Changes after moving to new house

We went from living in a cramped duplex with the birds right in the middle of the living room where all the action was to a super nice 2 story house in July and now the birds are in their own bedroom and are away from all the action of the house.

I find it's been a struggle remembering to take care of the birds these past few months. They have a beautiful bedroom to themselves with a huge window, though it's carpet so I keep them caged in their big flight cage. Hubby and I both work outside the house full time so working on top of more household duties since we upgraded space, along with our other 2 cats and dog, it's been hard to both remember to change their food/water and to give them attention.

Does anyone else have this problem/situation where your birds are in their own room after being in the center of the house?

It's what I always wanted for them -- a nice bedroom they could have their own peace and quiet, but now that they have it, they are not part of the action anymore! Sometimes, like weekends, I only go upstairs once a day since its just bedrooms up there, but otherwise I spend our time off work downstairs in the living room with the other pets. It makes me sad, but there's no possibility of moving them downstairs -- their cage is too big, and frankly, we don't want birds and their mess in the kitchen where we'll be making all our food.

It may be hard for only bird owners to understand but the struggle is real! How do you guys do it? How do you balance time with your other pets, work, and your birds when they are in another room? I still love my birdies and someday think I'll be able to stop working and be with them more, but for now it is what it is.

I have similar situation but everyone is in same place. When I did have separate rooms I’d sit with them everyday. It’s so easy to miss something if your not paying attention. We have rules and manners and birds are always being watched. I also don’t let anyone out at the same time. Could you maybe set up a cage in your office or set up a desk in your bird room?

Congratulations for an overall better move! Perhaps a solution for protecting carpet is painter's plastic? I completely layer my primary bird room to protect tile floor. The areas with activity have a second and thinner layer that is changed weekly. Primary covering swept daily, changed every 6 to 8 weeks or as needed. I first hang the plastic from upstairs balcony for 2 days to allow out-gassing. PITA but allows them full access.

Might you consider a "day cage" downstairs? Sort of opposite of sleeping cage.

With our huge flock consisting of only HRH, Julio! Moving into our 'open floor plan, ranch style' w/ a walk-out basement was without problem. Especially, seen we came from a four story, big box, home.

Those of you with Bird Rooms, you are faced with several issues and keeping on top of and visiting the room on a schedule is clearly one of them. A solid routine is the tool of choice that the professionals D) use and are successful with.

FYI: Really like Scott's idea!!!

Scott said:

Congratulations for an overall better move! Perhaps a solution for protecting carpet is painter's plastic? I completely layer my primary bird room to protect tile floor. The areas with activity have a second and thinner layer that is changed weekly. Primary covering swept daily, changed every 6 to 8 weeks or as needed. I first hang the plastic from upstairs balcony for 2 days to allow out-gassing. PITA but allows them full access.

Might you consider a "day cage" downstairs? Sort of opposite of sleeping cage.

Click to expand...

Sometime back on youtube I randomly saw a video of someone laying down... linoleum tiles (??) or some other kind of flooring (??) On TOP OF rug. It was done as a apartment-solution for someone who wanted a different look than the wall-to-wall carpet that came with the apt. I feel like that video was a diy-option which then rolled into a video of some product designed for similar purpose. Anyway no idea of costs, etc., but an additional option to make the room easier to clean and allow birds more Out time.

Also want to upvote the idea of Day cages also!

Not necessarily great to do leave it for years & years, but

Thanks for all the great suggestions!!

I forgot to mention we do have one partial section of the carpet covered with the plastic office desk mat that goes on floors so chairs can roll on them. It's been WONDERFUL at keeping the mess down, I'm able to sweep it a couple times a week and keep it looking pretty nice before I get to vacuuming it.

If I got, say, 2 more of these large plastic mats to go on the carpet, I may just have my carpet situation resolved.

I also like the routinely going in there idea -- so this morning before I got ready for work I went in and talked to them all for a few minutes and looked each one over and gave some attention. I think this wakened I will make cornbread muffin for them!

My two have always lived in the living room. Sibce it is just David and I here it's no biggie. I have a long piece of thin "outdoor" carpet that runs along/under both of their house's and protrude out about a foot. They live side by side of each other,about a foot between them so Amy can't just climb down the side of his mansion and hop onto BB's condo's roof. Since Amy likes to perch on his open front door I have to put a piece of newspaper down to catch any of his poop's (we have hardwood floors thru out the house) and any food he may fling around and I sweep or vacuum daily. It's amazing on how far food gets thrown!

David works daily but I am here most of the day. Amy comes out in the morning while I fix brekky and will go to his play top to chew toys and hang out or climb down and visit BB (sit on HIS roof and destroy HIS toys) as BB tweets to him. BB comes out in the afternoon to bedtime.
Since his molt is almost done he is starting to fly again (had him clipped at his last vet visit) and when he has had enough of Amy he flies down the hall to me in the computer room to hang out. Since Amy can't/won't/doesn't wanna fly,at times he'll climb down his house and WALK down the hall,knowing where BB and I are Funny hearing him say "huh?huh?" as he comes waddling down the hall. Goofy bird.

Jim

fiddlejen said:

Scott said:

Congratulations for an overall better move! Perhaps a solution for protecting carpet is painter's plastic? I completely layer my primary bird room to protect tile floor. The areas with activity have a second and thinner layer that is changed weekly. Primary covering swept daily, changed every 6 to 8 weeks or as needed. I first hang the plastic from upstairs balcony for 2 days to allow out-gassing. PITA but allows them full access.

Might you consider a "day cage" downstairs? Sort of opposite of sleeping cage.

Click to expand...

Sometime back on youtube I randomly saw a video of someone laying down... linoleum tiles (??) or some other kind of flooring (??) On TOP OF rug. It was done as a apartment-solution for someone who wanted a different look than the wall-to-wall carpet that came with the apt. I feel like that video was a diy-option which then rolled into a video of some product designed for similar purpose. Anyway no idea of costs, etc., but an additional option to make the room easier to clean and allow birds more Out time.

Also want to upvote the idea of Day cages also!

Not necessarily great to do leave it for years & years, but

Click to expand...

Under normal household carpet, placing 'linoleum tiles' or like product requires a stiff sub-floor to provide some kind of structure under the tiles. The only thing I can think of was that it is office carpet, which is very thin and flat and commonly installed over concrete floors. Short term is could work, but after a few months, the linoleum tiles will be crumbling.