Need to know if daily routine is enough to handle a bird.

[AJrockstar]

Hi Everybody! I'm new to the forum. I was considering buying/adopting a conure but I don't know if I, being 13 and a student, would be able to give the bird enough daily attention. Do conure's need a lot of attention? I leave for the bus at 7 a.m. and get home at 5:30 p.m. I know that you can put toys in the cage to keep the bird happy/busy, but I'm still concerned. I REALLY want to adopt a bird. Give it a nice home and a BIG cage. For the cage we're talking:
WIDTH: 25"
LENGTH:25"
HEIGHT:30"
(My dad's a contracter so he likes building stuff.) Your help would be awesome! But if you think a conure (or any other bird) wouldn't work for me, just say. Thanks!

 

[MikeyTN]

If your family would join in on caring and playing with the bird then it would be good. Being a teenager, will you have time to spend with the bird? I have taken in a few birds from families that got the bird for their kids because they wanted them then one day friends were more important then the bird. They no longer care for them then the parents tries to find the birds new home....

 

[AJrockstar]

Well you don't have to worry about friends. I have tons of friends but I prefer to stay home lol. I have to dogs, but they are outside-only dogs. I need an indoor friend. But once the track season is over, I'll be home at 3:45 normally. I also have fridays off of track. My parents could chip in too. Sometimes my dad stays home. Maybe 1-2 days a week. Oh I forgot weekends, he has those off too.

 

[pittiepride]

Perhaps you should consider a smaller and cheaper bird to start with that may require less attention. Cockatiels, or lovebird might be a good match. The lovebird is small enough you can bring him and the cage anywhere, Like when you are at a friends for a sleepover or going away for the weekend.
In my experience the whole family has to be on board and everyone has to pitch in with the bird somehow. So dad and mom should be part of the daily routine as well.

kj

 

[HRH Di]

Considering your age, I think this should be a family decision. Your parents are going to end up giving more time to your bird than you think. Not an accusation or anything, they just take lots more time than you expect, until you have one. I definitely wouldn't advise against it, but realize that as much time as yo think you're going to have to give, it's going to be double at least.

That said, our Alexandrine is our 17 year old son's bird. He's very good with Max and he loves to spend time playing with Max. He also is the primary care-taker.

 

[Adz]

I leave for work at 8:00. I get my bird out at about 7:15, change his food and let him play. He sits and has breakfast with me then I put him back to finish up eating. I get home at 5:30-6:00 and then he's out for the rest of the night until I go to bed. He's also out most of the day on weekend.

He's got a great cage with lots of toys and seems to cope really well. I'd love to be home more but hey, that's life. My Girlfriend also spends time with him which is great. You need to have the whole family involved or risk your bird not taking to them.

Avoid a Sun Conure I'd say, noise could be a problem. Mine is a Green Cheek.

 

[sofiaee]

If you do get a bird, no matter what kind, make sure to socialize it with your family, and make sure they continue to at least spend some time with it so that if need be they can take care of it for awhile. You don't want anyone to resent your bird (like my dad does )

 

[MikeyTN]

Just letting you know your replying to a very old thread back in 2011, those members aren't even active much anymore....

 

[sofiaee]

Just letting you know your replying to a very old thread back in 2011, those members aren't even active much anymore....

Oh weird! It came to the top in bold blue so I assumed it was new. My bad!

 

[MikeyTN]

No problem! In each individual thread you can see the date they were created and the last day it was responded.