How do you have multiple big birds

[CDavis]

I am going into my 5th day with bonkers and I was wondering how you guys managed to take care of multiple large parrots because bonkers is very nice and handle able and not too messy and he is still so much more work than my GCCs.

I have pretty awesome circumstances that allow me to have multiple big birds in the far future but I'm wondering how you guys with 9 to 5s handle such a large responsibility.

 

[chris-md]

For the first few months I felt the same with with Parker when I first got him. One bird, almost overwhelming.

Rest assured it gets easier. That shock you're feeling about the volume of work comes because you haven't fully settled into a rhythm and balance. You'll find what works for you and what makes your life much easier, and ultimately it won't feel so hard.

It gets better

 

[CDavis]

For the first few months I felt the same with with Parker when I first got him. One bird, almost overwhelming.

Rest assured it gets easier. That shock you're feeling about the volume of work comes because you haven't fully settled into a rhythm and balance. You'll find what works for you and what makes your life much easier, and ultimately it won't feel so hard.

It gets better

It's so much fun to interact with him though it's like having another person in the family. Also you had to make special ekkie chop which I'm sure is a bigger pain than the jerseyWendy's recipe that I make.

 

[OOwl]

I've been doing it for over two decades, living with multiple parrots, and on top of that I'm a extreme neat-freak and all I can say when people ask me that (and almost everyone that visits my home does) that it's a LIFESTYLE. They are woven into the very fabric of our lives and so everything they do, eat, play, socialize, groom, talk, sleep, just happens organically, rather than a planned out/timed "chore." They are full-fledged members of the family and really are content with their niche in it. Simply said, it just works. I can't imagine it any other way. . . and I guess they can't either. Soon, I bet you feel the same way about your flock.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

I get up at 4 to make sure their properly taken care of.

 

[Kiwibird]

I get up at 4 to make sure their properly taken care of.

You have a actual flock of them though I don't even know how you deal with the number of birds you have!

 

[GaleriaGila]

And you know...? Maybe there are some of us who aren't "meant" to have multiples... due to psychological/environmental/financial/whatever reasons. I think it's reasonable and ethical to look at that possibility. I'm one of those.

 

[Kiwibird]

You manage because you have genuine love for the creatures and you can always find time for those who matter And with amazons at least, they tend to be content to be 'included' in whatever you already happen to be doing (cleaning, prepping food, taking a shower, watching TV etc...). You don't need to set aside hours a day to "play" with your bird, just bring them around with you (a portable perch gives them a place to be near you and observing you without needing direct 1 on 1 interaction. Kiwi actually seems to prefer this type of interaction to really focused actually, so did the amazons I grew up with. They want to be with the flock, but also want to do their own thing. Other species may be more attention demanding, but amazons tend to just like to hang out near you so long as they have something to occupy them.

 

[BeatriceC]

Within a few weeks you'll fall into a routine. You'll get to know Bonkers and he'll get to know you, and you'll settle in and it all gets easier. I have a pretty set routine from 7am to about noon for the morning feeding, cleaning, playing, and then I take turns with each bird the rest of the day, moving them around the house as I do housework, cook, etc. There are perches *everywhere* in my house.

 

[texsize]

#1 delegate. My son in responsible for feeding and watering my 3 amazons. He gives them there basic pellets and seeds, My wife and I give them fruit & veggies.

#2 Two of my amazons are together in the same cage. They keep each other company and don't need so much human interaction. OWA is wild caught and does not want to be handled. My RLA does like to be held by me but doing so gets the OWA very jealous.

I must admit I am having trouble taking care of all my birds since my 3 cockatiel babies came along. And now I have another 4 eggs incubating.
There is such a thing as having to much of a good thing.

I will have to find good homes for them, but the question is about large birds.

My YNA has always been the big bird I spend the most time with so he gets most of my attention.

 

[Anansi]

To me, the biggest challenge is time management. Once you work that out, everything else falls into place. And as others have said, you just try to include them in your daily life.

What Abigail mentioned about being aware of what particular number works for you is also very important. Some people have a temperament for a large flock. Some only for one or two. I know that two works well for me. If ever I decided to further expand my flock, I think my absolute upper limit would be four. But that's just me knowing how many I could incorporate into my particular household without sacrificing quality of care.

 

[CDavis]

I get up at 4 to make sure their properly taken care of.

What does your house sound like I couldn't even imagine living in a house with that many birds. Don't parrots demand a certain level of interaction a day especially macaws and toos how do you give them that time that they need.

 

[SailBoat]

To me, the biggest challenge is time management. Once you work that out, everything else falls into place. And as others have said, you just try to include them in your daily life.

What Abigail mentioned about being aware of what particular number works for you is also very important. Some people have a temperament for a large flock. Some only for one or two. I know that two works well for me. If ever I decided to further expand my flock, I think my absolute upper limit would be four. But that's just me knowing how many I could incorporate into my particular household without sacrificing quality of care.

Well said!

And in addition, it is important to factor into this where in this World one lives! Areas that are affected by more extreme weather, specific industrial complexes, earth tremors, wild fires, etc... that may /will require one to quickly 'move' away from danger. There are specific alerts /time lines that dictate what time limits one has to react within. The shorter the time limit, the lower the number of individuals in your home that can be quickly /safely be moved.

The longer it takes or the longer one waits to start to evacuate the greater the likelihood of being forced not to take your 'Pets' with you. Once the limited number of evacuated centers that will accept 'Pets' fill, Officials than 'STOP,' allowing People to evacuate with their 'Pets.'

Regarding the number of 'Pets' that a household can proper /safely care for its a very sticky issue. Whether 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, etc... There is no hard and fast method of determining when an individual /family looses control, until its to late. Thankfully, the vast majority of People self regulate. Having said that, there is always that segment that for any number of reasons loose control.

Any feeling of hesitation should be seen as a self-limiter! At that point, its time to just say NO!

 

[deque]

This is an awesome question!

The honest truth is...the larger your flock the less time you have for undivided one on one attention. BUT that doesn't mean that your relationship with them or the quality of care they receive has to diminish.

I have 5 Macaws and the answer for me was group play. I built a massive playstand so during the week when my time is more limited, all my kids can come out at the same time and we play together as a group.

It took several alterations to get just the right set up, with enough perches, toys and feed stations, and it's important that it be large enough for everyone to have their chosen spot (mine is 10' long and 6' high) but now it works beautifully. They play and interact with us and enjoy time together as a flock.

The other thing that made a huge difference for me was an aviary. I can't recommend it highly enough! Mine is subdivided into 5 sections so everyone has their own habitat but it still allows them to interact. It really was a turning point for us as I'm no longer their sole source of entertainment.