I (16f) own two birds, a cockatiel (1.5m) and a parrotlet (6.5m), who I love so much. This is about my parrotlet. He is very noisy and has bad separation anxiety with me. I got him at a couple of months old, when he was extremely sick, and he was for 2 years, to the point he had to be resuscitated. I gave him all his meds, trained him for his stress and plucking, constantly watching him 24/7. Because of that, he is deeply bonded with me, he hates everyone else, and screams bloody murder if I’m not in his line of view. (Yes, parrotlets scream, ppl who tell you otherwise are lying, my neighbors can hear him.)
I have ASD, and the loud noise overwhelms me. Usually, he would be just fine in my room, but my mother banned them from being in here and from the main house, because she thinks they are an eyesore.
Here is where I might be the asshole
I take college-grade online psychology courses and need the quiet to study properly. Since he can’t be in my room, I go to comfort/distract/check on him every 10-20 minutes. I can’t give him many seeds because of his weak heart. So the only other thing I can do is cover his cage with the sheet we use at night. It calms him down, and I only do it for an hour max, only when I really need to focus.
My mom says it’s abusive and I’m punishing him, I love him so much, but I really need to be quiet to study. So… AITAH for covering his cage so I can study?
You only do it for an hour? It’s probably good for him to chill out and for you too. How is it abusive? NTA.
NTA
Bird would be dead without you but lives a good life.
Unfortunately will be very difficult to train this out of him (but not that you shouldn’t try)
But sometimes the safest solution needs to happen , although could also look at work around a, possibly taking out of cage and letting him hang with you on shoulder while working etc
Not a bird or bird owner, but NTA. If it calms him down, what’s the problem? Im sure all the stress of him screaming is worse on him / his heart than him being a calm little bird with a sheet on top. Does he handle well? Maybe go pirate-esque and have him chill on your shoulder or nearby while you study.
Nta if it calms him down that means he’s not stressed and it’s only an hour
So…moving him out of your room “because he’s an eyesore” ISN’T abusive, but caring for him and yourself the best you can as a result IS? NTA…Your mom is.
Right? If mom is SO concerned, then the bird should be wherever is best/healthiest for it, not were she thinks is aesthetically best.
The reason they went to my room in the first place is that she thought they made the lounge ugly, like wtf it’s a living bein,g not a badly drawn portrait
NTA
Covering an animals field of view can reduce anxiety in most cases. Commonly used on dogs and horses. Nothing wrong with it and if it works it works.
Your mom is really weird, man. Anyways, no you are doing a great job.
NTA. You’re not harming him. The problem here is your mom. She sounds like she wants you to get rid of him and is doing anything she can to push you to do so.
My husband’s parrot is an asshole. I cover her with a towel whenever she’s screaming like like a fool and I don’t care. Your bird will manage for short duration when you need to.
nta
Can you cover 3 sides of the cage instead of all 4?
I used to do that with my birds and it helped.
I had a lorikeet.
I miss her so much.
INFO: Why would you post your question here instead of a parrot-focused subreddit? I know enough about parrots to know that I don’t know *anything* about parrots, and I’m sure the vast majority of redditors don’t even know they know nothing. You should post this to people who have experience with parrots.
Edit: Try r/parrots
There have got to be birds subs here on Reddit where you could get some experienced advice. I love that you have taken such good care of this little bird being, and your cockatiel.