I keep wondering about our FIDs daily routine, whether it is better for them to have an expected schedule so they know what is happening next in their day. This can give them a feeling of calmness and safety. I am concerned though that when and if their expected schedule is disrupted, they could be more upset than if they never have a routine and don’t know what is happening next. A routine can become boring too. My guess is that some birds, like some people prefer routines and some do not depending on their personalities. Macaws seem very flexible, but it is scary when they say “night, night” at the exact time every night and “Bye, Bye” at the right time to remind me if I am late for work!

We are on somewhat of a routine. But we shake it up pretty often! John was off all week so we gave our master bath a facelft. This meant the wake up time was different, the door was closed more often. Bed time was different and they sat outside more. Mr Buddy was in perfect feather and now he has a little down popping out of his chest again. The other guys just roll with it though. I think its good to shake it up. God forbid something should happen to me. At least they understand change at this point.

I think mine like a routine and I notice they are very in tune with the time of the day. Kita asks for her dinner at the same time everyday. It doesn't make any difference what season it is or at what time the sunsets. Even in the wintertime when I would serve dinner earlier, she wouldn't eat it until it was her time.

My birds go with the flow although they do observe sunrise and sunset. Now in the winter time they not ready for breakfast till they see sunshine because sometimes a little foggy. They come out the boxes stretching not quite ready for early breakfast.

I pretty much stick to a feeding schedule but everything else is whatever, whenever.
Play time might be several times a day or, only once. Out of cage time is whenever I pass a cage and the door is closed...it gets opened.

Winkie's schedule gets shook up pretty often. Some days he may be out of his cage only 1 time - if that. The next day he might be out 3,4 or more hours. The only thing that is really semi-firm is bedtime. That is because at 6-6:30 in the summer & 5-5:30 in the winter Winkie starts sqwacking for bed.

I am thinking that a balance is good. Someday they will have to make a change and being able to be flexible will help with the transition taking into account the number of years they live.

Billy has no routine, the only thing i insist on is his tea at night to make sure he is happy to go to bed. His door is open most days when im about although he never comes out unless he suspects the door will be closed and hes straight out then, only for a few minutes though then he climbs back in til the next time i approach. The only time hes happy to let me shut the door is bedtime.

Some routine is good & necessary - I think. The bedtime routine is good for everyone. Sometimes they are more than ready - even earlier than usual & other times they appear too wired to go to bed. I always think that too rigid a routine will lead to problems ~ the ones involved get too upset if this 'need' is not met.

The funniest routine that has developed around here, now that I keep their food dishes modestly full [2 tbsp of seed with pellets in each dish/per Budgie bird], is the 4 pm feeding (subject to some flexibility if we're out - they get fed before we go out). We hear lots of squawking around that time - if the dishes aren't refilled. Then they quiet down when the 'cleaning dishes' happens, followed by growls & chirps that are hard to describe, as the dishes are filled. This smaller amount works best I think as before we gave them too much food - lots was wasted & I don't think they got any more. Fresh food comes & goes.

Captive birds NEED a steady routine. It gives them the only sense of control they have on their lives. Birds in the wild make decisions all the time, where to fly to, when to eat, what to eat, where to nest, when to bathe, when to preen, when to interact, etc. but captive birds have very little of this right. They are restricted in their movements, their diet, their toys, they usually have no mates and, when they do, in most cases, is not a mate they chose but one that was chosen for them, etc. and knowing what is going to happen and when, it's reassuring to them. It gives them a sense of belonging, of security, and a measure of control, all needed for happiness.

Having said that, it is good to change things every now and then because birds in the wild are subjected to all kinds of unforseen circumstances: a predator, a storm, the death of a mate, etc. The trick is to keep the changes to a semi-routine so the change itself is not upsetting when it happens even if it's kind of unexpected. Place food in different places and not always in the same bowl and the same spot. Give them choices as to what to eat by offering them a large selection of veggies and fruits so if they don't like something one day, they will like what they will get the next (but not more than two different fruit and one veggie or two veggies and one fruit at a time and only during the summer and fall, nature's seasons of plenty). Change the diet with the seasons with more fruits and greens during the summer, less protein during the winter, etc. Use stormy days when the sky is dark and night falls early to skip giving them dinner (always make sure you give them extra food that am along with a high protein item -like egg- for breakfast). Birds in the wild often go to sleep without eating when it's storming. Switch the perches around so they are not always in the same place and they can look at the room from different perspectives (it's better if you use natural branches so they can peel and chew them). Keep on upgrading foraging toys, don't become complacent and always use the one they seem to 'like' better. Foraging toys are not for them to 'enjoy' but for them to figure out. Make an unexpected visit to the birdroom or with the bird in the middle of the day, when you would not usually do it but not more often than once a week. It doesn't need to be a long session, just a little 'extra' something.

Small changes that happen every now and then become familiar to them and are received as a welcomed distraction from the same-old-same-old thing. It's the unexpected, unfamiliar, drastic and sudden changes that are upsetting to them so, if you know that there is going to be a need to change their routine for a particular event like construction, remodeling, a new job, a vacation or whatever, start preparing them earlier by introducing the 'change' slowly and gradually. For example, if you are going back to work after staying at home, start by feeding them a bit earlier gradually until you get to the time you would need to feed them before going to work. Absent yourself from the house for a couple of hours every day and always say the same phrase as you walk out. You will also need to increase the time gradually so when you are out all day long, they don't freak out.

Parrots adjust to big changes if they are used to small ones all the time and the big one is introduced gradually.