leaving my bird alone

[bgallo]

how can i insure my bird will be ok and happy while im at work
im in work mon to friday 8 hours each day can i do anything so he wont be bored or lonely

[Natacha]

A lot of people are in a similar situation.
I also am gone around 8 hours a day and my birds are fine.

Provide your bird with a cage big enough for fit a few toys on top of it.
Different type of toys - toys to chew, puzzle toys, etc. Hiding treats around for the bird to find will also keep it busy.

[bgallo]

thank u for ur help
do u think leaveing a tv or radio on would help

[Natacha]

I know people who leave the radio on on an easy listening station or put the tv on a (small) kids channel.

If your bird is alone, then it might be a good idea.

I have 6 birds, they all talk to each other throughout the day so I don't feel the need to add extra ambient noise.

[lzver]

My birds are also alone while we work during the day.

I do leave a radio on for them whenever we leave the house. Not really sure if it matters ... it probably makes me feel better

[sllywbbt32]

I dont go to work but when hubby and I go out for the day we leave the TV on either a kids channel or animal planet.

We also have some radio stations on our TV and sometimes its that. The response about varying toys and providing foraging etc is the most important thing to do though.

[DLC]

My wife and I have similar concerns about our Jardine's Kalki. Yesterday we set up a video camera to see what he was up to when we were out.

We were disappointed to see that he sat in one place on his perch. He babbled for a while but then basically sat there for the 90 minutes or so we were able to record. He's got plenty of toys that he likes and gets several hours out of his cage everyday. I wonder if this is something we should be concerned about.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I daresay this is the norm for most companion parrots -- most people do work more or less 9-5. I think plenty of toys, regular changes of toys, TV or radio if it seems to help... another bird (in a separate cage of course) may provide some companionship. And then spend some time when you ARE home. IF the bird seems happy and healthy...

The babbling, I understand, is something a lot of parrots do when they are learning sounds, it may mean she is working on speech, not that she's going crazy and "talking to herself".

[Jenny]

We were disappointed to see that he sat in one place on his perch. He babbled for a while but then basically sat there

DLC, this is behaviour I am aware of, & concerns me as well. Aaron is plenty active when I'm home - plays w/his toys, climbs around the cage, etc. & yet, when I'm gone, it's a lot of this just sitting there. Can you more experienced bird owners tell me if this is normal, or is it something I should attempt to remedy?

[Michael]

That's cause parrots are naturally less active midday anyway. Luckily for us, they are active in the mornings and evenings which coincides with when we are around. It's not unlikely that they nap during the day.