getting a grey worried about leaving for work

That's not the case, though, Meliawen.

I have had Joshua for the best part of sixteen years, I live alone (and have done for all that time), and I am out of the house, in general, between five and eight hours a day and Joshua is by himself during that time.

Joshua is absolutely the happiest, most well-adjusted, tactile, friendly, well-socialised AG imaginable and he is bonded to me.

You have to remember that these birds, even in their flocks in the wild, sleep a lot - up to fourteen hours a day (not all at once, though). So if you're careful to get them into a routine, and you keep to that routine so that the bird knows when to expect you, it should be all right.

Joshua tends to doze when I am out. He is never upset when I leave, although he contact-calls me all the way out. As soon as I come in, he comes out and stays out then until he decides he wants to go to sleep.

Joshua certainly prefers the days when I am at home to those when I am out, but he does not seem to be unduly disgruntled by my absence, as he trusts me to return when he expects me.

If your grey's cage is large enough, and you have sufficient things in the cage to amuse it, it really will adjust to your routine.

So, Angela, if you can dedicate a great deal of your other time to the grey you plan to get, then it will be all right. But if you have a busy out-of-the-house social life, then it might prove problematic.

Lidia

Hi angela,

I totally agree with Lindi. I am out of the house monday to friday for atleast 8 hrs, my partner on the other hand works shift and Charlie has totally bonded with me. It may be because he is in a routine with me and he knows when he can expect me home.

I let him out for an hour while I am getting ready for work to get to the toilet and have breakfast, although it is sometime hard to get him to eat in the morning as he is so hyper!

He is an star and I wouldn't swap him for the world!

Hope this helps your decision!

Debbie

jack is the same way. He is aware of our schedule and has adjusted to it. He also likes the days when I am home and he can be out with me all day, but is aware that I have to work to feed him and put a roof over his head. So like has been said if you can give him most of your at home time he will be fine. It may help Jack that I have 2 other birds in the room with him as well.

Hi again Angela,

The air in our house isn't to bad, but I wouldn't leave a fan on as I don't think Gray appreciate the draughts! We leave the heating on timer is the weather is cold outside, which is often the case in Scotland! We have an air purifier which helps keep the dust down, but we only turn it on when we are in the house because this creates quite a draught too!

When we are out of the house we always leave the radio or televison (music channels) on for Charlie. He loves singing away to the music!

Hope this helps
Debbie

P.S. Sorry Lidia, must have misread the name

I don't think the fan will be a big problem for you, as long as you don't have it blowing right on the bird it's self. I leave the tv on for Jack. He likes all kinds of shows. I try to avoid the animal and discovery channels just to make sure they don't have something on that will give him a scare. He seems pretty content thru out the day.

Hello-
I hand-raised an Amazon years ago, and am now considering an AG. My concern is that I am away for long hours due to my job, so am not sure how this will affect the bird. I consulted with a local parrot expert and his advice was actually that I get a Grey, and that my hours are BETTER for a parrot; his logic is that most people spoil their birds when they first get them, by taking them out all the time, and create a spoiled bird which then develops behavioral problems later on when you don't continue to take them out all the time (if you cannot, for whatever reason). His reasoning was that by getting a bird used to being alone and entertaining himself from a young age, he won't become a brat with behavior problems. Any feelings on this from those of you with Greys? For those of you who took your out every day right from the beginning, do you feel this is not a good idea (ie that it creates behavior problems??)--Thanks.