Pool Party

[sweetpeamusic]

I’ve been invited to an overnight pool party - Nico has never been home alone for more than a 5-6 hours before, and I know he misses me a lot when I’m gone. I was originally planning on bringing him along in his travel cage (which he might actually like more than his big home cage for some reason) but I just had a thought: are pools safe for birds?
I did a little research and I realize that obviously parrots should not be IN the pool and should be supervised at all times. I couldn’t find any info on how dangerous the chlorine scent/fumes that inevitably would be in the air around the pool would be. If I do end up taking him he will be in his travel cage or on his harness at all times, and I don’t really know right now if there will be a barbecue but if there is I’ll keep him away from that.
Would Nico be okay just being near the pool with me? (I don’t plan on swimming.) Would it be better for him to stay home alone?

 

[GaleriaGila]

My opinion... darling Nico needs to learn to be alone, at least for short periods...

I'm afraid of pool chemicals and any such hazards. Yeah, I'm paranoid, but I also have a 34 year old bird to show for it. If you do take him along, maybe leave him inside the house?

Good for you, for being so vigilant and devoted!

 

[Kiwibird]

It's not being in a locked cage around a pool that would be of concern to me, it is the future (or possibly current) overbonding issues you're setting him up for by ALWAYS having him with you. It is wonderful when parrots get lots of attention and love, but there is a thing as too much. Parrots need to have alone time and need to learn to entertain themselves when you aren't around or simply can't be giving them attention at the moment. An odd overnight trip should certainly be possible as a parrot owner. Enjoy your time at the pool without worrying about your bird. Be sure to give him plenty of toys, some kind of foraging and maybe a few special treats in his dish when you leave the house

 

[EllenD]

I agree, he needs to learn to be alone, as do you as well. It's extremely unhealthy when a parrot is brought everywhere with their owner, and never left alone. I know a woman with a Blue and Gold Macaw that is now 23 years old I believe, she's had him since he was a baby, and I am not exaggerating, that bird has not EVER been without her for longer than an hour. SERIOUSLY. She never goes anywhere without him, literally, not anywhere, and as a result, the bird now has a massive anxiety disorder, where she cannot now even walk OUT OF THE ROOM! He starts screaming and pulling his feathers out immediately when she leaves his sight. He's now plucked pretty badly, and it all happens when he simply leaves the room, like the bathroom. She can't eat dinner without this Macaw on her shoulder. Her CAV has finally told her that this has to stop, as her entire family (yes, she's married with kids, don't know how) is suffering because of this Macaw. She's as dependent on the bird as he is to her, and this all started because when she first got him she couldn't bare to leave him alone for an evening out, so she either wouldn't go out, or she brought him with her...

So it bad for both his health and yours to not ever let him home alone. Overnight once in a while is fine, it's also much safer for him to stay home than to go to a pool party...I mean, what if you turn your back for a minute and he ends up in the pool? Or someone tries to grab him, or any of the other million things that could go wrong? He's safer in his cage at home, and he'll learn how to entertain himself inside of his cage, and then he'll simply be sleeping all night anyway, so that's not a big deal. But it's very unhealthy for him to never be alone and not learn how to be alone, as that's exactly how they develop anxiety disorders and start self-mutilating the second you do have to leave them for the first time...He'll be fine.

 

[ChristaNL]

Hmm, is it an indoor pool or outside ... that would really make a world of difference in the concentration of fumes...


Great points about the over-bonding-danger btw.


The best time to leave a bird is at night -they will sleep anyway- even if they seem wide awake when you return!
You can always leave the radio on as "company" if you fear it wil freak out.




I sort of have this issue with the macaw (don't think it is overbonding- she came in this way-, but certainly some anxiety: if I leave her longer than 6 hours...even with the greys in the same room - she will be fine till the next day and then start to pluck her feathers in a weird sort of delayed reaction..) - just get them used on people disappearing and coming back to them!

 

[wrench13]

Heck even I dont like pool chemical chlorine and stuff and if you can smell it yuou can bet its worse for your parrot. so thats one strike.

And Ellen and Christa are dead on -over bonding can ecome an issue. WHen ever I am going to be gone over night or longer I ALWAYS tell Salty how long I will be gone and reassure him I will be back. Do this a few times a few days before you will out. I swear it will cut down or even eliminate the grouchyness and resentment when you return home.

 

[itzjbean]

Good for you for giving this situation some more thought.

As stated above, while it's great you are able to be with Nico so much, it does create some issues of overbonding and dependency.

Parrots need to learn to be alone sometimes... family emergency, working to pay bills, etc. we can't be with them all the time. SO it's important our parrots learn to be independent and play on their own, safe inside their cage.

I work full-time so my two cockatiels are by themselves in their cages for 8 hours a day. They adapt and learn to look forward to weekends and the times I have them out during the week days.

You should go on the trip, enjoy yourself and don't worry. Nico will be fine being at home for this one. You are right in being wary of pool chemicals, birds have pretty sensitive senses.

 

[EllenD]

Yeah, the more I think about the chlorine fumes, the more i don't like that part at all. Birds are so sensitive to any and all types of fumes, that I'm willing to bet that you'd end-up leaving him in his carrier away from the pool anyway! So rather than keeping him inside of a little travel-carrier all night, it's much better for him to just stay at home, inside of his nice big, safe cage with all of his toys, and without all the noise and no-doubt all the people poking at him and bugging him all night, as people usually do.