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Bringing Taco to work?

hrafn

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Has anyone ever brought their fid(s) to work with them? What are the things to consider?
I had the idea to dress as a pirate this hallowe'en and bring Taco along as me first mate (to the surprise of no one, lol) but I don't want to do anything that could cause him undue stress.

I work in childcare, but the kids aren't actually there for the majority of the day because we're an Afterschool program. Mostly, I'm doing boring administrative work in the office. I figured I could bring him some foot toys and let him entertain himself until the kids show up, and then we could play with them.
The only potential threat I thought of is that it's usually snowy and cold by hallowe'en. I had the idea to buy him a hoodie and make it look pirate-y, but I dont know how well a parrot can tolerate chilly weather. We'd be inside, but it's a big, old, drafty building.

Thoughts? Concerns?

I'm a little sleep deprived because of Taco's recent attempts to merge with the drywall, so if this makes only a marginal amount of sense please bear with me lmao
 

Peachfaced

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Things to consider:
Is he used to being around strangers and places with lots of activity?

Is he ok with harnesses and hoodies/bird clothing?

If he does get stressed out, do you have a little office he can be in?

If it's a bit drafty, could you bring along a thermal perch and plug it in and attach it to stand for him? Or if he's in a carrier, have a thermal perch and maybe a blanket to cover part of the carrier?

I've got a DeLonghi oil heater for winter time, but I keep it a good distance from the cages and check frequently that no one goes near it, because the surface can get quite hot even at the lowest settings. It did have a bit of a smell when I first used it, so I let it burn off outside on the porch for a couple of days before I brought it indoors.
 

Clueless

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Smells/cleaners/scented sprays used at work?

Electrical heaters/appliances used there?
 

MommyBird

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When the kids do show up, they will extra- hyped-up because of halloween.
I would suggest trying bringing Taco to work a few times first when the kids are calmer and it is not so cold.
 

macawpower58

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It's a sweet idea, but the liability of a large macaw around children is huge.

If you can keep him completely separated, it might work. But one inquisitive finger thrust into his face, could have drastic repercussions.
 

hrafn

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The kids are the least of my worries, honestly. They're all 5-12 years old and long past the grabby-hands phase. And they all know that if they're rude, I'll throw them in the garbage.
I've had my pets at work before (though not Taco), and taught the kids manners and caution when near unfamiliar animals. They have prior knowledge of how to behave. :D
It's the potential stress of a long work day I'm anxious about, mostly.

@Peachfaced Taco goes on lots of walks with me, and has been to street fairs a couple times. He's very tolerant of crowds and noise. He is accustomed to a harness, but we'd have to practice getting used to a hoodie beforehand.
If he gets overwhelmed, the office is dead silent and calm.

We have a lunch program and do cook, but none of our appliances contain teflon. We also don't use sprays, because of allergies to aerosol and air fresheners. We clean with white vinegar.

I'll have to do a more in-depth risk assessment before making a decision. :)
 
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