How should I care for my parrot while at school

[loa]

I am soon getting a cockatiel as a first time owner and I have gotten a lot of reasearch but I still haven’t found out how to take care of it while at school.
I know that I need to entertain the bird with toys and different things.
But do I need to do something special in the morning? Any advice as a new bird owner?

 

[jousze]

I am soon getting a cockatiel as a first time owner and I have gotten a lot of reasearch but I still haven’t found out how to take care of it while at school.

I know that I need to entertain the bird with toys and different things.

But do I need to do something special in the morning? Any advice as a new bird owner?

Hello!

I had a cockatiel when I was in secondary school too! I was at school like 8-9 hours a day, even more sometimes.. and what I was doing it was to wake up a bit earlier than usual and being with him (for me it was a him but in the end it was a her lol, I’ll still saying him anyways) while I was getting dressed and eating and doing all the stuff I had to do.

Then I was always putting him like a big leaf so he could eat and destroy that while I was out, and of course lotssss of toys.
Even if my parents were working, my dad for example was going home like 30 min everyday, so my cockatiel could see someone at least..
There were times that no one was coming and he was doing just right.

I don’t think that cockatiels need that much attention as a cockatoo for example would need, so I think you will do just right! Lots of toys, put him/her somewhere were she can see the outside too, music maybe?.
And when you go back home just spend most of the rest of the day with her, I was doing homework with my cockatiel on me, so you can do the same!

If you’re like 5 or 6h a day with your bird everything will be alright. I know that reading it it sounds like a lot, but it’s not when you will be doing it, you will see!

Add some pictures to your post when you will have him/her!!!!


Jose

 

[noodles123]

I seriously think it is unfair to get a bird while in school..doesn't work well for the bonded bird..

 

[IndySE]

I got my parrot in school, and many people have parrots working full time. You just have to be honest with yourself and your schedule. Typically my mornings were reserved for parrot quality time. My bird also benefitted from the company of my family. If you're willing to make it work, it can, but only if you're honest with what resources you have at your disposal. Best of luck !

 

[ChristaNL]

don't forget to leave at least the radio on (or the TV), birdy with a vieuw outside is better than nothing ...


It helps if the parents (the human ones) do a bit of interacting to.
My parents were always helping (by talking, offering toys, games etc.) when I got my first birds.

 

[charmedbyekkie]

Tbh, I wouldn't recommend getting a bird just yet.

Let me paste a few questions for you to consider:

Am I really ready for that level of responsibility? The daily cage cleaning, the particular diet, the banning of non-organic cleaning supplies, the replacement of most of our cookware (do your parents know about those facts?) And after changing my entire family's lifestyle for the new family member, the little guy might turn out to absolutely hate me for months, refuse me to let me touch him for years, never take to a harness, scream for hours on end, etc. Am I prepared for that emotional input and drain?

How about the finance drain? If your bird needs to see a vet, it has to be an Avian Vet (Certified is recommended if that's an option available to you). Avian vets are expensive. And healthcare for your bird will also be expensive. Are you ok with shelling out 2k if your bird needs surgery or other expensive treatments?

And what about my friends' circle? Are you ok with forcing your friends to follow your bird's schedule? Quite a few of my friends have their first child already, and we hardly see them nowadays and they even have a nanny to help them. Are you ok with losing friends over this, prioritising of your new bird-child?

Are you willing to choose your bird over your future girlfriend/boyfriend? Or, if they ask you to give up your bird because maybe your bird might hate them or they find your bird inconvenient, what will you do?

What about housing? When you move out, will finding a parrot-friendly place be your first priority? When starting classes or full-time work, are you willing to wake up beforehand to spend time with your avian family member? Are you willing to rush home after to let them out of their cage and socialise with you? Or will you put grabbing drinks with friends first?

I see the folks here keeping an eye on their birds during the workday (yay for webcams!), and they rush home when their birds get injured (just like a parent would for a child). Sometimes they risk their jobs to take care of their parrots. Are you willing to put aside your school time for your bird? University, should you choose to go, is time-consuming with long hours and late nights. But parrots need schedules to be kept; they need stability. What will you choose?

There's a reason why the terms fid and parront are used. If you read around here, having a parrot is like having a toddler. Now if you're cool with being tied down with a human toddler, dragging a human toddler through the most transitioning years of your life, centering the rest of your life around a human toddler, by all means you might be ready for a bird I guess. Because these birds have that level of emotional and intellectual capacity - they don't emotionally bounce back like cats or dogs or horses do, they tend to self-harm instead. If you think you'll do right by that bird toddler (not for selfish reasons of 'I want a bird'), then by all means, go ahead.

 

[loa]

thank you for all the comments. I have considered all things so it’s not a problem. And my school day is not long so the parrot is completely fine and my dad also visits it when he’s on a break.