Will I ever own a bird?

[Ankaa]

Aloha,

This is my first post and I'm not quite sure if a species-specific subforum is the right place, but I'd like to get some input while I've been pondering a lot, lately.

I love all kinds of animals, always have (if it was my will, I'd be living in my own little private "zoo"), and while I've always dreamt of owning a parrot, I never really considered it realistically until just recently. I liked budgies and other smaller birds friends had, but have never seen them as pets for >me<, and larger parrots never seemed a realistic option, somehow, as no-one around me had one. I just recently reconsidered and noticed those are actually legit pets normal people legit have. So, I started doing my research and came to a dead-end pretty fast, as I was evaluating species, my life, ...etc.

I've fallen in love with conures. I do like the looks of lovebirds, too, but they're almost at the "tad too small" end of my liking. I'm not the absolute biggest fan of normal green cheek conure morphs, but I do love the turquoise ones. I also absolutely love sun conures (yes, I am aware they are loud) . I love their characters - at least what I read about them. I want a bird I can interact with and that has a personality. But here's where it starts getting tricky.

We're a multi-cat household. Obviously, the birds would NEVER be alone with the cats and never be out of the cage with the cats. We're also planning to have a dog at some point in the future. I know many bird owners are strictly against having any cats (and some even dogs), at all, too the point of it almost feeling radical (but I can see where they're coming from - they don't seem to be the most logical pairing). I do, however, personally know many people who have (or have had) both cats and birds, and it worked out quite alright. Kindly, please keep an open mind
Now, I'm all aware of bacteria, especially from cats, being a problem for any bird. What I do not know is the extend of that danger. From what I read, it's most critical if the bacteria gets into the blood stream (which is easily avoided if you reduce any chance of a cat harming a bird) - but what about shared space, i.e. rooms, furniture, ... What I mean is: if the bird is inside its cage, the cats would be allowed to share the room supervised (cats are social, too). They'd have a cat tree, maybe a toilet.... If the bird is out of its cage, it might end up sitting on the same furniture...

But, after extensive reading, what I'm even more concerned about is time commitment. Obviously, I'm not afraid of a longtime commitment of many years, even decades. Cats and dogs are long-living pets, too. What I'm more concerned about is the time they need each day. Obviously, I'd provide any pet I have the one-on-one time they need. For birds, they'd obviously get several hours outside the cage each day. Currently, I'm in the lucky position of being able to work from home some, if not most/all days. However, that might change in the future and I might be required to work an ordinary 8-5 job away from home. My husband works full-time, too. Now, I understand that especially conures need a lot of social interactions with their humans. My life - while it seems quite perfect for a bird at the moment - is just not as predictable and very likely never will be in the long-run. How do normal professionals, working normal jobs, ever own birds? Especially in these unpredictable times. This is a genuine question as I cannot wrap my head around it. What about travels?

Will potential absence from home during working hours be somehow mitigated if getting a pair?

Depending on which forums you read, people either strongly recommend getting at least a pair or not getting more than one bird caged together, at all. The same goes for hand- vs. aviary-raised.

If, eventually, I'm even considering rescuing.

So, while I'm not really planning on getting a bird right now (to complicate things, I live in Hawaii, but most probably will not stay here indefinitely - and I don't have a good sense of where I'll end up, yet - it might even be someplace like New Zealand, where you're not allowed to bring your pet birds into), I am looking ahead a few years...and do wonder if I ever will be able to own a bird (before retirement) given so many uncertainties in my life.

Thanks for any thoughts

 

[ChristaNL]

Well NO, you wont: no-one here owns birds, the birds own us

But have you considered fostering?
Just like kittens and puppies a shelter is almost never a great place for a parrot to be.
(that's how it's done here anyway: if a parrot is up for adoption but not quite ready for a forever home -f.e. because it is still adapting to different/healthier foods, getting a tad more socialized, recouvering from /working on some trauma's but most of the time: it just needs a lot of one-on-one interaction and a relatively quiet and safe place to live till the right person shows up.)

I would not even advice a dog in 2 double full-time-at-work household let alone a parrot (but opnions vary)

(and no: never leave cats&birds together without supervision: I've had dead aviary birds because the cats simply nailed them through the mesh. It's not the bacteria on the furniture - its the ones in their mouth and on their claws & their hunting instinct that will kill your bird. )

 

[BoomBoom]

I'll share my situation as it seems very similar to what yours may become should you decide to get a bird.

I have a full time job, 8-5. I also have a sun conure and 2 parakeets. I have to leave them at least 9-10 hours M-F (hours include my travel to and from the office). I try to make it work. I would always do my grocery and errands during my lunch hour so I can get home to them sooner. Sometimes I'd visit them for lunch. I see my family or friends less so weeknights and weekends are always spent with the birds. I gave up the idea of travelling ever since the birds happened. That's one thing I was okay to live without. No over stays at the family home anymore either - even on holidays. This one's harder to deal with because my brothers and I always stayed up late at night to play games, watch movies whenever we had family events. I got used to it though and hardly miss it anymore. As for the birds, they're out the cage when I'm home, except to sleep. I make sure they have toys and foraging activities in their cages to keep them occupied while I'm at work. I leave music on for them (various playlists of classical and choral music, birds, rain sounds, etc).

It's not ideal and I'd stay at home all day with them if I could, but sadly I have to earn a living for myself and for them. I just make sure I make up for as many hours as I possibly can to give them enough socialization and out of cage time. They have no behavioral problems and seem to be well adjusted birds.

As long as you provide a predictable routine, a healthy diet, a stable and enriched life, and most importantly a safe, forever home, I think you can make it work. Be ready and willing to make sacrifices to your lifestyle and plans, both big and small, for your birds. If you have big life changes ahead of you (i.e. children, moving countries, etc.) I'd give this decision a hard and long thought. These are often things that lead to the re-homing of a bird which no one wants happen. If I could turn back time, I may have chosen to get birds after or close to retirement but they are here now and I made a promise to care and love them - so with me they will stay no matter what life throws at me.

You came to the forums, and obviously have done your homework - I think you're off to a great start. Best of luck in your decision.

 

[Ankaa]

Thank you for your replies, already!

Well NO, you wont: no-one her owns birds, the birds own us

Oh, my bad! So, basically like our cats, who have personell - nothing new in that department then

But have you considered fostering?
Just like kittens and puppies a shelter is almost never a great place for a parrot to be.

I indeed have not considered that. Mostly probably for similar reasons why I don't foster cats and dogs (though I do want to, because I want to help): I get emotionally attached way too easily. But also, I just really simply didn't think of that. It might be a good way to test if a bird is actually something for us.

I would not even advice a dog in 2 double full-time-at-work household let alone a parrot (but opnions vary)

Well, it's much easier to take a dog with you to work But obviously, I wouldn't get a dog if I can't accommodate its needs and that is part of why I don't have one at the moment (the other being our landlady saying "no"). I've had dogs before; my parents also are accredited AKC breeders. So, I do consider myself knowledgable as to what a dog needs and what lifestyle I would need to have in order to provide a favorable home for one.

What I do not know is what a bird needs - and that's why I'm asking

For example, we're not super big travelers. We're actually taking our first longer vacation in almost 3 years this Fall to go to Europe to visit family - we'll have a friend house sitting during that time who's taking care of our cats . Having cats kinda already limits our lifestyle, anyways - but, in the past, we would give them into boarding if going onto vacation for maybe up to a week, if necessary. We also do trips of a couple days (with friends coming to feed them) every now and then. We're not constantly gone, but not being able to be away AT ALL (not having any vacation at all, ever) might not be what we want. The same with weekends. We're not out and about all the time, but we do stuff during the day on weekends, sometimes, so might be gone for several hours or half a day. We're not big on visiting friends and family every single weekend, but kinda being stuck at home all the time even during the weekend again would be a "no".

So I guess my question is, how much "alone" can a conure, specifically, or pretty much any parrot, generally, be? Is half a day or a couple days every now and then ok?

Also, how strong is their human bond really? Say, if I were to go on a business trip (I'm a field biologist, so being gone for field work is inevitable - usually my husband would take care of all pets while I'm gone - as do I if he's away for work; we're very rarely both gone for any extended period of time), would it still be ok with my husband's company? (and yes, I'm aware that there's always the possibility that the bird wouldn't even bond with me, anyway - I'm just speaking hypothetically to learn more about behaviors and what needs to be considered)

Again, would it help if there was a pair? That's for example why we have multiple cats - so they can keep each other company.

Can different species be bonded? Say, could I bond a GCC with a sunny?

(and no: never leave cats&birds together without supervision: I've had dead aviary birds because the cats simply nailed them through the mesh. It's not the bacteria on the furniture - its the ones in their mouth and on their claws & their hunting instinct that will kill your bird. )

It was my understanding that the cats grooming themselves and getting saliva onto their fur and paws - and consequently everywhere else is part of the problem. So the question probably is more: how long can the deadly bacteria survive outside the cat.

@BoomBoom Thank you so much for your insights!

Again, I obviously wouldn't get a bird - or any pet, for that matter - if I felt I couldn't accommodate its needs and that my lifestyle at that time isn't appropriate. But even when making the decision during the best possible circumstances, especially in this day and age, circumstances can change so quickly and quite drastically (like moving, like work situation/hours etc.). It's so hard to plan 5 years ahead - let alone a lifetime of any long-lived pet. I'm not so much planning big life changing events - but some may just come along inevitably because of our professions (both in biology/conservation), economy, politics....you name it. Life throws many things at us that we never expected. For example, 11 years ago, my parents would never even have thought about moving countries, let alone continents, and now they have their 10-year anniversary living in the States, this year. Five years ago, I wouldn't even have dreamed of living in Hawaii - and now it's already been three years (and yes, we moved continents, too, and we brought our cats - it never even one second was open for debate to leave them behind, all our pets are family).

As for routine, that one might be the hardest. While I could definitely try to get as much routine as possible - how difficult would it be if that routine would be broken every now and then (say, coming home later every once in really a while)?
Or say, working from home 2 or 3 days a week and giving them a lot of out-of-the-cage time during those days (our cats sleep most of the dame, regardless of wether I'm home or not), but being kinda cage-bound the other days?

BoomBoom, is your sun conure very screamy while you're gone?

I'm looking forward to getting more thoughts, insights and especially experience from other working professionals (surely, we can't be the only ones )

 

[ChristaNL]

Hey- it's great you are thinking this through!

Grinn, it never occured to me you can take your dog to work with you.
(it is not really a thing here / not yet anyway, but who knows what will happen later on)
I just visualised the poor pooch staying home alone all day.
(my bad)

I think you will be fine with a few true flockbirds - they are more 'forgiving' than the ones that really pairbond exclusively, but don't be too disappointed it they are going to be "watch and enjoy from a (small) distance birds" as opposed to the cuddly ones most people are after these days.

As far as I know there is quite a lot interbreeding between different conures going on, so if you don't want that happening... dna sexing before buying.

 

[MonicaMc]

Depending on your cats, it may not be a good idea to have the bird(s) in a location where the cats can easily reach the bird, even if the bird is in a sturdy cage.

I've had cats and dogs throughout my entire life - except for the past 6 months I've been without a dog... and I went even longer without a cat. (about a year?) My 13 year old dog died in February and my 14 year old cat(s) died last year. (two cats, brother and sister, but I only claim one of them! they died months apart...) I have a cat now, though...

I started keeping birds when I was 12 and the longest I've had two birds is [going on] 17 and 12 years. They are 17 and 24 years old! I've had them since I was a teen so they've been with me through moves, school, not school, various jobs, different boyfriends, friends, etc. The 24 year old is a conure! And he'd rather be on me any day rather than in his cage! Charlie (bird) doesn't have anyone else that he'll *really* go to, but my S.O. is trying to get Charlie to warm up to him. This is doable, if my S.O. keeps working on it! The 17 year old bird is a cockatiel, and she'd happily be on me getting scritches, off wondering around and looking for places to nest *OR* seeing what tasty treats the other birds have! (despite them all basically being fed the same foods!)


I've had budgies, bourkes and even a turquoisine so I kind of get it with birds being "too small". I had someone try to give me a very sweet parrotlet, but I was like nope! As sweet as the bird is, too small! I'd be afraid of accidentally killing the poor bird! And I've decided that unless I can have an aviary of small birds, I don't want small birds! And if I were to own something smaller than a cockatiel, a green cheek conure or other Pyrrhura would be the exception! And saying that, I'm fostering 2 green cheek conures... lol

If you like the turquoise green cheeks, have you seen the violets? Green or turquoise, I *love* the violets! I'm not a fan of the mutations either, but have come to appreciate the normal greens!

Charlie can be loud, but then he is a big conure! The green cheeks in comparison? Laughable! Don't get me wrong, they *can* be loud! But they can't scream like a mitred conure! And to be honest, it's better than the scream of a sun! A sun's scream is loud and high pitched! The bigger conures tend to have a lower pitched scream. It can still leave your ears ringing, but it's just loud!

I've gone on trips and have had people watch my birds (I've been to Hawaii, New Zealand, Bahama's.... or more local "outs" being just out of state for 1-7 days). Once I did board the birds at a local bird store and that time I had boarded my dog with a pet sitter. It's amazing I got him back! Both the pet sitter and her daughter fell in love with him! The cats have always remained at home... except the new cat, which I've had my sister look after him a couple of times at her place. The first time was literally after adopting him! He was at Petco (came through Humane Society as a stray) and I was literally going out of town that night. I was supposed to be on the way out, but I had seen him the day before and couldn't get him off of my mind... and since they wont hold an animal for you for more than a few hours and there's no guarantee he wouldn't be adopted by someone else.... I adopted him and took him straight to my sisters, then left for my trip! lol

Other than that, it's been my family taking care of my animals when I'm not around.

Charlie, although he's a conure, isn't excessively loud. Yes, he'll scream if you leave the room but it only lasts for 3-5 seconds and then he's quiet. He'll make noises throughout the day, occasionally scream, but he's not a nuisance.


I'm lucky where I currently work as I can take *any* animal with me to work! In fact, my boss keeps pestering me when I *DON'T* bring an animal in to work! Granted, she's not really there anyway if/when I do bring one in!

And yes, different species can bond! But keep in mind, if they belong to the same "family" (aka both are conures, but different species of conures), they can hybridize. (as Christa mentioned) Conures (at least the large ones) can also hybridize with macaws, amazons and caiques...


It's honestly probably easier to take a bird *OUT* of Hawaii than it is to get one *IN* Hawaii. Unless of course, as you say, you move to New Zealand! (equally as beautiful! volcanoes might not be a concern, but apparently earthquakes can be... I missed a big one in Christchurch by a day or two... 7 years ago) What island are you currently on?

 

[itchyfeet]

Move to NZ Come to Canterbury - the province of Christchurch - I reckon we're all quaked out and you'll be sweet as! No green cheeks here though, although maroon bellied's are around...not as popular as they are in the states.

As a young wife with young kids (certainly not immune to change) the first thing I did once the IRN's came along, is find a local family of three teenage girls. The visited often and played with all of the animals. Now if someone is really ill, life gets too hard to handle or we are away I just ring the girls, and one of them will step in with confidence, with the animals. The animals love it - for sure, I do my best but they become part of your routine too, as they should. The visitors always spoil them, and the animals are always content on our return

 

[Karlys]

I think it sounds like you'd make an excellent parront.

You're asking a lot of great questions and not just jumping into it on impulse. That's what we did... Went into a bird store, thinking we'd just ask some preliminary questions and price things out, but left with a deposit down on a baby cockatiel. Luckily, she wasn't done weaning when we met her, so we had a good 5-6 weeks to learn everything and prepare for her to come home. So, you're ahead of the game!

I think that, as long as you dedicate as much quality time as you can and this is at a minimum of 2-3 hours a day on average, that you'll be okay-- especially if you can go big on your days off and let the bird be out of the cage most of the day. Having cats will just mean being diligent about keeping them out of whatever room you and the bird are hanging out in, which will probably be a little inconvenient and annoying at times. I also think that going away for work while your husband stays home is totally okay. You never quite know how they'll react but it could be as simple as not outwardly caring at all to a little bit of moodiness but leaving for a bit won't ruin your relationship with your bird or anything like that.

As far as both of you going away on trips together goes, I wouldn't personally ever leave a bird alone for more than one day. But that's because I'd feel so bad and would be worried about too much poop getting in the food and water. We're going on our first vacation since getting Skye in a month and we'll be boarding her while we're gone. I like the idea of her being in a place with other birds, a tv set to cartoons, and the staff constantly nearby better than having her be alone at home and having someone coming to change food/water once a day.

 

[Ankaa]

Wow, so many replies, thank you very much!

I hope I don't forget anything.

I think you will be fine with a few true flockbirds - they are more 'forgiving' than the ones that really pairbond exclusively, but don't be too disappointed it they are going to be "watch and enjoy from a (small) distance birds" as opposed to the cuddly ones most people are after these days.

Do you mean different species altogether? When hearing "flockbirds" I'm envisioning budgies, zebra finches, ....

I don't mind if a bird wasn't super cuddly - I still have cats and want a dog I would still like for it be tame, though, and be able to handle it somewhat. From what I read it's advised to get aviary-raised birds rather than hand-raised in that instance, because they're not as imprinted on humans... but that's why I also was thinking two birds so they can bond with each other. Are conures social enough to still somewhat interact with people even if bonded with other birds? Or is it a binary either-or?

As far as I know there is quite a lot interbreeding between different conures going on, so if you don't want that happening... dna sexing before buying.

Good point, thank you! I wasn't aware of that.

Depending on your cats, it may not be a good idea to have the bird(s) in a location where the cats can easily reach the bird, even if the bird is in a sturdy cage.

Any bird I'd ever own would get its own room that I could close off if I'm not home/there. I was thinking (hypothetically, really, as I really can't get a bird right now - I don't think our landlady would agree, anyways) my office, since that's probably where I spend most of my time if I'm home.

I've had cats and dogs throughout my entire life - except for the past 6 months I've been without a dog... and I went even longer without a cat. (about a year?) My 13 year old dog died in February and my 14 year old cat(s) died last year. (two cats, brother and sister, but I only claim one of them! they died months apart...) I have a cat now, though...

I'm really sorry for your loss

How does it work with your cat(s)? Would you mind sharing a little bit more about your daily life? Is your cat an outdoor cat?

How did your conure fare while you were away all day for school (which really is a very similar situation to working)?

Don't get me wrong, I love watching budgies and other smaller birds. Lovebirds ARE adorable. I just wouldn't wanna own them.

I keep reading that sun conures are loud and while I watched few youtube videos I think I still can't quite visualize what that means in reality. I probably wouldn't mind occasionally screaming, even if loud (large dogs can be VERY loud) - what I definitely wouldn't want is what feels like hours of screaming (heck, there's a reason we don't want kids )

I tried looking up the violet conure, but I'm not quite sure if the right birds show up. I love the turquoise conure for that blue hue (I love turquoise and blue - not the biggest fan of dominant green).

I'm lucky where I currently work as I can take *any* animal with me to work! In fact, my boss keeps pestering me when I *DON'T* bring an animal in to work! Granted, she's not really there anyway if/when I do bring one in!

I actually was wondering about that. I mean, obviously depending on the work place (which I REALLY can't predict right now - I'm in grad school currently), I was wondering of the possibility to take the bird(s) with you to work. People actually do that?

Did you ever take your cat?

It's honestly probably easier to take a bird *OUT* of Hawaii than it is to get one *IN* Hawaii.

No kidding, haha. But really, you'd be surprised how many different types of parrots you actually can get here - I've seen different Macaws, Greys, Lovebirds, Budgies, finches, different conures, .... my friend has a cockatiel. Not sure if she brought him with her or whether she got him here (she's now back on the mainland, so apparently even moving across oceans is feasible with a bird).

move to New Zealand!

Yeah, they have among the most stringent laws - I totally get where they're coming from, but it sucks if you've been a longtime pet owner (say, you've had your Macaw for 20 years and *have* to move to NZ for work....). I wished they'd be a little more open (with strict regulations, but just not completely prohibited) for bonded pets.

(equally as beautiful! volcanoes might not be a concern, but apparently earthquakes can be... I missed a big one in Christchurch by a day or two... 7 years ago)

Oh it's so beautiful there! I was in Christchurch during the chrismas quake 2011...

What island are you currently on?

We currently live on Maui

Move to NZ Come to Canterbury - the province of Christchurch - I reckon we're all quaked out and you'll be sweet as!

Oh we would LOVE to. I've fallen in love with the Mackenzie county and actually lived in Kaikoura for 4 months. After that big Christmas quake in 2011 I think I even don't mind quakes anymore, haha.

I'm afraid if we end up in NZ, it's probably gonna be the Auckland area (mostly for work options). But, at this point, we might just as likely just move back to Europe (as much as the hubby likes NZ, he's kinda scared of it being so far from his family - even farther than Hawaii, and getting him out here was hard as is to begin with). I think he really wants to be closer, again. I myself wouldn't mind the US North East - or NZ. Hubby is open to Canada, too....). There's really no guessing where we'll end up (but we do end up there for good) at this point, unfortunately, as it really depends on where I can find work after graduation. We only know we probably won't stay in Hawaii (as beautiful as it is)

Out of curiosity, what kind of pet parrot species can you get in NZ? I tried to look it up the other day, but didn't get super far.

@Karlys: Thank you so much for your thoughts, too!

A few more logistical questions:

Birds sleep as soon as it gets dark, right? So giving them quality time while watching TV or sitting on the patio in the evening is not an option, right? I read somewhere that the bird should be in the busiest room which for many is the living room....but at the same time I read that birds should not be disturbed and be in a quiet place once they go to sleep - so....several cages?

As far as quality time goes (the mentioned 2-3 hours a day), does that definitely mean out of the cage time or can quality time also be just being there and interacting with the bird(s)? What I mean is, obviously any bird would get time out of the cage every day as much as possible, but the duration can vary depending on the individual day's schedule (some days might just be busier than others). To illustrate with an example: I'm currently still at home getting ready for work; drinking coffee and doing some internetting. All the cats are asleep. A bird could be outside for at least an hour right now. Then I leave for work and will be back in the late afternoon. I could probably give a bird another hour outside it's cage, but first, it'll get dark soon, and second, the cats are usually awake when I get home (if I work from home it obviously is a very different story). So, if the birds could stay inside the cage but still get quality time, I could let the cats into the room and interact with all of them simultaneously...does that make any sense?

Either way, of course I'd also make sure a bird would get a big a cage as any possible with lots toys etc.

 

[noodles123]

My bird (yes, 1), OWNS ME.
Thankfully, she isn't sure of that...but I have left my special education job to take her to the vet mid-day and yes, she is my obnoxious, snarky, weird, baby. According to 3 avian vets, she is the "the most well-adjusted cockatoo they have ever met" (3X OVER!!!!) That doesn't change the fact that she is like living with a child with special needs, who needs to live in a bubble, who no one else respects as they would a child...No one cares about birds, unless they have dogs or something and can somehow relate....and while the love may be the same, the relationship isn't the same, nor is the investment. Not to mention the differences in intelligence (and I am a dog person!)



I have extensive history with toddlers- high-schoolers with special needs....I have ABA training..
That doesn't change the odd fact that I have a loving and defiant (at times) gremlin hanging out with me....NEVER MIND the fact that the vets love her...


Badly behaved toddlers are easier than well-cared-for cockatoos....TRUST ME ON THIS...Really, I am not just saying that...The frail nature of a bird +temperature constraints+ behavioral issues+ damage threshold etc....


Not all birds are the same, but parrots, EVEN when raised VERY well, tend to require a crazy amount of time (unlike any dog or cat ).

 

[itzjbean]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out and beginning this great quest of parrot ownership! It's the best.

Your situation sounds a lot like mine -- me and my spouse work M-F 8-5 full-time. We have two cats, a big dog and two birds (cockatiels). I'm one of those people that also loves all animals, not just one kind, so it's not an option to rehome them or just have one species in my house.

When you are careful and take precautions, all animals can live in peace and harmony. For instance...

- Cats and dog have free roam of the house during the day and night when birds are caged.

- When birds come out of the cage, cats get put in their room. One of my cats has shown too much interest in my birds so he is not to be trusted at all. No risks taken here. My dog is well-trained and has been taught to 'freeze' when birds take flight around the room. He's a very well-behaved dog with little prey drive.

- If you plan to get a dog in the future, stay away from the high prey drive breeds like Huskies, who will chase cats and go after bids without a second thought.

- With more animals remember that means more time split between them. Make sure you have time to integrate your bitd into your morning routine so when you're getting ready, your bird can hang out with you and get some attention before you go to work!


Here's our daily (work day) routine with a multi-pet household....

- Get up at 6, let dog out. Feed cats and close door to their room. Feed dog.

-6:30am-7:30am birds come out of cages, eat breakfast on top of the cage and fly around living room. Ember sits on my shoulder while I apply my makeup.

- 7:45am I let the cats out of their room before I go to work since birds are back in their cages by now.

- 11:15 home for lunch, dog let outside and cats put in their room, birds let out of their cage for 25 minutes. Let cats out when I go back to work at 11:45am.

5:15pm - get home and let dog out. Make dinner/run errands and around 7pm cats are put back into their room and birds let out from 7-9pm. Cats let back out for night.


It's do-able, but it definitely takes some time management to make it work. Of course the schedule changes on weekends when we're at home all day and can let the birds out multiple times and I can put them back in their cage to give the cats and dog some love. It is a commitment to make it work but so worth ti! I love my zoo

 

[Ankaa]

@noodles123 Thank you!

.The frail nature of a bird +temperature constraints+ behavioral issues+ damage threshold etc....

Can you or someone else elaborate a little on that? I am aware that air quality is key for birds, so are certain toxins (paints, plants, ...). How sensitive are they to temperature etc.? I've also been researching chinchillas at some point (as I said, I do love animals ) and they are highly sensitive to temperature and humidity. Similar with fish (I do have a tank). So I know about sensitive animals - but again, I just don't know much about birds, yet.

What behavioral issues?

@itzjbean thank you so much for the insight! That indeed sounds a lot like my (hypothetical future) situation.

- If you plan to get a dog in the future, stay away from the high prey drive breeds like Huskies, who will chase cats and go after bids without a second thought.

I have lost my heart to retrievers

 

[condobirds]

I am one of those people that don't believe cats belong in the same household as birds. First, it seems you are trying to juggle little time between the different pets needs. this won't work in the long term. IMO this is not fair to the individual pets. Birds will be fine with you working outside the home. I am retired now but worked 50 hours a week all my life and the birds had no ill effects.They have plenty of toys, foraging opportunities,etc to keep them occupied. Their cages are by the window and can always look out at what is happening outside. In fact I think I tire them out with me being home more now that I am retired. BUT, when I came home they were out of their cages always. I didn't have other animals so the time was all theirs. I also had multiple birds so they were never alone. Getting a pair of the same species might not be good if you are wanting to bond with the bird. They tend to bond to each other. We go on vacations probably 2x year and occasional weekends away. I have a bird sitter that comes in 2X day and tends to their needs. The birds are fine. But my sitter is a bird person and is comfortable handling birds and spends some time with them.
If you are planning to relocate internationally, I would not get a bird unless you do thorough research if the bird can move with you. Often that is not the case and then the bird would end up without their home. I know from taking on 2 rehomed birds it is not always an easy transition for the bird. Birds are a big commitment in time and work if you intend to do right by the bird. They need vet care also.

 

[MonicaMc]

Ankaa, sounds like you've got a good plan already!

My last dog didn't care about the birds and my last cat didn't, either... I had the birds in their own room except for two I had recently taken in as surrenders, which I kept in my own room. My cat one day chose to sit next to their cage and completely ignored them. However, she saw a bird sitting outside and started chattering to the outside bird! She fell quite short in the hunting department... and used to scare the crap out of the birds, but never harmed them! She went around pulling up the heater vents, crawling through the space underneath the floors and popping up in the bird room. Her brother on the other hand? He was a hunter, through and through! Never ate his kills, but he did enjoy playing with them until they died... unfortunately for him (and fortunately for me!), his hips were too wide to fit through the vents!

Back then, the birds rarely saw the cats and the cats rarely saw the birds, but it did happen every now and then. I would occasionally take one or two birds out (these being conures, not any of my smaller birds! and my conures are/were the larger species! or at least medium and large?) and have them out with me in the living space. As much as the male was a hunter, he would not out-right attack one of the birds, so it was only done with supervision, and of course if he ever showed too much interest (which was rare), then he'd get put away. (aka put up in a room with the door closed) In their early years, they were indoor/outdoor (against my wishes), but after the male got sick from something, they were forced to be indoor cats only. (I've grown up with cats being indoor/outdoor pets and I'm against it! If they go outside, they must be restrained in some form or another)



My current cat hasn't met the birds yet so I'm not sure how he would react to them. I feel like he is probably a hunter as well. He was picked up as a stray and he seems comfortable going outside unrestrained, which has only happened once or twice so far, and he was quickly nabbed and taken back in. Tonight, I actually took him to a park near by to try and get him used to being in a car and being outside on a harness. He's not comfortable in strange places or walking in a harness. The ideal situation would actually be to get him comfortable enough with car rides to take him to work. I actually did take him to work when I first got him, but car rides stress him out, which in turn stresses me out! Took my dog to work last year when I had him, it's amazing I was able to bring him back home! (my boss/her family fell in love with him!) I'd *love* to take the birds with me to work, and I'm allowed to, but it's not a good place for them at this time. I work in a warehouse and it's either too hot or too cold for birds... dog or cat? Not overly concerned as long as it's not too hot.

My birds, conure(s) included, have done fine with me being at school and work. Obviously, he'd rather have me at home than away! But I've never had any noise complaints from neighbors! Charlie, mitred conures, was actually the loudest bird in his foster home, which included macaws, amazons, green cheek conures, rosellas... and even in my flock, he's still the loudest! BUT it's not incessant screaming. He's not loud for long periods of time.


I understand about budgies and lovebirds! I get it, I really do! It's why I refused to take the parrotlet! I have a freakin adorable photo of her snuggled up in my S.O.'s arms (her owner couldn't handle her like we were doing) but nope! Too small!

Right now, when I spend time with my birds, it's in the bird room or I take them somewhere with me, such as bird club meetings. I would love to have a home setup someday though where they can spend more time in the living area! Just not feasible right now.

Sun conures can be loud in both pitch and quantity. It is really hard to hear their exact scream through a video.


As far as the "violet" conures... check out this page!

https://www.facebook.com/pg/MadAboutConures/photos/?ref=page_internal


Double factor violet turquoise
https://www.facebook.com/MadAboutCo...176520937/1702104263145780/?type=3&permPage=1

This image speaks for itself
https://www.facebook.com/MadAboutCo...6176520937/929151510441063/?type=3&permPage=1


Or video!

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_B1Y-N4IBU"]Violet Green-Cheek Conures - YouTube[/ame]


Yikes! I was in New Zealand in February 2011, but before the earthquake. I don't remember if I was landing back in the USA from that trip or elsewhere, I just remember turning my phone on and seeing people freaking out because they knew I was in New Zealand and there was the earthquake! Second time I've missed devastating event like that... first one was in the 90's, left Florida and the day after a hurricane hit? Vague memories but was glad to be away from that!


Maui is a gorgeous island, and the first one I've visited! I wish I could have seen the wild flock of conures living there! I hear they are quite a nuisance though! LOL Which, unfortunately, isn't good for the island...



If you can do multiple cages, great! If not, that's okay, too! Some people have their bird cages in the central living area, while others have the cage in another room but a play stand in the central living area. You just gotta find what works best for you!

Many bird owners spend mornings and/or evenings with their birds (besides their weekends) so evening time isn't a bad thing as long as the bird still gets an adequate amount of sleep which should be a minimum of 9 hours, but most people tote 12 hours. My birds go to sleep with the sun and they wake with the sun! So the amount of sleep they get varies depending upon the time of year.

 

[Ankaa]

Again, thank you so much for your posts - I'm learning so much

it seems you are trying to juggle little time between the different pets needs. this won't work in the long term. IMO this is not fair to the individual pets.

I understand your concerns and I do thank you for voicing them!

In my personal experience, time requirements for pets can't be generalized and it more often than not is a matter of quality over quantity.

For example, our cats literally sleep north of 15 hrs a day and spend the majority of their wake hours just sitting around chilling - even when I'm home all-day. They're very content with just sitting in the window looking outside, sitting/sleeping next to me on my desk, sitting on our lap when we watch TV. Just being in the same room with us seems to be satisfying for them ....they will play with the laserpointer when we offer it. They will play with each other. But it's really minusucle compared to the hours of the day. The most time consuming thing with them is probably cleaning their litter boxes...

The same with dogs. It certainly depends on the breed, but while some people think (and act upon) that dogs need to be walked at least 2 hours twice a day, and this might be true for high-energy breeds like Huskies, this just is not the case for other breeds. For example, Golden Retrievers are hunting dogs, they've literally been breed to wait for hours at a time. For them, breed-appropriate engagement can be as little as sending them on 3, 4 blinds and retrieves...30 mins actively working them. You can do clicker training with them. Anything that involves a lot of cognitive engagement is more about quality, really. Of course you can take them on hour-long hikes, too. It just doesn't NEED to be hours and hours on end.

I'm not trying to be defensive or sugarcoat my situation. The truth is, while I have a really good feel what I need to offer to give cats, dogs, ...fish, rodents a good living, I just have zero experience with birds. And that's why I'm asking, to eventually make an informed decision

When people say 2-3 hours a day quality time for the bird, I have no idea what "quality time" entails for a parrot. What do they DO when outside the cage? Is "quality time" sitting on my shoulder" See, interacting with my cats or dogs, I know how to "play" with them...but how to I entertain a bird? What does the bird expect from me? Can "quality time" include the bird being in its cage and me working in the same room, talking to him, just "being there",...?

What do I as the attachment figure need to provide what they don't get from a big cage and toys (please don't misinterpret these words, I realize they may come across wrong - of course they NEED time out of the cage and human interaction, no question here)

If you are planning to relocate internationally, I would not get a bird unless you do thorough research if the bird can move with you. Often that is not the case and then the bird would end up without their home. ent in time and work if you intend to do right by the bird. They need vet care also.

I'm not planning anything at the moment (and after all, it's the reason why I'm not getting a bird right now though I'd really WANT one or two and all other circumstances seem pretty perfect). But the reality in my profession is that some things just can't be planned indefinitely. I'd also never abandon any of my pets. They are family - one would never leave their kids behind, now would they? My hubby worked at the local humane society for a bit and it was awful to see how many pets get left behind because people were moving (especially in such a transitionary place as Hawaii). It always felt like people didn't even want to try to put in some effort (and/or money). Like, if you're moving houses and the new place doesn't allow pets, then for god's sake this is not the right place for you (and heck, I know firsthand how hard house hunting is on-island - I was looking for a place with 3 cats and still managed to find accommodation, three times...). It actually makes me very very angry.

 

[GaleriaGila]

You're getting wonderful input, and clearly, you're open-minded enough to consider it all. As has been voiced above several times, I really like your sense of responsibility and preparedness. Will you ever be owned by a bird? I bet so, and I believe that you'll know when circustances are right.
Meanwhile, I'd love to see you continue visiting us, learning and sharing.

 

[Ankaa]

Thank you, GaleriaGila!

It may be my scientific personality, but I always research any topic that would mean major change and/or commitment to get as many information and first-hand experiences as possible and see all angles beforehand to be as prepared as possible. Always have, probably always will Even if rescuing a bird is still a few years away, I just like to be prepared - and I also just love to inform myself on topics of interest, and right now that parrots I for sure will continue reading here in the forums

That being said, I'd really love to learn a little more abut the different species. For example, I do understand that conures, especially sun conures, are loud. But that can mean a LOT of things in reality ("loud" is, after all, quite subjective).

For example, I just came across that video. I'm sure the noise level is accurate, but do they scream like that all. the. time? Or is this more of a temporary thing? I already read suggestions how to handle screaming here in some threads, but then again, sun conures particularly might be different...

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN4Z-cH_VBk&frags=pl%2Cwn"]Educational video on Sun conures and Jenday Conures. - YouTube[/ame]

Also, I keep reading that sun conures are not recommended for first-time bird parents - why is that?

Of course the bird rescue close to my parents' currently has both a turquoise GCC and a sun conure. In the words of Robin on HIMYM: timing is a bi*ch

 

[MonicaMc]

Depending on the bird, that could be all the time, some of the time, or none of the time. Usually between some of the time and all of the time.

 

[BoomBoom]

Wow, that's a lot of sun conures!

I have heard some say that suns are not recommended as first birds. It's probably from their decibel level but I don't see them being completely overwhelming and daunting as, say, a cockatoo or eclectus, etc. I think anyone can make it work with enough dedication and commitment. I also look at the person inquiring. Someone who is young and at the mercy of their parents who may be sensitive to noise? I might recommend a less loud bird.

 

[Ankaa]

I was sitting outside in Waikiki, yesterday, enjoying some morning coffee, when suddenly...*screech screech*....and me like: *turning head * Conure! Didn't see any, so not sure if it was a "wild" one (not sure if they have feral conures in Waikiki - I only ever see large flocks of green parrots...don't ask me which ones) or whether I could actually here it from one of the appartments above (which isn't totally unrealistic ). Do GGC scream similar to Suns?

I think I caught a bug :04: