Working 9 to 5

[sora no tori]

I'll be finished with college soon, which means it's time to join the workforce so that I can keep doing the activities that I've grown accustomed to, such as eating, and sleeping indoors. It also means that soon Conrad will have to undergo a pretty dramatic schedule change.

First, let me explain the routine he is used to:
For about an hour before I leave for class he is out with me. We eat breakfast together, he hangs out while I doing my daily grooming and such, then right before I leave, I drop a handful of mixed veggies in his food bowl. I'm usually on campus for about three hours total. Then I come back home, let him out, and work on homework while he plays in the room. I also work part-time on the side, so sometimes after about two hours out, he gets put back in for a few more. When I got him, he had a sleep schedule that put him to bed around sunset, and because he is such an energy ball, and hard to keep out of trouble sometimes, I never bothered to completely get him on my schedule. That way, I have nights to myself. So, on average, I'd say he gets around 6 hours a day out of his cage.

The job I'm looking at would be standard nine to five job. So my question is, to all your parrot parents who work for a living, how do manage your feathered kids? How long do you have them out? What do you do to keep them happy while you're gone? Also, what are some good foraging toys for sennies?

[Michael]

I don't think it's a big deal. Just start practicing "ignoring the parrot in the cage for periods of time" now rather than making a big changeover all at once. If it screams a lot and is annoying DO NOT give in. Leave and go out or put on music or whatever but do not let it out.

This is why I recommend to anyone who gets a parrot to spend as much time with it as you foresee yourself realistically being able to spend with it 5, 10, 20 years from now and not just based on current schedule. Generally it's best not to buy one until settled down into a more predictable/routine schedule and life.

Kili is really mellow cause she was used to being left home alone for long periods of time when she was young. Truman has always been a bit independent. So I can leave for work and they keep busy. I can leave on trips and they're fine. I can come home and spend time with them and it's great. But the point is that I teach/encourage them to participate in both with balance. I encourage them to like human contact but also to be fine on their own. This is important. I really hate it when people are selfish and spend way too much time with them while making them dependent and then suddenly get bored (or lifestyle changes) and this screws the parrot over by turning it into a plucker, biter, or screamer which only gets it tossed around between homes and undesired. Please take steps to ensure the parrot is accustomed to independent play and alone time.

[sora no tori]

Thanks Michael. That helps.
It's a shame, this schedule would have been just fine if the whole Grad school thing had played out. Life happens, I suppose. Guess, I'd better get started on the adjustment. He's only a year old (not even), so he should adjust well enough, I think.