At wits end, need advice

Hello everyone. I've been off the grid for a bit, mostly due to shift changes at work over the last few months. And that's what's making me mental.

Hahnzel, my almost 4 year old Hahns macaw isn't adjusting well to my working nights. And it's preventing me from getting sleep. The worst time is the weekend, when everyone is home and the house isn't quiet, so she riles up easily, especially when my wife and step daughter are around (my step daughter really has nothing to do with the bird so when she's around they both seem to irritate each other). Yesterday for instance, I was awakened to Hahnzels calls several times.

I've tried: in the cage in our room. In the cage in the living room. Sleeping in the recliner in the living room and allowing her to be on her tree stand, or in her living room cage.

Any suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated.

Ah, I know this struggle. Up until a few weeks a ago, I've been working nights for about 4 years.

Weekends really are the worst. It's nice to have time during the day to spend with the flock, but it does severely cut into your sleep schedule.

Have you tried adjusting the time she goes to bed to a later time and uncovering her at a later time in the morning? I had my birds on a 10 or 11am-10 or 11pm schedule. They stayed quiet until I uncovered them and then they got some out time for a few hours. After that I would take a "nap" and they eventually learned that afternoons meant quiet time. I'm not sure what your hours are exactly, but you could both adjust to a similar schedule over time.

Also, blackout curtains!

It's not perfect, but it's something.

I'm on call from 5pm to 8am the following morning 6 days a week. My hours vary greatly and I can literally work almost the entire shift or not go out at all. So the time I spend with her also varies greatly.

Ear plugs, the good ones. Or the noise canceling ear phones may help. My husband snores and I am a very light sleeper. Unless we sleep in separate rooms, I have to use ear plugs. I use the ones that mold to the ear, not the wax kind though. They don't take away all the sound, but if I am asleep, I stay asleep.

SoCalWendy said:

Ear plugs, the good ones. Or the noise canceling ear phones may help. My husband snores and I am a very light sleeper. Unless we sleep in separate rooms, I have to use ear plugs. I use the ones that mold to the ear, not the wax kind though. They don't take away all the sound, but if I am asleep, I stay asleep.

Click to expand...

When it's just she and I, it's usually workable. I come home, spend time with her, then go to bed. But when anyone else in the family is factored in, like the weekends, it becomes more chaotic. Maybe I'll just have to become a hermit out in the forest.

Yes, ear plugs are good too!

My schedule was 5pm-6am. Basically I broke my sleep hours up into two separate parts; some right after work and some right before work. My boyfriend would be home with the birds in the evenings, and of course I would be too if I had the night off.

The birds had no problem adjusting to the schedule. They would get playtime out of their system after spending their mornings with me, and often took a nap around the same time I did. Just make sure everyone else in the house knows afternoons are quiet time. I know you can find a compromise that works for everyone.

On weekends I just had to deal with the noise and activity in the house being constant throughout the day. Sorry I can't help with that one. Like I said, it's not perfect.

Trust me, I feel your pain.

goalerjones said:

SoCalWendy said:

Ear plugs, the good ones. Or the noise canceling ear phones may help. My husband snores and I am a very light sleeper. Unless we sleep in separate rooms, I have to use ear plugs. I use the ones that mold to the ear, not the wax kind though. They don't take away all the sound, but if I am asleep, I stay asleep.

Click to expand...

Maybe I'll just have to become a hermit out in the forest.

Click to expand...

Travel trailer? Tent? Hammock? :09: I know, I'm not helping...

SoCalWendy said:

goalerjones said:

SoCalWendy said:

Ear plugs, the good ones. Or the noise canceling ear phones may help. My husband snores and I am a very light sleeper. Unless we sleep in separate rooms, I have to use ear plugs. I use the ones that mold to the ear, not the wax kind though. They don't take away all the sound, but if I am asleep, I stay asleep.

Click to expand...

Maybe I'll just have to become a hermit out in the forest.

Click to expand...

Travel trailer? Tent? Hammock? :09: I know, I'm not helping...

Click to expand...

No problem Wendy. I've spent countless hours on this forum doing the exact same thing. Its amazing the amount of time and effort I'd put into the nonsensical answers.

Following up, I've begun to keep her up with me at night, albeit asleep under my shirt while I play games, but not in her cage to sleep. I put her to bed when I go to bed and today was a better day. I'll let you know if my hopes for better sleep were in vain.