Kiwi's Life at University

[KiwiParrot]

Hi, I'm that 15 year old girl who was given a baby macaw for her 15th birthday three years ago. I was only on the forum for a short time but this was honestly one of my best resources and a big reason Kiwi is still with me today. I am 18 now, and going to the University of Toronto next year for an undergraduate degree in political science and I am taking Kiwi with me. This thread is to document our life at university together. First things first, a quick reintroduction. I'd rather not share my real name so you can call me Calliope and my bird is Kiwi, a greenwing macaw (I know my previous posts say harlequin but 15 year old me knew nothing about macaws haha) who is almost four.

There are only two and a half more weeks before I'll be moving into my new apartment in Toronto! Which seems painfully far away yet also scarily close. I already know where I am staying, and I move in August first so Kiwi and I can adjust and get settled in before I actually start my classes. And yes, my landlord is aware of Kiwi and is ok with her being there. He said his daughter had a cockatiel when she was younger so he 'gets it'. The apartment still has everything I could hope for, with nice floors and big windows.

Honestly, this has been a difficult journey so far, and I imagine it will only get harder. I was not even sure if I should try to take Kiwi with me, if it would be too much for both of us but I love her and seeing how we've bonded I think it would destroy her if I gave her away. It took so much work to find this apartment, with a landlord who wasn't appalled at the idea of a bird, vet documents, a sound management plan, etc. Now, we're in this weird waiting phase. I have started packing and have prepped the travel carrier and shipped perches and stands directly to the unit (thank god for command strips and suction cups). For now though, I'm still here, waking up in my room and getting Kiwi from hers so we can watch the squirrels from the kitchen.

Obviously she doesn't know what's about to happen, but I can tell she can sense it. She's been clingier and more vocal recently and is constantly perching on my suitcase or any boxes I'm packing. I've mapped out our route already and preplanned rest stops and booked bird friendly hotels and so we wait. Kiwi is already well accustomed to the car and her carrier but I've still been in positive reinforcement overhaul recently and it's been going well. Part of me feels guilty, bringing my macaw to a downtown apartment? But I have to remind myself she's not just a macaw, she's my macaw. She's Kiwi. And we've been together for the past three and a half years and I am not going to leave her behind.

Anyway, for now I sit and pack as Kiwi keeps singing beside me, as we wait for the next big chapter in our lives.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I'm so proud of you for taking your commitment to Kiwi so seriously. 3 1/2 years is a very long time to sustain interest in anything when you're a teenager. Many people years, even decades older than you don't. I hope she adjusts well to her new environment and I suspect she will because you love her so much and have prepared so well.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Congrats on the new digs! I am super thrilled you and Kiwi a nice place! Finding a bird-friendly apartment can be a challenge sometimes, but I'm in Winnipeg, and we're NOTORIOUSLY non-pet friendly out here. Finding a place for dogs was almost impossible about 10 years ago. And if they allow pets, they don't always accept birds. AAARG! I hear Toronto is more accepting because of Fluffy's law.

Anyway, good luck with the move! Hope to hear more about your adventures!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Fluffy's law? What's that? A Canadian thing?

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Are you having any roommates? What I remember from my undergrad days is that I had about 24 hours of classroom time a week. If you can study in your apartment you will have plenty of time with Kiwi while you're in school. It sounds like a very good, well thought out plan to me. Kiwi is so lucky to have a parront like you.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Fluffy's law? What's that? A Canadian thing?

Fluffy's law was brought in about 20? 30? Years ago (Not sure of exactly when), that prevents landlords from denying a person housing because thye have a pet in the Canadian province of Ontario. Some landlords got around it by charging a full $400 and up PER ANIMAL so they didn't have to deal with animals. I think BC also has something like it. They tried bringing it here in Manitoba, but there was a HUGE backlash from people.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

$400 per month or as a deposit? Some pets could easily cause enough damage to use up a $400 damage deposit but monthly would be a lot for furry or feathered roommates that don't pay their own rent!
I guess I have mixed feelings about allowing pets in a rental because I had a condo I rented out for several years. I certainly wouldn't mind pets that didn't destroy the place like your typical potty trained dogs or cats but some people don't have typical pets, or should I say don't train their pets to be good tenants. It's never the animal's fault.
It's sad that people with pets have so much trouble finding rentals that allow them. Parrots seem to be even harder to accommodate than furry pets because they can be so vocal. Personally. I'd much rather have a loud parrot in an apartment above or below me than a child that is out of control or neighbors who play loud music.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

$400 per month or as a deposit? Some pets could easily cause enough damage to use up a $400 damage deposit but monthly would be a lot for furry or feathered roommates that don't pay their own rent!
I guess I have mixed feelings about allowing pets in a rental because I had a condo I rented out for several years. I certainly wouldn't mind pets that didn't destroy the place like your typical potty trained dogs or cats but some people don't have typical pets, or should I say don't train their pets to be good tenants. It's never the animal's fault.
It's sad that people with pets have so much trouble finding rentals that allow them. Parrots seem to be even harder to accommodate than furry pets because they can be so vocal. Personally. I'd much rather have a loud parrot in an apartment above or below me than a child that is out of control or neighbors who play loud music.

$400 per animal as a deposit. Here in Manitoba, it's usually half a month's rent, PLUS your security deposit (which around here is half a month's rent). All together, I paid $1000 to get my apartment. It adds up when you're low-income.

The good news is that most people are good tenants. I'm not the greatest noise-wise, and the litter box could be kept cleaner, but I'm not neglectful. It's always the bad apples that spoil it for everyone . I, too, wouldn't mind a bird-owning neighbor. MUCH better than the next-door neighbor I once had - in a small apartment building!- who held dance parties until 2 am. I mean, I don't mind parties once in a while, but this was every freaking weekend. And you could hear people having s*x. Oy. Just.... oy!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

My downstairs neighbor while I was in law school was a Hispanic music video producer who worked out of the apartment. He had parties until 3 am several times a week and the pounding music drove me crazy so I moved out.

 

[rheashard2]

Hope you and Kiwi have a great experience. A word of caution. Do not advertise to folks that you have a parrot. It can be stolen. Then sold on a corner, 'parent/kid/spouse' sick, gas, utilitybill etc. I need 100 USD sometimes less for the medicine, gas etc. These days the tech is tenant affordable for watching absent apartments. A voice actived recorder is suggested for neighbors complaining about noise. It may not be your Kiwi. Good luck.

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

BTDT. I got my macaw when I was a teenager as well. My macaw went away to college and grad school with me. Then he moved with me from city to city and different countries for my career and now retirement. Have cage, will travel! We have been best friends for 50 years. The stories we could tell! Wishing you two a lifetime of happiness. It is a very rewarding experience!