I feel so guilty :(

[Momto3boys]

So a little about myself, I babysit during the day and I sit with an elderly lady 5 nights a week. Usually I have 1-5 kids here, all older kids and I have a massive yard so they spend alot of time outside playing.
When I get home from work at 7 am, I get my kids ready for school and on the bus while I wait for the kids I babysit to show up, once they all show up between 7:30-8, then I get the birds up for the day and bring them out onto their play gyms.

Well today, I have 7 kids. One of them being a 3 mth old baby, my friend asked me to watch her baby and her toddler while she went to an interview and then shes going to get groceries, etc, basically just wants the day to herself. To top it off its raining so I have all 7 kids in the house, so I made the decision that the birds need to stay in their cages in the bird room today, for their safety and the childrens safety. All I need is to be sitting don feeding the baby and have Cosmo roaming around on the floor or Nyka take off flying......yikes!

I've explained to the birds, they seem okay with it, no screaming, etc but Im sure they dont understand whats going on.
I cant wait for supper time so I can bring them out! On the other hand, its going to be a great day to really clean their gyms and boings, etc without any interference!

I hope they forgive me :(

[JerseyBella]

Don't feel guilty. Nothing wrong with changing it up :)

[roxynoodle]

We all have days like this where we have to change their schedules. My parents are in Ohio right now so there will be at least a couple of days where I will be expected to drive to Cleveland (their condo is 3 hours from me each way), and my birds will be alone all day. It's also time for me to go to the Cleveland Clinic to see my pancreatic specialist.

[crazyanimal]

I know it is hard to not feel guilty but you are doing what is best for them. The last thing you want is one of your birds to get hurt or killed in the commotion and then you will feel even more guilty then you do now. They will adjust and enjoy the time out this evening more then normal. Lots of lovin's tonight and they will quickly forgive, I am sure. :)

[Blancaej]

Sometime's life happens. I would not feel guilty at all. It's not like you have to do that everyday! :)

[Pinkbirdy]

Wow what a day !!! I bet you cant wait to get to your birds [that's the easy part] . Im thinking you have good birds [being so busy ,they know to wait your turn ] :)

[Momto3boys]

Oh I have amazing birds, thankfully there was no screaming or anything :th_heart:

This morning we're back to our routine, the only thing yesterday Elliot yelled over and over was "HELP" Ahahahaha he always yells help when he wants out of his cage :th_loltears:

[Pinkbirdy]

Ha Ha ,Im seeing Elliots the Macaw [I know my windows are open ] .Can you imagine people hearing Help Help from the street LOL MY Macaw was watching Dave Talking to our neighbors [and she was laughing] Like a insane person !!:) I wonder if they thought they were being laughed at :)

[Turquoise]

I have a strange schedule due to work that my birds have learned to adjust quite well to. I work at night, 12 hr. shifts & my schedule is 4 on/4 off. I live 50 mile from work, so I don't get in til after 7:00am on work nights. The feathered kids get out for 1 1/2 hrs while I fix their breakfast, Then back in the enclosures til I get up in the afternoon at 2:00pm for another 1 1/2 hrs out. I leave home at 3:30pm & they all have to entertain themselves til it all starts over again the next morning. On days off their out time is different depending on what I have planned for the day, so on work days it is really more stable than off days.

My 2 Catalina boys & my ekkie are super fine with this routine along with my Green Cheek conure & budgies. Ruby Jewel is still adjusting to the new routine. She was allowed out all day long at her breeder's. Kitty spoiled her while she was there, but she has done very well with my schedule. The first week was the hardest on her wondering why she couldn't be out all day like before.

Your flock sounds like they are just happy to be with you when they can on days like you just had. Birds are more accommodating to our schedules than we sometimes think they are as long as they know they are loved & happy to be part of our family. :th_hug8:

[Momto3boys]

Terri, thankfully I live way out in the country, he can scream his head off and nobody would hear him...haha.

De'Andrea....wow you're busy! LOL they really do adjust to us, it was definately harder on me then it was on them :th_heart:

[yvette]

I own and operate an in home daycare also. Have been for 11 years!
My birds are out all day...and my daycare kids know that they are not allowed to touch the birds. My guys have a bird room as well but I do bring them out into the living room one at a time.
I agree with you...some days are very busy! But its so worth it! lol

[Momto3boys]

Ya, its not the kids I didnt trust, haha its the birds.

Cosmo has gotten into the habit of climbing off her play gym and wandering around the floors, I was worried I would be busy feeding the baby or changing a diaper, etc and wouldnt be able to get to her in time before something happened.
Cosmo and Nyka's play gyms are in the kitchen and Elliot's and Tiko's are in the living room, then I have all their cages in the bird room.