I'm having a baby....

[Parrott number 2]

Hello... I have had Okane (my pineapple conure) for a little over a half a year now. I have recently discovered that i will be having a baby. This causes a little concern because although my bird is my world right now, when the baby arrives i don't want her to feel threatened. Or my worse fear latch onto my baby with the beak of death lol... Okane is very smart though, she is still molting and i have potty trained her! If anyone has young kids and birds, are there any precautions i can take or things that can be taught to Okane?

[mmr]

Just don't leave them unattended together. When your baby starts crawling start teaching him/her that the bird is a no no. Show your bird that the baby isn't a threat and you can share your time equaly.

Also don't forget to give your fid a little mommy time! Just you two.

Congratulations!

[Halo]

Awww Congrats!!!

I think the best thing you can do is show both the same amount of attention, especially when in the same room as the bird. I think birds get more agressive when they feel ignored.

I have two kids who have been taught that the birds that don't like them are best stayed away from. They know not to stick their fingers in the cages or tease the birds. We've had no major bird/kid issues (besides Diddle who likes to dive bomb their heads for fun )

[NaniOokami]

Great advice. :) I too am pregnant, actually - and have a Nanday. I don't want him to feel threatened by the new baby, but I think the worst problem I'm going to have with him is him complaining when I can't get my sorry tushie out of bed in time for him.

Don't mean to hijack your thread, but I have a question, too. There will almost definitely be a Mac in my future. (Still not sure if it'll be a Scarlet or a Severe, leaning somewhat towards the latter.) Is there a good age for baby as to when to add this new Fid to minimize the chances of jealousy? The birds get their own room, so while fingers-in-cage-being-a-nono will definitely be taught, for the most part they'd be out of reach, anyway. Any other precautions you people with big birds take with your young children? Heck, I'm not even completely sure how early I'll be able to handle a new bird after birth, but it's good to plan ahead anyway. :)

[Izzy]

A good idea that a friend of mine did (she has 2 african greys, a cockatiel and 2 budgies), was to carry around a doll for a few weeks, so that the bird's got used to her carrying something around and then when the baby came it wasn't a huge deal. She made sure to give the doll attention too, so that if they were to be jealous they'd have bitten the doll, not the actual baby!

Her daughter is now 2 1/2, and the birds get along fine with her. She knows not to stick her fingers at them, and they are all fully flighted. They try to steal food off of her plate, and she helps her mom scold them when they're naughty.

[Syaoransbear]

Congratulations!

[ndeben]

parrot #2, congrats I have also heard of carrying around a "baby" and showing the parrot attention. You just have to be careful, I am sure you will be able to work with both.

[loyallyroyal]

Thats the biggest thing Ive seen with having a baby with pets is people seem to be over their pets and ignore them so they are jealous.
Just make sure when the baby arrives that your pets have special one on one momma time, even for just 5 minutes.

You could get one of those cds too they make for dogs with baby sounds so your birds get used to what a baby sounds like.

Congrats on keeping your birdy babies! So many people get rid of them.

[MicahEspudo]

Congrats on your new honorary fid !!!