Ok, so I've read the articles about minimum cage size, enrichment, feeding, training, etc. Google it - I'm not going into detail here. I don't know about you, but after 20+ years living with parrots, I still can't get around to doing everything that's recommended out there. Or maybe you have family members who aren't as thrilled as you are at decorating every room in the house to look like the inside of a bird cage.
Especially to those of you out there with your first bird or just a couple of birds - Don't kill yourself! The more you can integrate bird care and feeding to fit your lifestyle, the more likely you'll actually KEEP your bird. We've all seen those rehoming ads - "No time for my bird Buddy". No time, or it's just more hassle than it's worth?
- Trash cans can serve at temporary perches in rooms you don't/can't put a play stand. When I do dishes there's usually a bird sitting on the trashcan next to me. For those of you thinking "How disgusting! How unsanitary!" I have to ask you - what the heck are you putting in your trashcan? Don't you empty it regularly? And don't you ever wash your trashcan?
- Improve your eating habits so you can share food with your bird. Forget that bag of Flubber Thigh Potato Chips and get those whole wheat crackers. Try quinoa instead of mashed potatos. Go check out the bulk bin at your local health food store for dried fruit, low sugar whole grain cereals, nuts, etc. (I'm not a healthy organic kinda gal, but I can even do this.)
- Your bird needs time out each and every day. I read somewhere a minimum of two hours a day. I don't feel that's enough out of cage time. This doesn't necessarily mean it needs to have your undivided attention at all times. Guess what! It's doable even if you work full time! Here's my apprx. scheduled when I was working full time:
* 6 AM - let the birds out to play on their stands or on top of their cage and stretch. One bird gets to be with me while I get ready for work (I'd rotate each bird throughout the week).
* 6:30 - Make and have breakfast (I'm big on eggs-do something healthy.). Make enough for the birds to have some, but don't feed them yet.
* 7:00 - Everyone back in their cages with fresh food and water and whatever was for breakfast for the day. They get used to going into their cages w/out fussing since it's yummy breakfast time. I leave for work-they didn't even notice I was leaving since they're too busy pigging out. If you're running late a handful of sugar free/low sugar cereal or uncooked oatmeal is quick and easy. I usually didn't even have to physically put the birds away, they knew it was time and would go back in by themselves and wait for food.
* 5:30 PM - back home, let everyone out to play on their stands/cages and stretch. One bird gets to be with me while I get out of work clothes. (Again I'd rotate them throughout the week).
* 6PM - Bird that's with me goes back to his cage or play stand. All birds playing by themselves while I make dinner - of course with enough for them to have some.
* 7PM - Dinner. Dinner of our people food to all the birds either on their play stands or in their cage (leaving the cage door open - it's their room, not prison.)
* After Dinner until bedtime - All birds still out. Some are having cuddle time, some are just goofing around, causing trouble.
* Bedtime - All birds back in their cages. Last check that there's clean water and some seed in their bowls in case they wake up earlier than I do and want to munch.
So you see, even working full time, my birds were out every day at least a full four hours. I had an African Grey, two cockatoos, a conure and a couple of cockatiels at the time - not necessarily birds that are considered low maintenance. My birds didn't pluck themselves, or scream excessively, or develop other neurotic behaviors.
I started keeping birds in my late teens and have kept them through going to school, working full time, getting married, having a baby, moving, etc. It's doable. They're resilient.
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