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Post by Angela on Jan 7, 2016 22:41:31 GMT -5
Hi everyone, Nope still haven't made up my mind with regards to getting the little QP I feel in love with! Just trying to understand how I would go in different situations in my life with a QP. So we travel probably 1 or 2 nights each month. The options are: We leave the bird home with my youngest son. He would catch the bus and be at our house for say 2 hours before his brother would pick him up after work and then go to his house. So we either could send bird and youngest son to oldest sons house, or just get youngest son to let QP out for a couple of hours feed etc then put him away and leave QP home alone for the night then same routine the next day. Or if we go in our caravan we could possible take QP with us, but not sure how that would work?? They need quiet time for 10 to 12 hours, so I could put the cage in the bathroom of the caravan but I get up to go to the loo 2 or 3 times a night (I know don't ask, lol) so I would disturb the QP in the bathroom and there isn't another 'room' as such in the caravan to put him in. So how would he go being disturbed 2 or 3 times a night?? Thanks again for all your information in helping me decide if I should get a QP  Ang |
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Post by biteybird on Jan 7, 2016 23:37:46 GMT -5
Hi again, Ang! It's good that you are not rushing to a decision regarding a QP. I'd say if you are still feeling that ambiguous about it, probably best not to do it at this point. We go to our caravan every 2nd weekend or so and take Bonnie with us. She uses her 'sleep' cage while we're away. We've had her cage in the bathroom when she's been noisier than usual (whatever THAT means, LOL!  ) and in another middle room that people walk through at night. As long as her cage is covered we never hear a peep out of her. To be honest I don't think a few bathroom visits during nights would be a problem (at least in our experience). Hope this helps. |
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Post by beccilouise on Jan 8, 2016 3:52:17 GMT -5
Hi Angela! I agree with biteybird. It's definitely good you are not rushing into the decision. I travel with Byron a lot. We bought him a sizeable holiday cage and fill it with toys whenever I travel to festivals or to perform. He actually really likes the new environment and, as long as he's with me, it doesn't upset him. I've actually read somewhere that travelling with your birds (as long as it's not ridiculous) is actually good for them in terms of reducing aggressive and territorial behavior. Our bathroom at home is right opposite the pet room and you can hear the loo being flushed from the other side of the door, but it never seems to disturb Byron to the extent that he makes noise, calls or is distressed. I wouldn't say that 1 or 2 days a month is a ridiculous amount of travel and it may well help to prevent the bird from being too territorial and help them cope with other foreseeable difficulties in the future, like moving house or changing cage.
Best of luck.
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Post by Angela on Jan 9, 2016 3:46:34 GMT -5
And yet I find myself getting onto this forum several times a day to read, read, read!!! I've been on holidays for 2 weeks and I have wasted hours and hours reading from all you lovely people! I'm guessing that's telling me something hahaha
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Post by wsteinhoff on Jan 9, 2016 4:22:03 GMT -5
I haven't done much travel with Bishop but when I had Alex my sparrow she went on car rides, backpacking trips, and camping trips and loved every second of it all. I think it'd be fine to travel with a quaker, if it were me I'd rather have him with me traveling knowing he's alright than at home wondering how things are going.
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Post by Angela on Jan 9, 2016 5:59:26 GMT -5
Yes I was thinking the same wsteinhoff |
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Post by easttex on Jan 9, 2016 6:21:48 GMT -5
And yet I find myself getting onto this forum several times a day to read, read, read!!! I've been on holidays for 2 weeks and I have wasted hours and hours reading from all you lovely people! I'm guessing that's telling me something hahaha Your time here will not have been wasted if you wind up getting a Quaker. |
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Post by beccilouise on Jan 9, 2016 6:32:42 GMT -5
I planned to get a parrot or parakeet about 6 months ago but, until I met Byron, had no idea I'd be getting a Quaker. Luckily, I'd read up on almost all the smaller parrot species, including Quakers, Senegals, Meyers, 'tiels, parrotlets and even the pionus parrot so I knew what I was getting into when I brought Byron home. However, even with all that knowledge, I got him home and, a bit like when you bring home a baby, I was like 'oh god, what am I doing?' I loved him to bits immediately but was SO TERRIFIED I would hurt him, or make him unhappy, or he would tick off our neighbours, or my partner would hate him. Everyone on this forum was incredibly supportive and I feel that Byron has not only settled in well, but that I am prepared for all the hormonal changes he will go through later in life and have a fairly solid idea of how to deal with new behaviours when they arise. I also know that everyone on here will always give positive advice without judgement and they always have my bird's best interests at heart. It's definitely good not to rush into getting one of these little guys. They live for a long time and are not low maintenance pets. Having said that, I have found that I am still able to carry out all the activities I was doing previously, it's just that many of them now involve a parrot! Being on the road previously when I was going to perform in all sorts of places was very lonely. Now, it isn't. Byron seems invigorated by the travel. I think he'd be stressed if it was every other day and involved ridiculous train changes and all that, but for the most part, it's a good stimulus for him and keeps his mind active. Impulse buying a bird is never a good idea, because there are so many things to know and consider and so many people are ignorant about their birds and end up hurting them simply because they don't know what they're doing. Taking your time doesn't mean you shouldn't get your lovely little Quaker, it actually just means you'll make a better human companion if you do decide to get your bird. There are lots of awesome books you can get that will teach you about your bird and what to expect. If a friendship with a bird is entered into with full knowledge, commitment, an open mind and an understanding of the bird's nature, these little guys can make really, really rewarding companions. I've stopped seeing Byron as a pet really. He keeps me as much as I keep him. He's a companion with intelligence, ingenuity (and definite attitude!) so I owe him the respect of understanding his needs so that we can both live happily. Wanting to ensure your bird is happy if you get it is definitely the first step to being a good bird friend |
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Post by Angela on Jan 9, 2016 6:48:39 GMT -5
Oh I agree easttex!!!! I love love love how supportive and positive everyone on this forum has been I don't feel like I'm wasting my time at all Even though I've said I've not made up my mind, I still find myself here all the time.... I thought it was funny Beccilouise, you seem to have had Byron for only a short time but it's obvious you've done your research. You seem to have a wealth of information on these little guys (as does everyone else!) As you've said everyone here is very supportive and non judgemental. It's really wonderful It is good to know they could adjust to travel. I would hate it if he took a disliking to my youngest son and he in turn became a bit frightened by my QP which would leave them both feeling horrible if we went away. I wouldn't like that so it's good to know other's have travelled with their QP's. Thanks again for everyone's support Ang |
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Post by easttex on Jan 9, 2016 7:23:05 GMT -5
I didn't mean to sound like I was chastising you, Ang. Just trying to be funny back. |
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Post by Angela on Jan 9, 2016 7:27:17 GMT -5
Oh I didn't think you were :)I understood what you meant Thanks! |
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Post by aaron on Jan 10, 2016 20:32:16 GMT -5
Angela, it's really great that you're putting so much time and thought into the decision. It's not a decision to be taken lightly and if only everyone that brings a parrot into their life was as thorough about it as you are, things would be much better for parrots in general Kudos to you! And I agree with the others, a couple slight disturbances in the vicinity of the cage during the night really shouldn't be a problem, especially once the bird is used to it. Interestingly, it's not 10-12 hours of sleep that's important (although of course sleep is important), but simply darkness. If their internal clocks see increasing amounts of daylight in a 24 hour period, it can jumpstart the hormones that say "Ooh, the days are getting longer, it must be springtime!" But as long as they experience 10-12 hours of dark each day, it should be fine, even if there are a few noises here and there that disturb them while they are in the dark. Obviously it's ideal for them to be as undisturbed as possible, but a little bit is not going to pose an issue. I love this forum. It's got such a great group of people and we all just want to help as much as possible. We all know how complicated and challenging these little chickens are, so it's important for us to be there for each other!!  |
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Post by Angela on Jan 10, 2016 23:40:17 GMT -5
Thanks heaps Aaron for your input! Yes I'm loving this forum too! So many lovely and helpful people! |
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) and in another middle room that people walk through at night. As long as her cage is covered we never hear a peep out of her. To be honest I don't think a few bathroom visits during nights would be a problem (at least in our experience).
