african grey parrot

[OpalOnyx]

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anybody have one while in med school and want to share your experience?

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Seriously? (there, your post has been validated with a response)

 

[thechad]

I had one, it was delicious.

(PETA disclaimer: that was a joke)

 

[gracie369]

What is the point of keeping a bird (that fkn flies) in a cage!? Never got that one.

 

[CptCrunch]

What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen African grey parrot?

 

[getdown]

Sure ... if you want chlamydia psitticai

 

[KeyzerSoze]

I bought a Norwegian Blue but had to return it.

 

[peppy]

I don't own one myself but since I have a smaller parrot I think I understand why you're asking. I know that African Greys are very intelligent and require a lot of attention. I think during the first two years it would be pretty easy to make time for the bird since you could study at home with it. During the clinical years things might be trickier but if you made it a priority to give it some attention when you did have time at home then I think things would be okay. Hope that things go smoothly for you. 🙂

 

[Geekchick921]

I bought a Norwegian Blue but had to return it.

What was wrong with it?

 

[KeyzerSoze]

What was wrong with it?

It was deceased. I took the liberty of examining the parrot when I got it home, and I discovered the only reason that it had been sitting on its perch in the first place was that it had been nailed there.

 

[LRAccord624]

Sure ... if you want chlamydia psitticai

Glad I understood that, since I have a micro exam tomorrow...

OP, I don't really think it's a good idea to get an African Grey during medical school. They can get super attached, and start to self-destruct out of boredom/depression if they aren't getting the attention that they need. And the attention primarily must come from you as they are very loyal to one person only... so not like you could ever give the bird to parents or a friend during a busy rotation.

Plus, this is an animal that will live almost as long as you will... ... huge lifetime commitment there.

 

[LRAccord624]

It was deceased. I took the liberty of examining the parrot when I got it home, and I discovered the only reason that it had been sitting on its perch in the first place was that it had been nailed there.

Did you buy Harry's dead bird from Lloyd!?

 

[exptherainbow]

Glad I understood that, since I have a micro exam tomorrow...

OP, I don't really think it's a good idea to get an African Grey during medical school. They can get super attached, and start to self-destruct out of boredom/depression if they aren't getting the attention that they need. And the attention primarily must come from you as they are very loyal to one person only... so not like you could ever give the bird to parents or a friend during a busy rotation.

Plus, this is an animal that will live almost as long as you will... ... huge lifetime commitment there.

All VERY true. I grew up with birds and until recently three large parrots were my charges (not by choice, family situation). They weren't African Greys, but they were in need of a similar amount of attention and care. If you do not currently own an African Grey DO NOT GET ONE. My bird routine (cleaning, feeding, vacuuming up their mess, changing their water) was roughly 2 hours a day (granted there were three, but really once you get one a few more is no big deal). In addition to that, you have to socialize them at least by being present in the same room for a good chunk of the day. The birds have to go to bed on a normal schedule and always earlier than you, so ideally you should have a quiet room just for them that you can leave dark when the sun goes down.

My mother rescues exotic animals that were abused or neglected by their owners and you'd be amazed how easy it is to neglect a bird and put it in a really dire health situation.

That being said, if you already own an African Grey you will be able to make it work in your first two years of medical school - a lot of your study can be done at home with the bird and you will have sufficient free time to give it the care it needs. In your third and fourth year (as well as residency, fellowship, and probably the rest of your life) you will need a really dedicated significant other to make it work.

 

[Geekchick921]

It was deceased. I took the liberty of examining the parrot when I got it home, and I discovered the only reason that it had been sitting on its perch in the first place was that it had been nailed there.

Well of course it was nailed there, otherwise it would muscle up to those bars and VOOM!


(We should probably stop now. 🙂)

 

[Warped Apostle]

I have a friend who is in dental school that has one. She loves it and seems to have enough time for it.

 

[rx515]

..

 

[Gordon Sims]

The GF has one. It never shuts up.

 

[McPoyle]

The GF has one. It never shuts up.

Who, the GF?

 

[mmmcdowe]

anybody have one while in med school and want to share your experience?

I have one, but I left it at home for medical school. It would be cruel to leave it home alone after years of having people around 24/7.