How much time away is too much??

There are two days of the week where I work from 9 - 5 and have class from 6 - 8pm. I spend time with her from 6am - 8:30am and I come for my lunch break for an hour, then when I get home at around8 I spend about 30 minutes with her and put her to bed, I'm worried that this is too much time away from her on these particular days and I've heard all the horror stories about neglect and I don't want to be that person, my schedule is changing in may but until that time do you guys think she'll be ok?? She's been with us 6 days and has stopped yelling when I leave, she even let my boyfriend pet her beak (while she was in her cage) and wasn't fluffing up or getting scared when he came near. I also have other family at home who I've told to go sit by her cage when I'm in my evening class because I don't want my Lily to be lonely. With that being said, I just hope these two long days in her cage aren't going to make her too depressed.... I spend all day Friday Saturday and Sunday with her so I hope that can make up for it, unfortunately it's not a very consistent day to day schedule like I would prefer, any advice?


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Hello!!

I feel your concern, as I own two cockatiels and also work, full-time (Monday - Friday 8-5), but I make it work because the two cockatiels are a pair, are bonded, and don't necessarily need me to play with them every day, as they have each other and are perfectly happy as long as they are together. I make sure every day I come home and have the same routine for them. In the morning I feed them breakfast, back for lunch for their main big meal. They always know I'll be home to feed them and talk to them. Otherwise they don't mind being in their cage most of the day, and get plenty of exercise on the weekends and evenings. However, in your situation it is a bit different as I assume she is the only bird in your household?

As long as you have a set routine, two days at work/schooling should not affect your relationship with you beloved bird. All parrots should learn to play independently/alone because life happens. As long as you are consistent with her and spend as much time as you can with her, then I don't see any issues to be concerned about. Hope that helps put you a little more at ease. It is great there are other family members at home so they can be around the bird, that will definitely help also.

She's an umbrella cockatoo sorry for not specifying and yes you have put my mind at ease, she doesn't seem to be unhappy, I am in the works of creating an aviary in my garage so she doesn't have to be in her cage while I'm at work and then possibly getting her another bird or two to keep her company(seperate cages of coarse)


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emyoung858 said:

She's an umbrella cockatoo sorry for not specifying and yes you have put my mind at ease, she doesn't seem to be unhappy, I am in the works of creating an aviary in my garage so she doesn't have to be in her cage while I'm at work and then possibly getting her another bird or two to keep her company(seperate cages of coarse)


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Click to expand...

That sounds like a great plan, she will love the room!!

Its important that she learns to entertain herself, get some foraging toys.

I have a routine as far as spending time with with my three.

Daisy is the most demanding, but I give all three equal time.
Good thing is Holly & Stewie are really close so when I let them out in the morning those two are more concerned with preening each other so I can get Daisy some one on one time, but after about 15 mins Holly & Stewie want me too, so I then have 3 too's on me.

Quality is better the quantity in my book.

StewieandHolly said:

Its important that she learns to entertain herself, get some foraging toys.



I have a routine as far as spending time with with my three.



Daisy is the most demanding, but I give all three equal time.

Good thing is Holly & Stewie are really close so when I let them out in the morning those two are more concerned with preening each other so I can get Daisy some one on one time, but after about 15 mins Holly & Stewie want me too, so I then have 3 too's on me.



Quality is better the quantity in my book.

Click to expand...

I got her so many toys and she is totally loving them, she does entertain herself because sometimes we peek on her and she'll be dancing, running around the bottom of her cage. I wish I could afford another cockatoo, eventually I think that would be ideal, ok so I have noticed that we've started creating a routine for when I am home I just wanna get her away from cuddling so much because she thinks I'm her mate I'm pretty sure and I've been told that isn't good


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your doing fine, if you keep the same routine she will learn.

I don't really have advice... more like a story. But maybe you'll find some ideas or reassurances.

I got the Rickeybird in 1984. I was in college and then grad school, so I spent LOTS of time with him. Then it was time to go to work!
There were were years (about 25 of them) when 5-6 days a week, I was gone at 7:30-ish and back at 6-ish.
Some did and will consider me wrong and think I should have re-homed him.
Anyway, here is what I think made it work.
I moved and got new jobs maybe 5 times or so. BUT...
Every morning, he had at least ten minutes, and every evening, he had 20 or so. I have always kept him on a natural light schedule, in a separate room, so sometimes those times together were in the dark. During the day, he had a big window looking out on something interesting, a television on one of his favorite channels (Music channels, CNN - he loves talking heads), a biggg cage, lots of fun foods, and a few toys that I changed out regularly).
He KNEW he could count on those two crummy sessions a day. Somehow we both made it.
I'm now retired and times are good again.
Good luck to you in making a decision. And welcome to the Forum... you'll get lots of empathy and advice here.

my son lets my 3 out around 430, I get home at 5 & this is what they are doing, all 3 on the edge of the cage, waiting for me

Thank you!! I'm driving back to work after having come home to have spent my lunch break with her and despite me being gone she seems generally happy!! She loves to cuddle under blankets so I bought her this little hanging bed/blanket that goes into the cage she is going to have the best set up ever, are usually leave on Music she seems to like all these like the Beatles etc. but I have yet to give the television a try LOL that might be something to distract her and keep her entertained. And yes this forum has been really awesome. I've already posted 4 different questions with some really good input, I'm a new too owner I'm only on day 6. But what your story made me realize is that these birds are going to be with us for a very long time through the good and the bad so even if times are tough right now they will get better eventually, even if my work schedule doesn't align with me spending as much time with her as I would like it won't always be this way that's the beautiful thing about these birds they are our life long companions


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