Tips on How to Fit Your Parrots In With a Busy Schedule
July 2nd, 2009Liz
If anyone would have told me 5 years ago that today I would have amazing but totally unique companionships with 3 different birds, I would have quickly let them know that they were crazy! But the fact is, it is very true and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
So. Who am I and how did I get here? My name is Liz. I am 23 years old, living in Raleigh, NC. I am a senior in college with a job, friends, a boyfriend, and just a generally busy life. So where do my parrots fit in? Well, that’s one reason why I am here- to talk about that. I currently have a 3 ½ year old male sun conure (Skittle) , 2 ½ year old female blue and gold macaw (Charlie), and a 10 year old female congo African grey (Roxanne) that I have adopted in the past few months.
The main focus of my writing here will be about Roxanne. You see, I hand-fed and trained my conure and macaw from when both were just over 2 months old. My bonds with Skittle and Charlie are strong, they are some of my best friends! They are by no means perfect angels, but in each of those bonds I have a trust and companionship that comparably, is just non-existent with Roxanne.
When Roxanne came into my home, I realized that on rare occasions she had been outside of her cage for very short periods of time. Roxanne had rarely been handled and by her vocabulary of “OW that hurt!” or “Don’t bite me!” she had no plans of being handled either.
I found this very puzzling since Skittle and Charlie always want to be around the humans of the house playing, cuddling, just whatever to have human interaction. But Roxanne, she is content sitting on one side of her cage all day and not being bothered and is quick to those blood-drawing bites if you have anything BUT the same notion.
So. Here I am living the typical busy life meanwhile trying to maintain and keep the two birds I am bonded with content, as well as, trying to develop a relationship with a 10 year old grouchy bird! What can I do to simultaneously continue fortifying the relationship I have with my bonded birds and grow the relationship I have with Roxanne? These are just 2 of many simple things that I have noticed that help both of those needs along.
1. Give me some LOVE!
Charlie and Skittle love human interaction. First thing in the morning or whenever I get home, they are ready to jump out and into my arms. Roxanne, not so much. If the first thing I do is head straight for Roxanne, she shakes and puffs up larger than a blowfish . As soon as I open her cage door, she poses for a strike. I have found if I go onto to Skittle and Charlie first, give them both a few minutes playing and loving each within sight of Roxanne and then approach Roxanne, she is much more inclined to step-up onto my hand.
I will keep her on my hand for maybe a ¼ of the time I was with my other 2, give her a sunflower seed, and put her back into her cage to reward her for not biting me. I also don’t keep her out as long because the longer she is out, the more nervous she gets. I am definitely taking it slow with her for now.
2. Calling in back-up!
I could not imagine living in a multi-parrot home by myself. The feeding, clean-up, entertainment, and time spent is never-ending. I am sure that there are many out there that succeed quite nicely on their own, but I can admit that I don’t think I could do it right now. I have 4 other family members that I presently live with that enjoy being around the birds. Each of them have some kind of relationship with either Charlie or Skittle.
My boyfriend that does not live here happens to have a great relationship with both of them. So far Roxanne is the most responsive with me. Having others in the home that are able to give time towards Skittle and Charlie not only help them by socializing them, but help Roxanne so she can spend time with me while I earn her trust. With Roxanne seeing the others interact with Charlie and Skittle, it encourages her that us humans are not out to scare or hurt her! I strongly believe that having frequent and different human interaction is not only vital in keeping your own sanity, but it’s also good for the well-being of the bird.
I look forward to writing again and tracking Roxanne’s progress in her new home!
I would LOVE more advice on this subject. I am 25, recently married and on my own and living with 2 cats a dog a sugar glider and a 7 yr old blue and gold macaw Mac (who I think is a male). When I went back to school in ‘04 Mac started be mis-behave. I assumed it was just because of lack of time spent with me due to working full time and going to school full time. Thankfull I was living with my parents at the time and they were a great help with him spending time with him and helping with feedings and cleanings. Well 1.5 yrs ago they moved a way and it has just been me and my now husband with him and he does NOT like my husband. He is much like Roxanne with him. He will puff up and bite him any chance he gets and if he is on me and my husband gets to close he will bite me. This combined with my busy schedual makes it very difficult to spend anytime with him. Add on top of that his constent screaming and you have a very unhappy household. I do not want to have to get rid of him because he is my baby, I have hand raised him since he was 2 mo old and I love him to pieces but he is to the point now that if he is not covered in his cage or on me he screams and when he is on my he bites and often draws blood. PLEASE HELP!!!
wow that is a tough situation!! how is mac when he is just –around– you. for example, i have a tall rolling tree stand that i keep in the kitchen for charlie for the evenings. the kitchen is a very social place in our house. that is where i fold the laundry, cook, do homework, etc. sometimes all she wants is to just at least SEE me. it has toys and feeders on it too.
also, how is her entainment for when you are NOT there? i have noticed if i give charlie something different to play or even re-arrange her cage that morning before i leave for my day, when i return that evening she is alot less rowdy and vocal. like, it kept her busy and isn’t so demanding when i return home.
my conure has the same biting problem with me when my brother gets near to me. he HATES!!!! my brother. but there is definite help for that. Skittle responds best to my brother when taken out of his comfort zone & forced to be around unfamiliar things. birds don’t like change and they don’t like what they dont know. for instance, in a room full of strangers Skittle will actually step up for my brother— because compared to the strangers, he trusts my brother. i have even heard of people literally taking their bird out of the home & into another home with the “unliked human” and they respond better. mac regards you as HIS. in my opinion, your husband and mac need to spend time together alone, without you around for them to develop a relationship. obviously mac and your husband have been around eachother for quite a while so it is not a change that would manifest over night..
i hoped this somewhat helped!!