Managing flighted birds especially with other pets

[Grey_Moon]

Hi all,

I've come to one of those crossroads in life where each road presents its cons---and there is the issue where quality of life versus personal philosophy comes into play.

My boyfriend and his family are offering for me to come live with them. They live in a beautiful home that is air-conditioned and offers much more safety and cleanliness than the crowded, stressed, smoky duplex I'm currently living in with my paternal grandparents (before *any* of you get on me for exposing my birds to a smoky environment----sometimes life takes ugly turns and its is much better that we have a home then none---I feel terrible as it is about it.)

So here's what I'm looking at:

Staying:
-flight is assured
-easy transportation
-no other pets to contend with

Cons being: restricted space (birds must stay in my room), cleanliness issues, my grandmother is a heavy smoker, also the atmosphere is stressful emotionally/psychologically for me n my birds and there is a limited amount of fresh foods (my rent is supposed to go towards food but my grandparents refuse and I cannot afford my own groceries as well as the rent)

Going:
-Clean air
-More space (the basement would be mine)
-Emotionally more healthy as well as dietary

Cons being: birds issues (they're not a bird-savvy family and I would feel a bit tense/guilty about the mess n stuff--especially flight), transport is terrible (they're an off-island suburban area---I'm metropolitan and used to being able to jump on a bus whenever/where and do my own thing) and the other pet issue (the dog lives on the main floor and two older fat cats upstairs)

I dont know what to do. If I go i may end up having to clip my two but my personal philosophy is opposed to it. Then I ask myself, yes, but if there's less yelling and smoke and more fruits veggies etc....is giving that up worth the choice to fly tiny circles in a tiny room?

Thoughts?

[entrancedbymyGCC]

From a parrot point of view, I think it's a wash. There are worse things in life than being clipped IMO and feathers do grow out. OTOH, do this family have the flexibility to deal with the noise? The mess I presume you can contain to your space. But this is really a question about what is right for you, and I don't know you well enough to offer any useful advice except study the pros and cons and I think eventually the right answer will become clear.

[HungryBird]

I have four, soon to be five, flighted birds and one fluffy little dog. He does not like the birds at all and I take great care to make sure nothing bad happens. It definitely takes a lot of work and unfortunately no matter how many precautions you take it is definitely possible that something bad will happen. Luckily my dog loves me dearly and can be somewhat obedient when it comes to not killing my birds but I worry about it a lot. I would still love him though. It's not his fault I allowed the birds to invade. I do some things to improve their relationship though. He likes fruit and veggies and he loves Harrison's pellets so sometimes I include him when I feed them. When other dogs are at my house I do not let the birds out unless the strange dogs are crated.

[Khaiqha]

At this point I would say to care of yourself first, because if you can't take care of yourself then you can't take care of them.

[liz]

I have many kids: 2 Amazons, 6 cockatiels 2 lovebirds, 5 dogs, 6 cats etc.

My birds basically stay in their own space even though they are loose. My dogs do not bother them and I only have my daughters 2 cats to watch out for with the little birds. Nothing bothers my Amazons. Rambo is a pedestrian and often runs with the dogs to greet people at the door.

I would not clip wings until I had too. The birds need the ability to get away from the others until the others learn to respect them.

I would make the move. As a matter of fact I did. At a point when I could not care for myself, I moved in with my aunt and mother. It made the house crowded when we combined but it had to be done for all our sakes.

Since then my mother and aunt have become invalids and I care for them. My daughter had to move in to help take care of us. Financially it is a blessing for all. Physically it is really cramp (I don't even have my own closet anymore) but all the kids get along and everything is loved and cared for.

I think the move would work.