Leaving parrot while working long hours? second bird?

Hi there. I am fairly new to the forum, and parrots. I got a 4 month old hand fed white capped pionus baby about 4 months ago. His name is Fonzie. He DNA sexed. I absolutely love him to death. I also have 3 small dogs. The dogs have pretty much gotten over him, and Fonzie is never left out of his cage unsupervised. The cage is in the same room as the dogs though. He is on the side of my open floor plan, so he can see the dining room, kitchen, and living room.

I work 12hr shifts. I leave at 630am and come home about 745pm. I only work 3 days a week though, and on my 4 days off he is basically out of his cage all day. I have a climbing net and oddball (Oliver's garden) and a nice play gym for him (exotic wood dreams). He has lots of toys too. I have an 8 ft sisal rope going from his cage to his gym. So he goes back and forth as he pleases. He spends all day with me or out, and puts himself to bed around 6pm. On the days I work, I spend about 15 mins with him while I make his breakfast, then he wakes up and spends about 1-2 hrs with me after I get home from work.

He seems happy as can be, and is happy to come out and get scratches when I come home. My question is...should I get another bird to keep him company, or will he just be used to my work schedule (especially since I got him as a baby)? Do the dogs keep him company? are they part of the flock too? Just a worried mommy that wants to do the best thing for my fid I also would be afraid if I got another bird, they won't like each other and then, they might have less out of cage time if they have to be out at separate times.

I've done it, and if he's happy, why worry? It's part of his normal routine, and yours.

Pionus are a lot like amazons... another bird might be an intruder or an object of jealousy.

If he doesn't seem to mind, and acts happy, it means he probably is!

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

My green cheek has been doing this while I'm in class and he was mad. REALLY MAD at first, but he got used to it

Hi Linsey, it sounds like Fonzie has adjusted to your schedule with no problems, in fact, he sounds like a very happy bird. I wouldn't get another parrot for the sole purpose of keeping Fonzie company, like you said, there's no guarantee how any two birds will get along. I think you're an excellent mommy and I bet Fonzie would agree.

Great! He doesn't seem mad on days I work. I'm a nurse so this is my schedule and has been since I got him, so I guess he doesn't know any different. He came from a bird store that has several hand fed babies. He was there for 2 months before I took him home, so he wasn't used to someone always being around there either.

I researched a lot before I got a parrot and decided on a pionus due to their laid back independent nature. He does get upset when I talk on the phone for a long time though (he's ok with short chats)...He screams and if I have him step up, he will step up, then bite my hand that he is standing on. Other then the phone, he is really laid back. I also have read that Pionus are known for not getting along with other birds.

Your heart is definitely in the right place, Lynsey! It is compelling to project human socialization mores on our feathered friends, but Fonzie seems happy and well adjusted. It may be the separation of just three days per week makes the heart grow fonder!!

It's fine . Fonzie has adjusted to your schedule. Pionus are one species well suited to being independent and an only bird. They're nothing like Toos, or macaws, or even conures. That being said, maybe you want another bird for YOU? Lol

Ha ha. I do want another bird for me too, but fear that the birds won't get along and then I won't be able to have them out as much. I think I would rather just leave well enough alone and spoil Fonzie. Don't think I have the space to spoil 2 birds. Fonzie has a Kings large aluminum travel cage as his outdoor cage so he can hang with me while I'm outside. He also has a Pak-o-bird backpack to he can go places with me. Still need to teach him to use his aviator harness.

As far as the dogs being part of the flock in my opinion yes. If one of the dogs is outside and scratching to get in........ If I don't let them in fast enough BB will flock call until I do. He also throws food at them feeding them. He whistles and the dogs will come running he will toss them some of his fruitblend .

Christinenc2000 said:

As far as the dogs being part of the flock in my opinion yes. If one of the dogs is outside and scratching to get in........ If I don't let them in fast enough BB will flock call until I do. He also throws food at them feeding them. He whistles and the dogs will come running he will toss them some of his fruitblend .

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Aww that's adorable!

I used to think Sky would be lonely, when we first adopted him, but he adjusted beautifully to being alone. He is always very happy when I come home and is pretty content with everyone else when they come home too.

The only reason I had considered another parrot recently is because when we go on vacation, we leave Sky at my house alone. The sitter comes to the house, spends some time with him, changes water, food, etc. and then leaves. We skyped him for our last vacation and he loved it. And knowing we were still around, he stayed a happy camper for when we came home (this was the longest we'd ever been separated from him!)

Right now the only reason I want another one is because there is an overpriced beautiful little blue quaker at a local petsmart...or well not really local, but close enough. He looked so sad and lonely, and my sister is about the age where I think a companion animal of her own would be good. She spends wayyyyy too much time on her phone. And she would play with Sky more, but he has a tendency to bite her. So she just goes back to her phone. They named him Rio and he was so fat, and cute, and sad, and looked so lonely

SkyandHoudini said:

As far as the dogs being part of the flock in my opinion yes. If one of the dogs is outside and scratching to get in........ If I don't let them in fast enough BB will flock call until I do. He also throws food at them feeding them. He whistles and the dogs will come running he will toss them some of his fruitblend .

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Fonzie definitely feeds the dogs. He drops/throws stuff off of his gym and cage door. The dogs gobble it up like mad. Then he leans over turns his head and watches them. He also flaps around when he is in his cage.... Makes the dogs go nuts. At first I thought it was the dogs scaring him and making him flap... But then I saw once the dogs run over barking he struts back and forth on the cage bottom. Little turd! He started doing that the first few days I had him home. The girl at the bird store (the main one that fed him his formula) said he was a confident little bird. I really think she was right! Nothing seems to phase him.

LOL That is the only reason I keep the seed guard on my cage. Both my Dogs are small Corgi and a Jack Russel Kinda of a buffer zone. But yes they do entertain each other. BB will bark and growl at them its very funny to watch. There is a toon we whistle when we want the dogs to come inside. He has learned this and will whistle to them

Christinenc2000 said:

LOL That is the only reason I keep the seed guard on my cage. Both my Dogs are small Corgi and a Jack Russel Kinda of a buffer zone. But yes they do entertain each other. BB will bark and growl at them its very funny to watch. There is a toon we whistle when we want the dogs to come inside. He has learned this and will whistle to them

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Me too! I was going to take off the seed guard since I have feeder cups with covers that are outside the cage. I don't really need it, but left it on because sometimes the dogs jump up and put there feet on it. They can't reach the cage if the guard is on. P.S. They aren't jumping on the cage, they are just standing on their hind legs to get a better look. Which I am trying to train them not to do. Easier said then done.

They will loose some interest. At least mine did. They come over some but for the most part they view my macaw as a provider of treats and trust me they value there treats. LOL

Bacca squawked a lot when we left for a while, but she now realizes we'll be back and she'll get out of her cage. She's learned to say "bye bye" for a little extra attention when we're headed out the garage door.

Hi Lynsey, I also have one parrot and do worry about him when I am at work. I have been at home for several months now but am returning to work in a couple of months. This involves a move two states away and working 5 days a week with two of those days as 9 hour shifts.

When Valentino came home as a baby I had a dog and cat. In the spring I adopted a mini macaw and after quarenteen their cages were side by side.

So Valentino was use to his own flock including me and my Ex. Now he is down to just him and I. I worry about all the loss of having to place my dog and cat then my Ex took Julio so now it is just Valentino and I.

At this time I will have to put Valentino though the stress of a out of state move with him having to adjust to new surrounding of a new place to live and my having to be gone all day for work.

I am worried this will harm him mentally. As for getting a second parrot if I do that this won't happen for a long while. Can a RFM be happy with all the changes I am forcing on him? I put him though so much this past year but his doctor did pronounce him healthy and happy in October.

I am committed to moving him with me. There are avian vets in the area and I have made contact with a person in the area that is willing to help me with all things parrot. It does not hurt that I have made a new friend too.

I also think Fonzie is totally fine with your schedule because he is use to it. You are consistent with him and he now knows what to expect. I think he is going to be just fine as a only parrot. If you decide to get another parrot get the parrot for yourself not because you feel Fonzie needs a companion. I am in your same boat but my situation is more complicated.

It's been said a lot already but I'm a nurse who works 8 and 12 hour shifts. Hahnzel makes this horrible "awww" when I go to leave and gets excited like she's won concert tickets from a radio show when I get home. Time in the morning, time when I get home, and she's happy.
Beware though. There are people on the board who will suggest getting another bird, then another, and still more...soon it's Alfred Hitchcock.

Lynsey said:

... They aren't jumping on the cage, they are just standing on their hind legs to get a better look. Which I am trying to train them not to do. Easier said then done.

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A bite on the nose is a good teacher. My shepherd and standard poodle know to "avoid the beak".

goalerjones said:

Lynsey said:

... They aren't jumping on the cage, they are just standing on their hind legs to get a better look. Which I am trying to train them not to do. Easier said then done.

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A bite on the nose is a good teacher. My shepherd and standard poodle know to "avoid the beak".

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Ditto my standard and Maltese

goalerjones said:

It's been said a lot already but I'm a nurse who works 8 and 12 hour shifts. Hahnzel makes this horrible "awww" when I go to leave and gets excited like she's won concert tickets from a radio show when I get home. Time in the morning, time when I get home, and she's happy.
Beware though. There are people on the board who will suggest getting another bird, then another, and still more...soon it's Alfred Hitchcock.

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I'm a nurse too! I work in the ICU. Fonzie is usually sleeping when I get home. He sleeps in his little house and usually comes out within about 10 mins of me coming home... He starts saying pretty bird from inside his house. The pics are a bit old. He has his white cap now [emoji4]