Skittles and I will have a 'trial' separation...

Skittys_Daddy

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Jan 6, 2014
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Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
So, it turns out that I'm not gonna have to be gone as long as I originally thought when I go down to So.Maine for our family get together. I'll leave on the greyhound in Lewiston Saturday morning on the 29th around 11a and then I'll be back the following day in the morning- my sister will be bringing me home. I'll be able to let him out and he'll have all day Sunday to fly around since I won't be going anywhere.
I'm sure he'll handle it fine, that's what I keep telling myself. He just won't be too happy being cooped up in his cage all day and night. But its only this one time, so he'll do fine. I just hate the idea of him being stuck in his cage for 24hrs straight. There is NO other option as he'll attack anyone who 'enters' the apartment if he's out of his cage. Being free-flighted, he sees this as 'his cage' and I don't get enough company to even be able to try socializing.

A friend of mine (the one thats going to check on him Sat. night) offered to have me bring him and his cage over there for the day/night while I'm gone but I told her that I think that would make matters worse. He'd be in a strange and unfamiliar environment and I wouldn't be around. I'm afraid he'll think I abandoned him.

So we're going with... I'll make sure he has plenty of food and water for the day/night (so she doesn't have to deal with changing it and I don't have to worry about him not eating if she were to touch his food) I'm gonna leave the blinds drawn down and the ceiling light on during the day with the internet radio playing on my PC. Then I'll have my neighbor come in Saturday night around his bedtime and put a blanket over his cage and turn the light off and the music off. Then, I'll wake him up when I get home.

What do you all think of that? Any suggestions I should consider?
 

wrench13

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Don't sweat it, Skittles will be fine. Maybe a little pissed off for a day or 2 at most.
 

Sunnyclover

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He'll be totally fine. Worry not my friend!
 
OP
Skittys_Daddy

Skittys_Daddy

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2014
2,172
63
Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
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I'm actually really feeling that will be the case.

I told my neighbor that I only got Skittles three gifts this year and I feel bad cause I don't want him to think I don't love him enough and she said, "you spoil him all year long!" (which is NOT true). I used too.
But she (and other 'non-bird' people) think that taking him to the vet, having annual exams, feeding him a proper diet and making sure he has plenty of toys and perches is spoiling. It's not. Those aren't negotiable, they are needs.

Anyways, I thought he'd be made at me for taking away his cuddle hut. He got over it quickly. He actually became even more cuddly with ME. There are times I've had to take things away or put him in a timeout and I thought he'd hate me. But he got over it. For a LONG time he went without needing timeouts, but the past few weeks, I've had to do it whenever I'm on the phone. Normally, he is fine, but it was getting bad again, so I started with the timeouts again and he's already beginning to return to the proper behaviors.

I truly underestimated his intelligence and his adaptability. That's surprising to me, cause I've always known parrots are smart, but I've never had a bond with one like him.

My Peaches (my cockatiel), when I had her, she could fill my med box, literally. I didn't teach her, she just copied me and put the right pills in the right boxes (I even have pictures of her doing it). She was incredibly intelligent. BUT she was also completely "drama-free", laid back, docile and NEVER got into anything. She just had this "whatever it is, it is" and went about her day so I never really focused on the emotional aspect of intelligence.

But, man, sunnies? Phew, its not just their intelligence, its how they express it in emotional terms and not just reactions to environmental stimuli. Take my tablet and my camera for example. I always have my tablet nearby when I'm home. Sometimes he's fine with it, sometimes hes not. Sometimes he'll tolerate the camera and sometimes he won't. That's not natural instinct. Thats emotional expression and THAT means they have souls! That means I will get to be reunited with Skitty in the after life once we've both passed!
 

RavensGryf

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Jonathan, I think it’s normal to have these worries, but I bet it will be easier than you think. I’ve never had a bird hold a grudge like people say they do, and I’ve had a lot of species over a lot of years. But I’ve never had a conure, so maybe conures hold grudges.... LOL

Have fun. Skittles will be just fine :D
 

Sunnyclover

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I'm in the same boat as you tomorrow but I have to leave my 3 birds and a brand new baby bird behind for nearly 24 hours. We have to pick my son up from boarding school and it's 8hoyrs (with stops) each way driving. I will have our babysitter/trusted flock mate come and put them to bed but other than that they won have much out of cage time or see me for about 24 hours. I'm sure I'll get mixed reactions on Saturday when I get them all up. It is what it is but they all get over it.
 

Inger

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I think you’ve made a great plan and Skitty will manage just fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Aratingettar

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Just make sure you'll explain your whole plan to Skittles, in plain simple words. As I recall @Wrench found out this working for him, otherwise you'll risk Skittles will be pissed on you when you'll be back, just for not telling him.
Keep in mind, he's way smarter than anyone could imagine.
 
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Skittys_Daddy

Skittys_Daddy

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Jan 6, 2014
2,172
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Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
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Yeah, thats what I mean. He's too smart! lol. BUT that also works both ways. If he's smart enough to be pissed if I don't tell him, he'll be smart enough to understand my plan of leaving.


I usually give him fresh fruits and veggies now for 'treats' along with his regular 'bird treats' but I think for when I come back, I'll let him be naughty and give him either some pasta, bread, or pizza crust. There is NOOOO way he'll be too angry for one of those! I know they are not good foods for him, but they are okay in moderation, as in not too much and not often. This will be a special exception.
 
OP
Skittys_Daddy

Skittys_Daddy

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2014
2,172
63
Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
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Well, the day has arrived!

I know this may not seem like a big deal to many of you, but it is for me. Skittles is free-flighted and I am home 90% of the time. When I am home, he is out of the cage with me except for bedtime. His sleep cage is right next to my bed. Going that long without seeing or holding him or having him on my shoudler or in my shirt is gonna be hard .
While I do tend to go out about 5 or 6 days a week, those outings are limited to 1-2hrs and occasionally 3. Not only will this be 8x as long, BUT, I'll be over an hour away which is the farthest I've ever been from him.
I'm as comfortable as I'm gonna be with leaving him for a day and night and I've accepted that and am just encouraging myself by giving myself positive reinforcement via 'self-talk'.

I set m alarm for an hour ahead of my leaving so that Skittles will have at least a 1/2hr out of the cage before I leave.

The last time we were apart, it was only 5hrs and I just about lost it. I'm hoping that I can keep it together the whole trip, lol. There will be family there that I haven't seen in over ten years that quite frankly I could go the rest of my life without seeing. The family I'm seeing that I look forward too I haven't seen in 8yrs. Luckily, its the family I am looking forward to seeing that I will be staying with.

Anyways, please send pleasant thoughts my way!
 
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Skittys_Daddy

Skittys_Daddy

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2014
2,172
63
Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
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Oh, one more thing, my best friend/neighbor will be checking in on him and will also put him to bed Sat. night. I'm leaving the ceiling light on and the radio via PC for him. My friend will turn down the music and shut off the light. I'll wake him and let him out when I get home. The person who's taking care of him is also my ER contact and medical power of attorney. I wouldn't trust him to anyone else. Ironically, she's the one he hates the most.
 

ChristaNL

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You are safe from me, obviously - but plze be carefull posting in public when you will be absent.
Linking an IP-adres to a name en then to an adress is not that hard ...
 
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Skittys_Daddy

Skittys_Daddy

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Jan 6, 2014
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Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
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Ah, point taken. I actually have two neighbors who are keeping an eye on my place and I live in a security building so there is NO way someone can 'sneak in' without being noticed. But again- point taken. Edited my post accordingly.
 

Terry57

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I hope you have a wonderful time visiting with your family, and Skitty will be just fine. You have a solid plan in place, and someone you really trust to take care of him. When you get back home, I know the pizza crust will help him to get over any irritation he may have, that is a sure fire winner here at my house for special occasions!
Please try to enjoy yourself!
 

Kalel

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I'm sure all will be fine:) Don't worry and have a safe trip! My sun conure, Lemon did not hold a grudge even after I grabbed him and wrestled him into an aviator harness. He was mad for maybe an hour, then was snuggling with me like nothing had happened. Skittles will be ok, I'm sure:) Happy new year!
 
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Skittys_Daddy

Skittys_Daddy

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2014
2,172
63
Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
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They got free wifi here at the resort so I thot I'd check in. Lol. Gathering has gone gr8. Called friend to check on Skittles n he did fine. I actually did a lot better than I thot I wud. It's been almost 13hrs n the missing syndrome is just kicking in. I think being preoccupied w family helped distract me. Lol
 

Anansi

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Hope the rest of your trip went just as well! And I'm sure Skittles will be quite happy to see you when you get home.
 
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Skittys_Daddy

Skittys_Daddy

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2014
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Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
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Just got home. The trip was life-changing in several ways. My sister and my two brothers saw an enormous difference in me and it meant a LOT. I didn't even have to mention the amount of growing I've done. One of my brothers actually said to me while we were talking "I love this, I feel like I'm talking to my brother for the first time" and then he patted me on the back and said "I'm so proud of you". That meant so much, I had told a friend of mine that I worried they wouldn't see the difference and my friend whos known me for 20yrs said there is no way they can't notice it. It was just very healing is the best way to describe it. One of my brothers that I'd spoken to in 10 years (who was like a father figure to me growing up, we were very close) actually hugged me goodbye and I thought he was gonna squish me! The whole experience just really validated the energy and time I've put in to changing my life and moving forward. I just can't put it into words.

The other life-changer was with regard to Skittles. Having such a life-changing experience with my family kept me so occupied that I didn't have the time to obsess over missing Skittles. Of course he was still the talk of the town! I wore a shirt my friend got me for Christmas, a sun conure shirt. One of my aunts said to me with a smile on her face "oh, how you've always loved those birds!". I've had birds since I was 11 so you're talking over 30yrs.

He isn't holding a grudge. When my neighbor put him to bed last night, she said that when she opened the door he started making his "kissy noises" and then we he saw it was her he went nuts (and not in a good way!) but he settled down after she left.

When I let him out a short while ago, he hightailed around the apartment, I thought he was gonna crash into something! Then once he landed, I went to pick him up and he was his old self, no grudge at all. So this proves that I can leave him overnight because we can BOTH deal with it!
 

Terry57

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I am so thrilled for you that your trip was amazing. It does sound life changing, and I could not be happier for you. It's wonderful for those close to us to notice the hard work that has been put in to make difficult changes. And having Skittles not holding a grudge is the icing on the cake! What a great lead in to the new year!
 

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