How much time should I give to my green cheeked conure?

[cade]

I'm thinking about getting a conure, but with forums I've read, some say it needs tons of attention. Others say they can work 40 hours a week and their little conure is happy as ever. I just dont want my bird to feel lonely or bored! I have school for 7 hours a day and I'm wondering if that's enough time for my conure.

Thanks for the help!
Cade

 

[T00tsyd]

More experienced people will be by soon enough but I think with any creature you should be realistic in figuring out how much time you have. Any pet lives with you rather than the other way around in my view and as long as you make plenty provision for their needs with a regular routine that allows them to understand that they will have your time at a regular moment in the day they will be content.

From choice any pet will want you there 24/7 but we know real life doesn't work that way, so, lots of toys that you can switch around for varied interest, some background noise (radio/tv, another person) when you are away, lots of attention/company when you are home are necessary to keep your guy content. What you can't do is start well and then lose interest so the little guy is left with nothing but a clean cage.

Good luck with your decision and choice.

 

[LordTriggs]

ideally as much as you've got. Of course life gets in the way, just make sure they have toys and either the radio or TV on during the day.

The thing I would say is being in school you don't know what life has in store for the next few years and for a while you're gonna struggle to even feed yourself. It may be an idea to wait until you've finished school and got a stable job, it's expensive owning even a small parrot

 

[Sunnyclover]

There are days I spend 12 hours with my conure and days I spend 1 hour. The 1 hour days are not common but happen from time to time. Also my definition of spend time varies too. Sometimes I'm actually holding him for up to 6 hours or so and the other 6 hours he's just involved and near me on play stands and such. An average day is about 3 hours of cuddling/on shoulder time and 4 hours of him being part of what's going on directly or talking to him ect. If you only have 2 hours a day I'd recommend 1 hour of direct contact and 1 hour of him being around you but out of his cage.

 

[clark_conure]

a seven hour day, including say 7-8 for sleep leaves 8-9 hours. Assuming you can spend say at least 4 fours a day, better if it was 6, then that should be ok. Especially with weekends.

Also, a lot of that time doesn't have to be actively playing. You can do homework, play online, watch TV or netflicks whatever, so long as your with the bird, things will be fine. Most the time my bird is completely happy just being on my shoulder. Or in my area.

I don't see a problem. With the schedule you describe. Just be aware your schedule can change.

 

[LordTriggs]

Also, a lot of that time doesn't have to be actively playing. You can do homework, play online, watch TV or netflicks whatever, so long as your with the bird, things will be fine. Most the time my bird is completely happy just being on my shoulder. Or in my area.

This is a really good point for birds. If you watch a nature documentary they don't constantly play together, often they just appear to be chilling out, although for Green Cheeks it would be better to describe it as "less crazy time" than "chilling"

 

[clark_conure]

I was about to say "Touche' LordTriggs Touche' " but then I realized I didn't say the word chill. LOL.

 

[Sunnyclover]

I agree with Lordtriggs and Clark! Great points and I spend time with Ollie that isn't cuddle/playtime and he enjoys it also.

 

[cade]

Thank you all for the great answers! I'm relieved that I can leave him/her alone!

Thank you all,
Cade

 

[Tjmcnee]

Well I’ll say about 4-10 hours on a weekend or holiday, and 2-9 hours during the week, Also I do have School so it will be alone for 7 hours, luckily my mother does stay home sometimes. If you do have School and need to study after School, it’s best put the cage in the room you are working in or your own room, or you can just let it out and see what you are doing.

 

[GaleriaGila]

May I just offer my story? Maybe somewhere in it, you'll get an idea of some of the elements of time and circumstances...

I got the venerated (not) Rickeybird in 1984. I was in college and spent much of the day with him! He was my study companion and darling. But after about four years... it was time to go to work!
Then there were were years (about 25 of them) when 5-6 days a week, I was gone at 7:30-ish and back at 6-ish.
Some did and will consider me wrong and think I should have re-homed him. My husband at that time detested the bird. My current ol' man tolerates him with good humor. No, the bird wasn't responsible for the first marriage's ending!
Anyway, here is what I think made it work.
I moved and got new jobs maybe 5 times or so. BUT...
Every morning, he had at least ten minutes, and every evening, he had 20 or so. I have always kept him on a natural light schedule, in a separate room, so sometimes those times together were in the dark. During the day, he had a big window looking out on something interesting, a television on one of his favorite channels (Music channels, CNN - he loves talking heads), a biggg cage, lots of fun foods, and a few toys that I changed out regularly).
He KNEW he could count on those two pathetic sessions a day. Somehow we both made it.
I'm now retired and times are good again. Side-note... when I first started being able to spend much more time, he was strangely aggressive and jumpy. Eventually we settled down.
I don't know if I am doing a service or a dis-service in even suggesting you get a bird. I do know I can't imagine life without mine at this point.
Good luck to you in making a decision. And welcome to the Forum... you'll get lots of empathy and advice here.

 

[syakti]

ideally as much as you've got. Of course life gets in the way, just make sure they have toys and either the radio or TV on during the day.

The thing I would say is being in school you don't know what life has in store for the next few years and for a while you're gonna struggle to even feed yourself. It may be an idea to wait until you've finished school and got a stable job, it's expensive owning even a small parrot

I agree with this one word by word. And when you keep a bird alone, it gets even harder. S/he will need lots of time.