Cage Placement Troubles, Need Advice!

[Gigglemug]

So earlier this week my house had a Covid scare and so I had to leave Mickey home alone with my relatives because I have a weak immune system. I left for a few days because all of the Covid positive people tested negative and were determined to be non contagious, and while I was gone my mother moved my bird cage from my room to the living room. I'm fine with this as he actually started singing to them and playing with toys, but whenever I or someone else goes near the cage to interact, he becomes wary and flees like he did whenever he was in my room.

This wouldn't be a problem for me. I'd be more than happy leaving the bird's cage in the living room if it weren't for a few problems I have with leaving him there:

1. We have two dogs and a cat, all three of whom will antagonize him if he were to get out or try to forage in his bowl (the cat's especially been eyeing him and trying to get into his cage)

2. My parents are chronic smokers and have refused to give up smoking just because the bird is in the house. They smoke inside the living room or wherever they want to. As well as that, we have tart burners in the living room and pans with teflon that they have said they are unwilling to remove or replace, so 3/4 of the time there's something harmful in the air. No matter how much I try to convince them it is harmful, they don't believe me.

3. He seems happier in the living room, and I'm worried if I try to put him back in my room, it will affect him mentally or make him more fearful of me. He's still not okay with handling, but since going near the cage he actually tries to climb away instead of sitting and watching me try to give him millet.

I'm in a bind here; do I keep him in the living room where he's happier but will negatively affect his health, or do I move him back to my room to start over the acclimation process I had with him at the cost of his happiness? He genuinely acts less fearful and happier all around when in the living room, so I can only assume he's not comfortable being around just one person. Any help is appreciated!

 

[Gigglemug]

Just came to find out a bit after posting this that he will actually let other people in the house feed him millet: my aunt and mother specifically, who both are able to feed him millet without him so much as flinching

 

[Pixiebeaks]

A cat to me is so scary.
I don't know what to say in this . Probably a lot of folks don't? Might be why I'm first reply

 

[Gigglemug]

A cat to me is so scary.
I don't know what to say in this . Probably a lot of folks don't? Might be why I'm first reply

We decided that on good days when the house doesn't have a lot of cigarette smoke or no tart burners running, and with the cat put away in a different room, we'll try and give him some time near the window.

 

[Shezbug]

I feel that no matter what is said here and what intent is behind what is being said it is going to be hard for members to advise without sounding rude as this is a situation that is not really seen as ok in todays understanding of just how dangerous breathing in second hand smoke is to everyone, then there is the added problem of commenting about how your parents choose to raise you and live in your shared home. I do feel I am going to be taken as rude but it is not my intent and unfortunately sometimes the right thing needs to be highlighted even if someones feelings may get a little hurt, I am sorry if you feel I am being harsh but I kinda think that replacing one bad situation for your bird with another poor situation is not really an improvement and is totally unfair to the animal.

It is unfair to leave any bird or child in an airspace that is not only dangerous to his health but that is known to harm and kill and in a terrible way.
I personally would move him from the smoking and teflon area asap and I am sorry to say but if your room is not a place he is happy (being the only spot with fresh clean safe air) and you can't alter it or find a way to make him happy there then I really in all honesty would rehome him to a home where he can be cared for appropriately and responsibly.
It is unfair to make him live in any situation that is not a positive in his life.

 

[Gigglemug]

I feel that no matter what is said here and what intent is behind what is being said it is going to be hard for members to advise without sounding rude as this is a situation that is not really seen as ok in todays understanding of just how dangerous breathing in second hand smoke is to everyone, then there is the added problem of commenting about how your parents choose to raise you and live in your shared home. I do feel I am going to be taken as rude but it is not my intent and unfortunately sometimes the right thing needs to be highlighted even if someones feelings may get a little hurt, I am sorry if you feel I am being harsh but I kinda think that replacing one bad situation for your bird with another poor situation is not really an improvement and is totally unfair to the animal.

It is unfair to leave any bird or child in an airspace that is not only dangerous to his health but that is known to harm and kill and in a terrible way.
I personally would move him from the smoking and teflon area asap and I am sorry to say but if your room is not a place he is happy (being the only spot with fresh clean safe air) and you can't alter it or find a way to make him happy there then I really in all honesty would rehome him to a home where he can be cared for appropriately and responsibly.
It is unfair to make him live in any situation that is not a positive in his life.

We've kinda found an inbetween to the situation. When we don't have anyone smoking in the house, nobody's cooking and nobody's wanting to use the tart burner, we'll move him next to the window in the living room.
As for making him happy, I'm not sure what really makes him happy besides sitting next to the window; I have several kinds of toys in his cage, including a foraging box, some chew toys and some ball toys he can roll around if he so pleases, and my Mom did say he enjoyed playing with one of the chew toys, but other than that he doesn't move around a lot unless he eats or drinks. I'm not sure how to encourage him to move around unless I let him out, which he won't. I'd like to see if we can't get him to come out in the living room when it's safe for him, but he doesn't know how to step up and doesn't like being handled. Currently working on getting him used to eating millet from my hand. The whole process to me is a bit confusing; I've been taking it slow with him and he was showing some pretty good progress, but after today seeing him play in his cage while chirping, it's making me wonder what else I can do for him. I think I'm gonna look into rearranging my room to where he'd be next to the window.

I don't know what I'd be doing wrong aside from that; he has plenty of perches, a variety of different toys including foraging, chewing and grabbing, and whenever he's in my room his cage is open for him to come out, including my bed where my window is. Everyone else seems to be taking the approach of just doing something and not taking whether or not he'd be afraid of it into consideration and it's worked out fine for them. I've been taking it as slow as I can with him as to not make him uncomfortable, like backing away whenever he rejects millet and not making prolonged eye contact. I don't want to give up on him after I've had him for less than a month now, and I know I can be patient with him as well as provide him what he needs, but for the most part, he's safe with me.