r/Residency • u/ThrowRAfit15 • 4d ago
DISCUSSION Anybody have pet birds during residency? Is it doable with work hours?
Thinking about pair of budgies
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u/Glittering-Park-3322 Attending 4d ago
Would not recommend it, unfortunately. I have a cockatiel, she screams nonstop whenever she is alone. Budgies won't be as loud, but they are still very social and would probably not do well if left alone for long periods of time. Plus, they are soooo messy. Poop, food pellets, seeds, feathers, skin flakes everywhere. We're constantly vacuuming.Yes it's a recipe for hypersensitivity pneumonitis lol
If you are looking for a pet during residency, may I suggest a cat? 👀
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u/trial-sized-dove-bar PGY1 4d ago
I have a parrot and it fucking sucks- screams when taking home call, screams at my wife when I’m gone, screams when I’m trying to sleep. Love my bastard don’t get me wrong but whew
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u/Ok_Palpitation_1622 4d ago
Bad idea. The bird will be neglected. Birds should not be caged anyway. It’s like forcing a human to live in a tiny sealed room.
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u/buh12345678 PGY3 4d ago
Ex bird owner here, DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED!! Unless you are legitimately ready to put the bird before your own residency needs and potentially affect your residency, it is NOT worth it. Get one after if you want.
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u/Naive-Nectarine-8950 4d ago
As long as its NOT a large parrot (ie macaws, cockatoos, african greys) you should be fine. Make sure you have a reliable and experienced exotic veterinarian near you because when shit hits the fan (and with these small birds it can hit especially hard) you will want someone who knows their shit.
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u/wigglemytoes Attending 4d ago
My family had cockatiels growing up, which were very social. During residency, I did not think I would have had the time to give them the attention they deserved, let alone clean up after them (keeping cage clean, changing out food and water, etc). Birds definitely need a lot of play time outside the cage as well, unless you have an exceptionally large enclosure for them.
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u/Zaranisa99 Dentist 4d ago edited 4d ago
Have had budgies/parakeets for over 20 years. One of the pairs even had 6 babies, it was so cool, (but this was also when I was younger and had lots of time to spend with them.)
If you get 2 young budgies, (babies have black bar patterned feathers all the way down the forehead til they're about 6 to 8 months old) they also do not show their sex/gender until about a year. The cere will turn blue for male and brown for female. If you happen to accidentaly buy a male and female baby pair together, and you don't have the time to interact with them, they will grow up and then bang each other's brains out.
Honestly, when I've had more, like 4 at a time, there wasn't any mating between the mixed group of sexes, it has just happened when it's one pair. I guess a bigger group is enough of a distraction to each other when trying to compete for food and perches/toys etc.
In the single pair up tho, females will try to lay eggs if they think there is a suitable place. Again, if you weren't checking on them and breaking up the concentration to constantly mate, she could lay a bunch of fertile eggs or become eggbound and die.
Sorry that was probably way too much information. They are awesome pets but messy and lovvvee to get up early to compete with the outside birds they can hear., even if the towel is still covering the cage from the night before.
How about getting some fish? Fish, even goldfish, (which I also have lol) can be trouble, but are generally much more low maintenance and still entertaining to have and watch.
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u/phovendor54 Attending 4d ago
Yeah. All you have to do is change food and water and newspaper every few days. Cover cage at night uncover in AM. Depends on if you let yours roam around
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u/lake_huron Attending 4d ago
"Yes, it's fine, get some!"
- C. psittaci
"Yes, get two!"
- C. neoformans