Vacation

My boyfriend and I are planning a week long vacation in the fall. Tiki will be staying with my parents for the week, who I might add are totally new to birds but so very happy to watch her for the week. We have the Prevue Travel Bird Cage 1305 (20x 12.5 x15.5). She lives in the Prevue Wrought Iron Select Bird Cage 3151 daily and seems to really enjoy it. I know that she'll obviously be pretty annoyed that we aren't there and she won't get nearly as much time out as we usually give her, but she will be well loved and looked after.

For a week is that "travel cage" too small? I cannot bring her normal cage to them and they can't visit everyday at our house. Am I over thinking this? I mean people who have birds go on vacation all the time, I'm not the first. I know i'm asking a lot from her by going on vacation, but is this cruel? Thanks in advance!

Warning Guilt Trip! Vacation are hard on parrots! They have gotten use to Humans leaving for hours at a time, but seem to show back-up later in the day. Vacations are different since those Humans just all of a sudden - don't come home. When you add moving them out of their home and somewhere else that becomes yet another 'What the Heck Happened to my Humans?'

If at all possible, keeping the parrot at home and having the 'Caregivers' live at your place is the best possible solution. That rarely happens, so the next thing is moving as much of the parrots stuff to the 'Caregivers' place. The biggest thing is the parrots cage. Not always possible, but if at all possible, highly recommended! The less that comes with the parrot, the more issue may occur.

Consider a couple of over-nighters with the caregivers both locations if possible; your place first, their place second. It also provides your caregivers the opportunity to interact with the parrot prior to the Vacation.

Lots of luck and have a great Vacation!

Guilt trip indeed! Sailboat gave great advice..I'm lucky my house sitter stays at my house. I provide a complete in depth pet care booklet( but I have sugargliders,hedgehog,cats.) phone numbers to vets,e.r., my parents,mikes mom,anywhere I'm staying. I also provide a car, a fridge full of goodies and both a care credit card and credit card...just in case...he's the athorized user. This year will be interesting..sissy doesn't like my sitter..at all.

Definitely if Tiki could stay home and have your parents come by once or twice a day to spend time with her and give fresh food/water that would be ideal. But your original question about the size of the travel cage being too small, I don't think so. Especially if she's going to get some playtime outside of it. We usually have a sitter come to our house once a day and keep our birds in the environment they're used to, but we have taken them with us before in similar travel cages and they do great.

Having a new (and smaller) cage PLUS a new home for a week would be two really big, scary changes though. Good luck!

I should also mention that another option is the breeder we got Tiki from. They also board birds. Im almost thinking that would be a better option. She's familiar with the place, the people and the other birds. She gets her nails and wings trimmed there also.

I would choose the place that you think Tiki will be happiest at.

If it's your parents please don't forget to update them on some of the most important hazards - what not to feed, the dangers of any other pets in the home, what to do if there is an accident and where to go for help.

IMHO these are your options in order of desirabilty
1. Some one visits X2 a day at your house. Lowest stress, less chance the sitter will do something that might kill your birdie.
2. Parrot goes to sitters house in travel cage. Leave a LONG list of do and donts. I worry he will not get much out cage time, an if he does, can they get him [back in safely. Bird proofing their house. Is your bird flighted? No, good. Yes, all bets are off.
3. Boarding him. Least desirable. Exposes him to all pets shop nasties,
noises an behaviours. Does he screech? He might pick that up from the cockatoo for sale? Etc,etc.

These are my opinions only. Personaly, I have built up 'pet equity' with some neighbors, and my daughter, which I cash in when we have to go away.