Hate to say it, but the college years are not the best in terms of getting a parrot and providing the best of care for him and building the bond your looking for. Late nite study hours, part time job maybe, and socializing with classmates and or a SO, don;t leave much time for a parrot, who needs to have 4-6 out of cage hours, and preferable 1-2 hours one on one interaction with you EVERYDAY. You miss a day, and trust me a parrot knows and can show their irritation and maybe more than irritation.
You want to be firmly established in your new career and where you will live before taking on a parrot.
We see this time and time again. A student gets a parrot and then realizes how much work goes into just keeping him healthy and fed and cage clean, never mind quality time with them, and another parrot gets rehomed.
I can 100% see where you’re coming from, but my situation is a little different.
My life consists of going to college, coming home and plonking myself onto the couch.
I might got a cycle or a quick run, but that’s it really.
I’m hoping to get a parrot because I (at least think) feel I have enough time and resources to dedicate.
With college I usually have one short day (2 hours, + my commute), 3 long days (home at 6), 1 half day (Friday), working Saturday and maybe Sunday (where I’ll be around in the morning and later that evening/early night).
I’m not really a typical college student in the sense that I live with my parents, I don’t go out, and I have some disposable income.
I’d hate to get a parrot (or any pet for that matter) if I didn’t feel I could dedicate the necessary time and energy to that animal.
Strongly advise against this in college..Sorry this is long and please don't think I am some nasty, negative old hag...I am so glad you are hear, and I think a parrot would be a fine pet for you---in the future..
1. You have no idea what you will do for a living and even if you do know, if it requires odd hours, travel or a move, that is way more complicated with a bird.
1.A You will need a minimum of 4 hours of out-of-cage time/ interaction with your bird...You will need to wake up earlier, not just because the bird has to be uncovered at the same time daily, but also because you will have to cook and prepare chop and clean for it...Don't underestimate how that can complicate a morning routine. If you work until 6, then no dinner with friends or anything...you need to see that bird. A bird that goes to bed at 9 will sometimes wake up earlier due to light, which is a problem due to their need for 12 hours (10 being the absolute bare minimum, and not enough for many)...so if 6pm is bedtime, then 6am wakeup...7pm bedtime=7am wakeup...You could split 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the evening, but then you are waking your bird up 2 hours earlier in order to make sure he gets that time--see what I mean?
With a career (which you will have at some point) these hours can get VERY tricky and you shouldn't commit to something as needy and intelligent as a bird until you know that you have a job with predictable hours and solid pay that you plan on sticking with (like a "dad" job)...Also-- you have to be home at roughly the same time every night--
So let's say you work until 6pm...you get home at 6:30...you get the bird out and frantically try to make dinner but that's not enough because you actually need to play some etc--- 6:30 + the 4 hours =10:30 =VERY late for a bird's bedtime..The huge problem here, is that if you work at 8AM, you have to uncover your bird before work, which means you are waking your bird up without even close to enough sleep and this is just terrible for their health and hormones. I cannot emphasize how much sleep on a schedule matters! That is only 9.5 hours-- which is honestly not enough.. I know it sounds like a lot, but people who do not have their birds getting enough sleep often have hormonal, behavior and health issues that they never connect to the lack of sleep.
ALSO-- puberty hits in many birds around 4 years, so let's say you are a freshman now, when you actually do get a job, you will be dealing with a MUCH more complicated pet than the one you adopted, as personality changes so much at puberty.
Co-workers want to do dinner and drinks? You can't--got to get home for the bird...Want to stay at a special "someone's" house overnight? That's going to be tricky with a bird...like a kid, but less accepting of change and more susceptible to death by chemicals in the air.
2. You have to wake your bird up and put it to bed w/ 12 hours sleep. College is all about odd hours and late nights- not the best for the bird...and you will want to sleep in, not wake up everyday to uncover your bird (which is a must). Think about people with kids who don't ever get to sleep in...On top of that, if you are loud, your bird will not sleep well...even if you don't hear them.
3. THEY ARE EXPENSIVE---and you are in college...When you graduate, student loans come due....No walk in the park financially, as federal loan payments increase w/ income...so basically, you will be stressed financially...
4. People in college move around a lot and live in apartments often which can be very unfair to birds and also unsafe in terms of noise (eviction), and neighbors smoking, maintenance painting halls, spraying for bugs, people using teflon etc.
5.UNTIL you are in the place you plan to live for a very long time, and until you have a career (not just and idea-- but a genuine contract with set hours and something that pays consistently), a bird is not the best idea.
6. You could meet a woman or man who is unwilling to adjust their entire life for this bird (yes, I know, it's easy to say, "well I wouldn't date them."..but let's be real, they could LOVE animals and like the idea of a bird but not be ready for a feathered kid)-They could also have cats or multiple dogs and while it can be done, there is risk for sure.....So many lifestyle changes are required in terms of not using Teflon/ptfe/pfoa/pfcs.. That alone is huge, as they are in everything and it's a massive pain....because the label won't tell you, so you have to call and that can take days...
7. There could be no more candles, or scented products...no burning food...no standard cleaners..no essential oils, plug-ins, air fresheners, aerosols etc.
8. What if you want to travel? Don't just assume you can easily plop your bird off somewhere-- it will likely bond to you...travelling with a bird is very complicated because boarding them risks disease and a bird sitter is WAY easier said than done. Plus, it all costs money, and while people will offer to watch your bird, what happens if those people can't touch your bird while you are away?
9. They live FOREVER so there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for you to rush into this. Yes, you want it....But if you wouldn't deliberately have a child with extreme allergies and special needs who can fly and never grows up (at this juncture in your life)...then you are not ready for a parrot...They get screwed over a lot despite the intelligence of children, and with that intelligence comes the tantrums and behaviors that you often see in toddlers too...forever...plus hormones... This bird will be like a kid. Seriously--imagine life with a kid but make sure you think about the future and the fact that kids are way easier in terms of socializing and chemicals (plus they don't fly or scream as loudly..among other things).
10. They need a quiet dark space to sleep...Sleep is so huge for their immune health, mood etc..That is often VERY difficult in college... Plus, if you have roommates, policing their use of unsafe products will quickly make you want to pull your hair out...Promise...
11. Do you have a reliable avian certified vet near you? An exotics vet is not the same. In keeping with that, do you have a reliable car with AC and heat that will get you there and back (as well as the money to pay for yearly vet visits, as well as testing and added visits as needed?)
I am not trying to be dismissive or a kill-joy, but these guys are like kids with more specific needs and they are a ton of work--I believe that if you try to do this before you are settled, either you or the bird will miss out on a lot...Wait until you have the money, schedule and house to make this all work.
