out of cage time

I am looking into getting an african grey. I just want to make sure that it is the right companion for me. I work a usual 9-5 job. So this means i can take the little guy out of the cage in the morning for a bit, say like 30 minutes. But he will be in the cage obviously when I am at work, unless my roommate decides to play with him while I am at work (not a guarantee everyday tho). I am usually home around 4 or 5 in the afternoon so I can take him out after that for a minimum of 2 hours and a maximum of 5 hours.
Also, I dont go on many vacations, but when I do its for about a week, once or twice a year. Is that ok, keeping in mind I will be back obviously lol.

Any advice is appreciated, just want to make the right choice for the birds sake.

Thanks guys

So long as you can commit to taking him out of an afternoon for an extended period of time. Also it would be necessary to have as many toys and branches in his cage as possible to keep the bird busy and stimulated whilst you are not around. The more mentally stimulating the toys are, the better. Foraging toys, natural toys, sand perches, natural branches etc. This will help mentally stimulate the bird and prevent feather plucking when you are not are. If it is possible to have the bird out for up to 5 hours of an afternoon than I see no reason why it wouldn't work out.

Most of us work, not a problem, quality of time not necessarily quantity

triordan said:

Most of us work, not a problem, quality of time not necessarily quantity

Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it better myself, which is ironic, because I didn't say it better myself.

Luke252 said:

triordan said:

Most of us work, not a problem, quality of time not necessarily quantity

Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it better myself, which is ironic, because I didn't say it better myself.

Click to expand...

Haha! !:54:

thanks guys!

also another stupid question.. sorry I just want to give this little guy the best care he can possibly have. There will be some days (maybe 2 days out of the week IF THAT) that I may not be able to spend 5 or more hours with him. Would this be a problem. Most days I will be home at 4 or 5 to give him the attention he needs, but very few days where I may get home late or have to do some things after work. Would this be a problem?

Thanks again

That seems ok but when you get home, you should take him out for as long as possible. If you do go somewhere after your job and you can only give him 5 hours of outside cage time, I think it would be ok to do that but It wouldn't be good if you do that every day. For the vacations, I go on trips a lot, well like 5 times a year and sometimes I leave for a week and a half but Jay Jay and Lilo are fine with the pet sitter! Hope this helps!

You'll do fine, it sounds like the same schedule that my husband and I keep. We can't all give the fids all the time we would like, but we all do the best we can!

Quality not quantity! I work in Manhattan during the week and commute from Long Island, so I am usually gone from 6 AM - 7 PM. I still live at home though so this is temporary. With that, I take him out in the mornings while I get ready, and then he's with me after work till we go to bed no matter what I am doing. Even if you can't be petting him and playing with him for all of those five hours, what matters is that he is with you and out of the cage. I have perches all over my house so that no matter what room I'm in, he can be there!

I have to say though I am a little nervous as well for when I move out because as of right now there is someone who is always around at home. But, they don't really take him out of the cage (and he's recently started biting anyone who goes in his cage besides me). He is still young though and I am his main caregiver so I am hoping he's just adjusting to the new hands taking care of him.

Anyway! I have already started preparing things for when I move out (stocking up on toys--creating different foraging ones, etc). So as long as he can be kept busy while you are out, he should be fine. I don't think you should let a job stop you from getting a Grey. I had my doubts at first too, but now I couldn't imagine life without the little guy! They are great companions and wonderful to have around. I love his company

I think you've been given a lot of good advice here! Quality of time is what is important. We all work! I am self employed and I am lucky to take my birds to the store with me. But that is only 2 to 3 times a week. Sometimes I am home late because I have to do things after work and I think that goes for most of us. It sounds like you will be able to give your little guy plenty of time. Just always think about your bird at home when ever you plan on being away. Be it a couple of hours or several days. Try to plan to make time when you do get home so they don't start feeling neglected. I'm sure you will do fine!

I think that, when it comes to freedom, quantity has a lot of value. Birds were not created to live in a cage so spending all day long in one, all by themselves (which is highly stressing to them), is very detrimental to their emotional health.

The other problem with people who work full time and birds is that you cannot keep them to a solar schedule during the winter and that's unhealthy for them. Dogs do fine, cats do fine, ferrets do fine, mice do fine but not birds because their endocrine system is 100% photoperiodic.