Poor Birds

Our schedules for everything have been turned upside down.

A few weeks ago, I lost my job. Luckily, I managed to snag two part-time jobs pretty quickly. One of them is third shift, and the other is second shift. I used to be up at the crack of dawn with Chicken and Tiki, and now I'm going to bed at the crack of dawn. I don't feed them their breakfast anymore, my wife does when she gets home in the morning. She also works third shift, but gets off a couple hours later than I do. Dinner time has also changed, since I don't work the same hours I used to, we don't have to wait to eat as late as we did.

I think overall, the birds are adjusting better than I am. I've always been an early bird, and the third shift thing is taking some adjusting. I do think the birds like it though, because although I'm working more days each week (like all of the days between both jobs), I don't work as long each day. So where before, I would only have an hour or two half the week, and entire days the other half, I have a good amount of time to spend with them almost every day.

Like I said, I feel bad that their schedules are all messed up, but I honestly think I'm the one having the biggest issue with it, not them. Luckily, they've never been on too strict of a schedule, so they aren't too set in their ways. Breakfast is always in the morning, but it may have been 5 one day and 7 the next. It'll be all good, like anything else, we'll take it and run with it. What else can we do?

Sorry that your life is upside down my friend!

As you say, likely tougher on you than them. That would be very true. You are likely suffering from your internal clock being messed-up. heavy dark blinds in the bedroom and turn-off the ringer on the phone will help!.

Ugh! I detest night shifts! Haven't worked one in years, but they always screwed with me royally. Never could get the hang of sleeping during the day.

But as you mention, one of the advantages of having a less strict schedule tends to be a more flexible bird. Now don't get me wrong, there are definite advantages to a stricter schedule as well, but I've always tended toward the other end of the spectrum and it's worked out rather well.

Sounds like Aria and Tiki are on that same page, so thankfully it's all good. I suspect you look at that much as I do: better I'm the one feeling off my game than them. You know?

I am glad that it's me and not them having an issue with the schedule. I actually think they're enjoying have more time everyday, instead of a lot of out of cage time one day, and almost none the next.

My biggest issue with the night shift is that since I've always been such a morning person, I feel like I wasted my whole day when I sleep. I know, logically, I probably sleep less than I would if I was to sleep at night so I actually have more time to do things, but it doesn't feel that way.

Tiki works pretty well with my schedule, considering he's never had a very "normal" schedule anyway. I think part of it is because he's blind, but we've always heard him talking to himself half the night, then he tends to at least nap most if not all of the morning. And Chicken, well, she's always been really flexible and up for just about anything. I think I've been really lucky with her in that regard. She is a very outgoing bird, and new places or change doesn't seem to bother her in the least. Granted, being so outgoing also means it seems like she's always looking for trouble. Right now she's on top of my computer, trying to eat the birds in the banner on top of the screen. Naughty Chicken.

Its been over 30 years since I've had a "normal" schedule. Being a trucker,I have always worked weird hours,leaving the house at 2am one day,5am the next...7pm the week later.

Now that I am "off the road" my "new"job is still screwy. I am a yard jockey for Kimberly Clark ( they make Kleenx) I move tractor-trailer trailers in and out of dock doors,but I work 12 hour days, 6:30pm to 6:30am..it takes me and hour and fifteen minutes IF THE TRAFFIC IS GOOD to get there and home,so its close to a 15 hour day..BUT I work 4 days on,get 3 days off..work 3 days on...get 4 days off and get every other weekend off. This weekend I'll get out of work Friday morning and don't have to go back 'til Monday evening.

So my kids can get their "normal" sleep..bed when its dark and up at light.
I get home about 8am and as soon as BB heres me come in,he starts singing his sweet little heart out,telling me what a good boy he is,and Amy starts with some morning 'zon mumbles. I feed them then go to bed,get up at 2 or 3pm to be with them,then leave the house by 4:30.
This SUCKS coz I spend little time with them during this time,BUT when I have my 3 or 4 days off I spend LOTS of time with them.

It seems they know my situation. Amy has dealt with it all her 27 years and little Beebs..well he is just a plain happy little boy period...but when he does get his daddy time he just sucks it up.
I think they are well accustomed and except it.


Jim

@OutlawedSpirit - I'm sorry to hear about you losing your job Hope you can adjust soon to your new schedule