.... i WAS still in the room with him and talking to him though... I thought that would be easier for him. He does have alot of toys, but not any foraging yet. I (maybe mistakenly) thought he was too young, being a baby in a rather big cage, i wanted to make sure he kept his weight up....?

 

[EdwardH]

Ideally when you get a new bird you want to spend the amount of time that will be his normal routine (for years to come) from day one. This way it gets used to the normal amount of time that you will spend with it. Holiday extra time then become a bonus!
Toys are great but you also need foraging opportunities. Toys keep them playing but foraging opportunities create mental stimulation where they have to figure out how to get that piece of whatever.

 

[Ann333]

Awesome advice thank you! So on Holidays it will be okay to spend extra time with him after he is used to the normal school routine? I will look into creating my own foraging toys for him, the ones at petco are super expensive. It should be fun though like hide and seek lol.

 

[Hawk]

What works with me is I recorded my wife and I for a couple hours, and made it into a continuous loop on the computer. The computer is wired into the bird room where I have a 32 inch flat screen on the wall. Timer will turn on video at what ever time you set it at, And also have rio 1 and 2 recorded that they can watch that comes on inbetween. I understand not everybody can do this on the computer but there are programs available to make a continuous loop and to turn on and play music, videos and etc. Boredom and loneliness is a birds worst enemy. Put a dvd that will play over, or music.

 

[Ann333]

I have actually been wanting to get a small clock radio to leave on for him during the day so it wont be so quiet in here and i always leave the window open for sunlight and he can see the kids walk by (live next to a highschool) I definitely need to get on the ball with helping him stay intertained during the day when im away. Thanks.

 

[Hawk]

Re: windows...l

I have actually been wanting to get a small clock radio to leave on for him during the day so it wont be so quiet in here and i always leave the window open for sunlight and he can see the kids walk by (live next to a highschool) I definitely need to get on the ball with helping him stay intertained during the day when im away. Thanks.

If I may offer a tip and advice about windows open or having a parrot near a window if you won't be around.

I live in the deep country, I had a squirrel cling to the screen with window open and scare the ghostly bejesus out of my birds. They all screamed bloody murder and thought what they hey...there was this red squirrel on the screen...apparently could smell the parrot food. So lesson learned here. Also have deer, rabbits, raccons, turkeys, woodchucks that go by as well.
The birds are next to a 92 inch picture window, so they have quite a view outside.
The only time that really freaked me out was when somehow a bat gotten into the house and we chased this bat thru the house, the Parrots going mental. Not only that but had to take my parrots out of the house for a few days with pet store and disinfect the house....Never know what a Bat my carry.

 

[Ann333]

Lol sorry I just meant the curtain open for light. Haha this is an old house I couldn't actually open the window if I wanted to. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Hawk]

Lol sorry I just meant the curtain open for light. Haha this is an old house I couldn't actually open the window if I wanted to. Sorry for the confusion.

Gotcha..... Our house is 148 years old....very well built brick farm house, 2800 square feet.... Now that all the kids are moved out and have their own houses, it seems quite large for my wife and I. So Yeah, know those old sticky windows...lol.