Caring for Multiple Birds

[CrazyforCockatiels]

We have two 'tiels whom we love very much and who have quickly become family members. Each day, they eat meals with us, socialize with us and spend out-of-cage time on their play perch. We clean their cages daily and they get baths daily (from a spray bottle). We talk to them and play music for them, and, in short, they know they're loved and cherished.

My question, in light of all of this, is- How do those of you with more than a couple of birds manage to give the birds valuable attention and playtime as well as tend to their various, sometimes daily, needs (hygiene, food, vet visits...)?

My husband, son and I saw a sun conure recently and, after much contemplation, decided not to adopt him or any other bird for that matter. We feel we cannot give the time to another bird. When one becomes a bird lover, as we've quickly discovered, the drive (or compulsion?) to acquire more birds is strong. We would love to adopt another bird (or more), but realistically, we feel we couldn't honor another commitment to another avian friend.

My husband works a typical 9-5 job with weekends off. I am a freelance writer and editor and am able to stay home and work. Our son is five and will be in kindergarten in the fall. We have an active life on the weekends but are mostly home during the week after work and school. Still, we feel we cannot give more time to more birds.

How do you all do it? Do you give up certain activities to make more time for your birds? In closing, please don't think this is a diatribe on multiple bird ownership. I am sincerely interested in other members' time and dedication taken toward their birds.

Thank you in advance,
Laura

[tielmama]

It's funny to me that you started this thread, because I was thinking of you guys and your lucky birdies yesterday. It's true that the more birds you have, the less one on one they get. A person can work around that fact by placement of bird cages and little tricks to include all the birdies or make them think they are included. I have a room with french doors for my tiels, one canary and two gouldian finches. The door has to be closed because they are free in there and I have 4 dogs, three of which cannot be trusted with birds. They have a great birdie life because of their freedom and company of other birds, but I feel bad that they aren't out where I can talk to them more. I take my U2 and Sennie in there while I clean. My husband and I go in there a lot to visit them, but most of the time they can just see us. You are using will power and wisdom by leaving it the way you have it. Your birds are getting a good quality of caged birdie life. I have MANY times NOT had the will power when MBS got the better of me. I once had over 30 birds. I'm retired now, so my birds get constant attention. Oh, and I have to admit something else. Ever since I have had birds, my husband says he can't get me out of the house. Much less out of town for more than a day. I do give up doing some things to stay with my birds and make sure they are taken care of. Bird people are weird!

[jimpierce7]

actually here its pretty easy. Different birds have different needs. Sophie is a very independent bird. She likes my involvement occasionally but not in a cuddly sense. She wants attention on her terms. Benji is just now after two years starting to warm up to me, finally!! Just last night for the first time ever he came up and sat on my shoulder all by himself!
Zoey is my love bug. She likes to be held, head scritches and played with as often as I will. She gets tired of the attention and decides its time to go play else where after about 30 to 56 minutes.
Cricket gets lots of attention from me and my wife as he is her bird. He needs a lot of attention and gets it too!!
Sophie is the only one who likes birdy bath time. She loves the misting shower head in the shower. She would stay there for hours if I let her. Outside of their own water bowls the other three barely tolerate me giving them a shower evr with a Mister Myster.
The four we have keep me busy but I like it. I pay them all the attention they want and as I work in the same place as I live, I see them all day as well.

[CrazyforCockatiels]

Thanks so much, Tielmama and JimPierce7. I guess the answer seems to be that whatever situation people find themselves in, they adapt. If we were to get more birds or just one more, we'd adapt and make the proper sacrifices (or, if one doesn't like this word- adjustments- although sometimes I feel there are sacrifices to be made with anything or anyone.)

Tielmama, I appreciate your compliment: You are using will power and wisdom by leaving it the way you have it. My husband and I do struggle with our love of all things avian now that we've adopted these two 'tiels and we go back and forth as to whether or not we could give the love and care to another bird at this time in our lives.

Even though we've decided that now is not the time, perhaps at another time we'll be ready to add another fid to our household. It's also hard with a five year-old as he isn't as besotted with the birds as we are and the attention we give to the birds isn't a shared activity with him so he sometimes feels left out. We are trying to include him in anything having to do with the birds, even if it's only removing their cage covers in the morning and retrieving Percy's food bits that she tosses over the edge of her play perch. (Our son thinks this is hysterical.)

Anyhow, thanks again, avian compatriots! I appreciate your thoughts on this topic.

[svolk]

I have struggled with the issue of "how many can I handle" many times. And I have reached my limit currently, and that is partially based on my birds' personalities. Jerry and Lulu were with us first and the decision to add Winston was agonizing. I figured it could either work out wonderful and have a playmate for Jerry, or it could backfire and all 3 hate each other - then I would have some troubles.

Luckily things are going well, but it was a very hard decision to make the jump to 3 birds. Some people think that "just another budgie" is no big deal, but it's a very big deal to me and to my other birds. And we're still working on getting Winston tamed down so that's a big hurdle in itself.

But we are at our limit now. I would love to add a Sennie, or maybe a caique, or maybe an Amazon - but the budgies wouldn't mesh well with any other species I believe. Jerry is VERY nosy and up in everyone's business - that spells trouble for me. And my husband and I are still young and, therefore, work M-F. Having separate out of cage times are not possible at this stage. And my tiel is very independent and I don't think she would appreciate another addition.

[ROYJOY]

i seems, correct me if im wrong, that you are worried more about time taken from your other birds than time from your son? you used the word sacrifice. dont sacrifice your son. if i had a five year old, he would take all my time, i wouldnt have birds, or any other distraction till the child was at least 10 and more able to do more things for himself, and mature enough to compete with the birds for your attention. just my opinion.

[CrazyforCockatiels]

Svolk~ Thanks so much for your honest assessment of your situation. You sound like you aren't letting bird mania control your lives and I applaud you for that. You are an inspiration!

Hi ROYJOY. We would be concerned with time taken away from not only our two 'tiels but everything else that encompasses our world and our lives as a family unit as well as individuals, if we were to get another bird or birds.

We aren't concerned with attention taken away from our son as he always comes first and most things that we do involve him. Also, care of one's animals, be it birds, dogs, cats, or other pets is a wonderful way to share respect and responsibility for life with one's child.

It is also important for both me and my husband to have our own interests so our son sees that it is acceptable for him to develop his own interests and this, in turn, fosters independence in him.

Thank you for your input!

[ROYJOY]

just checking, thanx.

[Monica]

Out of all 14 birds here, only two really ask or demand for attention... all the others may enjoy attention but from a distance... i.e. they liked to be talked to, sung to, or may enjoy my company, but nothing more... thus, I don't push them if they don't really want to be handled.

None of the budgies are tame, however I can still get them, and the "wild" cockatiels (Kiwi, Pistachio, and semi-tame daughter) to eat out of my hands. The budgies are much more willing however to eat out of my hands as I've worked with them more on that. Now, if they have food in their cage they may choose to ignore my instead, no big deal.

Casey is the only tiel who demands hands on interaction, but she's also just as happy to entertain herself. Tomi Girl enjoys my company and enjoys coming out of the cage and flying about... but she's not really big on being handled. The rest of the tiels (Kirby adopted) are content as is.

Noel is more reserved, so other than kisses, being taxied around (to where she wants since she can't fly), and the occasional scritch if I can, she's content to be as is.

Charlie on the other hand is the most demanding bird here... he'd be happy if he was permanetly attached to my hip, or rather shoulder! I don't really mind handling him for several hours each day, however I've got some sort of allergy that has caused dermatographism.... or rather, whenever I get scratched by something I break out in welts, where I was scratched... being Charlie is the strongest bird, his nails really dig into me... or when he bites me... I don't react to the other birds in this way... just to him... so handling him is much more difficult. I don't have any long sleeve shirts, and its gotten too warm to wear sweaters (in the summer).... so thus I must either keep him on my hand or shoulder, permitting he doesn't lung at my face.... or put him on a table-top gym. When I put him back in his cage, I have to hold him around his rump area or else I can't get him in without him biting me...

[raddaughter]

Like Jim said, having different birds means supplementing different needs. The more you have, the less time you will get to spend with each individual.

I try to get my birds out for at least 4 hours a day. Whether it's on their play stands or beign cuddled, I like for them to be out and about. During the day, when it's quiet, I take Echo into the school room with me. He plays while I work. He has a more independent side. Harley, however, needs that constant love. You can't just leave her alone as she will beg. She is ok alone, for awhile, but.

I strive for the individual attention. It seems that I have gotten more used to the together aspect rather than giving them each their own time with me. But, I try :) I think it depends on the bird. Echo has made it clear I am him person and nobody else is allowed to give him scritches like I am, flip him over, etc...