socialising

[LordTriggs]

so I'm getting closer and closer to looking for a new bird but I have noticed something.

Being the only person in my house I'm at work each weekday along with going to the gym twice a week and spending time with friends every now and then. I often don't have people round as my parents are moving away and my friends are all in a separate town so I normally travel to them.

Would I have enough time to properly socialize a bird? And would a bird be okay with only having me for there flock/main socialization?

I would want to harness train them but am worried about them meeting strangers as we all know what they can be like seeing a friendly bird.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi try the parrot society for any bird clubs in your area, also reach out if on Facebook for like minded bird owners. Nothing to stop you from harness training / getting a back pak and just going out with him or her though, they really love that.

Need to choose your bird carefully, one that can cope with being alone during the day. Bet you have that one though?

 

[LordTriggs]

yeah I have seen some in the packs and harnesses and do intend on getting both if/when I do get myself a new bird. Luckily I'm off work for a week in august so am going to go have a look at a few places then. Funnily enough Birdline have a meyers at the moment that looks like he may be right for me and I think I'm "slowly" falling in love, and he's not far from me either!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Do they know you are interested? Can you organise some visits? Remember that the bird never belongs to you, but Birdline (I think) should anything change then the bird will be expected to go back to them.

 

[SailBoat]

Do they know you are interested? Can you organise some visits? Remember that the bird never belongs to you, but Birdline (I think) should anything change then the bird will be expected to go back to them.

So very true!

If at all possible, let the Parrot choose you!!! This will allow for a quicker Bond and therefore Trust foundation that helps greatly in the process of socializing a Parrot. They trust you that you are introducing them to ''safe' people!

We take a very general approach to socializing: Any Human that the Parrot does not totally reject will likely end-up with an Amazon on them!

 

[LordTriggs]

yeah I have looked at Birdline's rules. The main things that appeal to me that I know I would have "help" on hand, a place for them to go if needs be and being older they've normally got through the worst of the hormonal stages and I can get a baseline of how they are. A baby is a complete unknown in regards to maturing, they could be fine or turn into a complete shrieky bitey monster

Of course there are downsides to it, such as having to keep the diary and update them on the bird which I know I would forget to do, and not being able to leave the country with them. It would put my desire for living in Japan for a while on hold

 

[SailBoat]

Please remember that a Parrot; "turn into a complete shrieky bitey monster" is something that is created!

 

[Sandy19]

I'm having a hard time socializing peanuts because I don't have a lot of people over to my house so she only use to me and my daughter and tolerates my husband because he gives her sunflower seeds. I take her out as much as possible to get her used to different situations and she's very good where ever I take her, but she wants nothing to do with anyone other than us. The only time this is going to become a problem is when I go on vacation. I would like to have someone come over and let her out of the cage everyday, but that's not going to work out well when she's scared of anyone other than us.

 

[SailBoat]

I'm having a hard time socializing peanuts because I don't have a lot of people over to my house so she only use to me and my daughter and tolerates my husband because he gives her sunflower seeds. I take her out as much as possible to get her used to different situations and she's very good where ever I take her, but she wants nothing to do with anyone other than us. The only time this is going to become a problem is when I go on vacation. I would like to have someone come over and let her out of the cage everyday, but that's not going to work out well when she's scared of anyone other than us.

Have frequent gathering with people that would commonly visit your home and also take care of your Parrot! Remember that first meetings and sometimes a bit longer is a reality and it is all part of Socializing! It like introducing new thinks to your Parrot, the more it is part of a day event, the less of an issue it becomes!

 

[wrench13]

It must be a hard decision, if you live by yourself. I've never had a parrot when I was single, there were always at least 2 people in the house. Obviously it does work out, but sometimes not. Def has to be a bird that will self entertain. Hmmm, got to think about this more.

 

[Sandy19]

Well you probably don't want a cockatoo or anything, but I think any bird you pick will be compatible and adapt to your living situation as long as you're willing to invest your time and love with them. Or you might just be lucky like me and end up with the most awesome bird on earth with no training whatsoever. Other than being shy of strangers she is just such a good bird.

But with that said I haven't had to deal with her going through any hormonal stuff yet.

 

[LordTriggs]

Well you probably don't want a cockatoo or anything, but I think any bird you pick will be compatible and adapt to your living situation as long as you're willing to invest your time and love with them. Or you might just be lucky like me and end up with the most awesome bird on earth with no training whatsoever. Other than being shy of strangers she is just such a good bird.

But with that said I haven't had to deal with her going through any hormonal stuff yet.

this is one of the things that has pissed me off with Rio dying. He was that bird, happy to have his own time playing with his toys, but whenever I got home I could hear a toy drop to either the floor or against the side of the cage and he would run over and chirrup to come out. He was a cuddle bug, never scared of anything (except harnesses or other similar items and red things, except the sofa) he loved meeting new people, even began flying to my younger brother 15 minutes after meeting him and was genuinely just a sweet all round parrot. Not to say he didn't annoy me or upset me a couple times, but it was a happy relationship. Of course you never know with another bird how they'll be, you don't want the same naturally but you want the same general temperment

 

[Kentuckienne]

If the bird has enough amusements for the day - toys, foraging stuff, etc. - they would probably be ok during the day as long as they get lots of attention when you are home. Not ideal, but it can work. More interesting is your desire to go to Japan....I like to travel, so I don't have a bird. Any time I go away, Gus hates me when I return and it takes weeks to get back to "normal". You should absolutely go to Japan. What about being a foster parront? Keep a parrot in a rescue situation, who needs a temporary shelter and support on the way to a forever home? It must be challenging to care for a bird who is in enough trouble to need rescue...they would likely have health issues and trust issues...and then just when they are better you have to let them go...but it's a kind thing to do for a parrot in need, plus you would learn a LOT about parrots in a short time.

 

[LordTriggs]

If the bird has enough amusements for the day - toys, foraging stuff, etc. - they would probably be ok during the day as long as they get lots of attention when you are home. Not ideal, but it can work. More interesting is your desire to go to Japan....I like to travel, so I don't have a bird. Any time I go away, Gus hates me when I return and it takes weeks to get back to "normal". You should absolutely go to Japan. What about being a foster parront? Keep a parrot in a rescue situation, who needs a temporary shelter and support on the way to a forever home? It must be challenging to care for a bird who is in enough trouble to need rescue...they would likely have health issues and trust issues...and then just when they are better you have to let them go...but it's a kind thing to do for a parrot in need, plus you would learn a LOT about parrots in a short time.

I don't think I would be prepared for that to be honest. Because of my own issues I don't think I would be the best person for a troubled parrot and as I'm renting I wouldn't realistically be able to take on more than one at a time and even then I'm limited due to living in an apartment.

Japan is a bit of a pipe dream for me. I don't really know how I would go about doing it having never moved country before and I struggle a bit with having a career goal haha, still don't know exactly what I want to do for a career. Ideally I would want to be there for a year or even longer, or if things were to work out stay there permanently so if possible I would take my parrot with me if I have one at the time. I think maybe I need to work that stuff out first before getting a new companion to be honest

 

[DRB]

so I'm getting closer and closer to looking for a new bird but I have noticed something.

Being the only person in my house I'm at work each weekday along with going to the gym twice a week and spending time with friends every now and then. I often don't have people round as my parents are moving away and my friends are all in a separate town so I normally travel to them.

Would I have enough time to properly socialize a bird? And would a bird be okay with only having me for there flock/main socialization?

I would want to harness train them but am worried about them meeting strangers as we all know what they can be like seeing a friendly bird.

A lot of my same goals, and I am a single guy that works and is gone for 3-5 hours at a time, and has few guests. Perjo (19mo CAG) isn't extremely outgoing with the limited guests I do get. So a CAG might not be the best bird of choice for your situation. I have not been able to do much harness training yet with her, a big reason is her chewing of flight feathers that we are resolving now I hope.

 

[LordTriggs]

don't worry I wouldn't be getting a CAG or anything near that size. I think I am claimed by the smaller birds, Anything up to tiel size really which I think is possibly a detail I should have mentioned. The big birds wouldn't work in my home due to space constraints and the intelligence is something I know I couldn't keep entertained. I think conures are the most intelligent I could handle

I think I need to evaluate myself for a bit, I've been finding things a bit tough recently and I think I need to work through that first

 

[adz1984]

Consider a indian ringneck.. it's within your size limit and are generally more independant by nature than most other birds, only thing is they are generally not cuddly but i'm sure you could find a very sweet one!

 

[LordTriggs]

I did actually try one. she was definitely not right and I think she was abused. I got her mainly to get her out of the home she was in and called a rescue immediately to take her. Allow me just to say that it was a very traumatic night for me and her and I got a pretty nasty complaint from a neighbour