Work During the Day?

[kensbuns]

I work 9-9 and my fiancee works 7-5. I have big birds that seem absolutely content until we get home. No pluckers here!! Routine is the answer!

[The Outlaw]

Hi, I agree with the others. I would not get a second quaker for all that you'll accomplish is having two bonded birds that don't need you. If you decide on a second bird, try a different species. Maybe a cockatiel. JMHO

[TooLover]

It really is about routine - I have 7 parrots that allow me to live here - I have no pluckers (knock on wood) and 4 of them are cockatoos, who supposedly are most infamous for plucking. If you get the bird used to your routine you should have no problem. Mine know when it is the weekend and they "demand" their time out, and they get it. During the week I work 8 - 5, so I can support them.
Also, as Monica said, please no mirros! she really is one smart girl!

[volvobirds]

I work 2nd shift and my BF works swings of either 5 or 7 days. plus we have his kids (10 &11) every weekend, in addition to my son who usually drops in every weekend from his house.

everyone is doing fine so far. no pluckers here either! I have a ritual of sorts, every day before I go to work, I tell them that "mommas gotta go to work, gottsa make the money for the bird food!". then I tell them "see ya later!" then Bye Bye! I get the chorus of chirps and little voices saying Bye Bye. we figure why just up and dissapear and make the birds wonder where you went?

the gang here gets about 2hrs in the am before I get around for work. 1 gets to go with me while I get my shower and get dressed. they mainly just muck around there, but we have bird proofed it so we can have them in there like that. my BF gets them out according to his schedule. when BF's kids get here, the birds go nuts. they know it means more attention for them! plus the kids also say they like hearing the "Hellos" when they come.

[gummi_bear44]

Thank You Everyone!!! You all have been wonderful. I appreciate all the advice and feel much more comfortable. Right now I don't give my self much time to start getting ready in the morning but I guess I'll start before my I bring my little birdie home. Wow, haven't even paid the deposit on him yet and already altering my life, It's amazing how quick we are to change for our beloved pets. I've thought about getting a calender of sorts and putting it where the bird can see it and move a marker of some kind along each day of the week and that way when it gets to our days off he'll know it's his day. Thanks again everyone for all your wonderful advice! And I promise NO mirrors!

[Spinnergirl]

Your gonna be a great mommy :)

Good luck picking out your bird..it'll be a great experience I hope.

It's so exciting when someone gets there first bird because alot of us can't remember a time before birds!! he he

I still can though and I cherish the memory of picking out my first tiel and watching her grow and then eventually come to live with me :)

Pictures and more pictures :)

[Stasia]

My husband and I also work during the day and I think our bird is fine. We of course give him lots of toys and as soon as he knows we are home, we starts calling to us. He usually stays out with us from right after we get home until 9, then we give him some time to settle down on his cage (he loves to be ON it, not IN it) and then it's time for bed.

I also strongly agree with Monica about the mirrors. I let my birds see one once in while outside of their cage and my tiel has fun looking around it and trying to figure it out, it's too cute. But I had tried a mirror IN the cage once when I had my plet and he became really upset. At first we thought it was just cute and he was sort of playing, getting all puffed up and yelling at it, but quickly realized how upset he was. Plus he had just started lunging at it so hard I was worried he could hurt himself trying to defend his cage.

Like some of the others here, I also leave a radio softly on for my tiel. Not loud enough so he can't sleep if he wants to though. Good luck, you'll be great as a new bird owner I'm sure!

Stasia

[cant_have_just_one]

OMG! Why do they sell mirrors!!! UGH!! Derby will now be mirror-less in about 30 seconds!
Is that for all birds? Even Budgies?

[Monica]

The mirror goes the same for all birds... there are a few exceptions where the bird is closely bonded to the human, however I still don't advise giving any bird a mirror, even if it's a only bird because the problem is because they WILL think it is another bird...

I'm sure that many people wouldn't enjoy living in a small bedroom for their entire life with only a mirror to interact with! So therefore, I see no point in doing the same thing to a bird.