A second budgie

[owoisjo]

Hello! 
I have a budgie named Minty. She is my only budgie.
My parents are divorced, and they have 50/50 custody of me. This means I go back and forth all the time. The problem is, that means that I am away from my budgie for almost a week all the time. 
My family means well, but they don't do much for her. They don't clean her cage and rarely change her food. Most times when I get home I go straight to the cage to begin the cleaning process. 

Minty is very important to me. More important than school, friends, anything. She has helped me in ways she will never realize, and I try so hard to give her a better life.
But obviously, she needs a friend. She is alone all the time and has little to no social interaction for 5 days at a time. I feel horrible and have begged my dad many many times to get another budgie. We almost did, we even had a breeder and knew the budgie, but then my dad said no.

He said that Minty will start to dislike me, and grow attached to the other bird. I told him I did not care, and that her happiness meant more, but now whenever I bring up the subject he shuts me down.

It is my mission, to get a new bird. I am trying so hard, but with a stubborn father like mine, its near impossible. 

How can I convince him how important this is? Birds are intelligent social creatures that live in flocks! She doesn't even have a mirror to play with. She is already showing signs of disinterest and sadness. I need to convince my dad that I cannot fill the gap in her heart the way another bird would. I know the risks, the costs, and I'm willing to take them. I have done tons of research and I am fully capable. How do I get him to realize that this is not about me, and my love for birds, its about Minty.

[BloomCountyLover]

To leave a budgie alone for a week at a time with no interaction (human or other budgie) is nothing short of animal cruelty. Is this the lesson your father is trying to teach you? Budgies become greatly depressed without interaction. They need stimulation and friendship DAILY! To ignore these needs is inhumane. Your choices are take your friend with you, get them a budgie friend or give them to someone that will provide these needs. You are showing kindness and love for your pet by thinking of their needs. Can your father not show that same compassion? Show this to him.

[owoisjo]

Thank you for replying. I love my father a lot, but sometimes he is stubborn and refuses to listen to other people. He says that Minty is very happy when I'm gone, and they talk and play with her all the time, but I'm not sure how much of that I beleive. For one thing, he is not even there most of the time, and the house is often empty with nobody but my stepmother and brother, who don't interact with her a lot, but I'm scared to argue with him.

(Okay I'm going to start ranting a bit about my father, and if you really could care less than just skip to the next paragraph)

My dad can be really scary and hard to argue with. Even when you know you are right and something needs to change, the only way to change it is yourself. The problem is that I cannot do much about this situation. My dad has a special way of making you feel insecure and bad and force you to back down from an argument.

The situation is serious. I think it is serious, but he does not. He doesn't understand that this is not about me, its about Minty. I tell him this and he ignores me and tells me "I said no, thats the answer. The bird is perfectly fine." The bird is NOT perfectly fine. Honestly, mentally I'm not sure how fine she is. She refuses to play with any of her toys and spends most of her time napping. Hearing her chirp is a miracle. She never moves unless she has to. She will stay in one spot and do nothing but preen herself and sleep. I know this is serious. You know this is serious. But I have no clue what to do.

I'm sorry this came out as more a of a rant. I'm just scared. Scared of confronting my dad, scared for my baby's health, scared of a lot of things.

Your reply(s) is very much appreciated. I might have to migrate to a different forum of sorts for advice on confrontation, because I don't want to bring down the mood of this budgie forum.

Thank you again so much, I will try my very best.
<3

[owoisjo]

Also I forgot to mention thereare cats at my mothers house, so im nervous to bring Minty. Do you have any advice on housing a bird with cats? Thanks again

[BloomCountyLover]

Do you have your own room at your Mom's? If so, then can you not bring Minty with you and just close the door when you are gone. Is Minty flighted and does she get time outside the cage? She can certainly go a few hours while you are gone if you are there every day as long as she is safe from the cats but given your account of her mostly sleeping all day, I really believe she needs a buddy. I'm sorry about your Dad.

[Hezz]

This was going to be my suggestion as well - take Minty with you to whichever house you are going to be in. The ideal would be to have a little transport cage for moving and a cage set up for her in both houses. Is this a possibility? Means you would have to have two sets of everything - food, toys etc, but you would definitely know then that she isn't left alone for days at a time. Are you able to house Minty away from the cat ... in your room, door closed when you are out and about?

[owoisjo]

Thank you guys for the replies! Yes I do have a seperate room that the cats do not normally go in, so I think bringing her could be a great idea. I would need to bird proof it a lot though. Do you guys think she would have to stay in my room 24/7? Also, I have a lot of makeup in my room and there is eyeshadow powder all over the place! Do you guys think I should just do my makeup in the bathroom, or maybe cover her cage while I do eyeshadow??? It might be a bit of a process to convince my parents to allow me to bring her back and forth. I'm afraid that my dad will get defensive. What should I say to him??? Im sorry for the many questions. Do you guys know of a way to like...I don't know test my cats and dog?? Some way to figure out how they would react??? Im very curious!! Im super on board with the idea of a way to keep her happy without having to get a separate bird, my only two huge concerns are my parents, and the cats.

Thank you very much!!

[BloomCountyLover]

Although there are tons of videos on youtube that show cats and dogs getting along with birds, I would never chance it. As long as you can close your door then Minty will be safe. Does she fly free in your room? If yes, good. Then yes, bird proof it.  As long as she is not flying and pecking at your make-up then she is fine. A small travel cage would be the best way to go and 2 separate cages but Minty can be transported in her regular cage if the drive isn't too far. I don't think it's asking too much of your parents that you want your pet with you.

[helenmat]

I was also going to suggest having a cage set up at each house and transporting Minty with you in a smaller travel cage. Or if her cage is small enough to go in the car take her in that. You will soon just make it part of your routine. I would never leave the cat with your bird though. If you can shut them away separate then that is fine, but don't risk it.

[Hezz]

Agree - birds and cats or dogs should not be in the same room, even if the bird is shut in the cage. It is traumatic for a bird to be eyed off by predators.