Traveling in May and July...help!

drlisaort

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Nov 3, 2012
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Hollywood, Florida
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Oliver, Male (SI) Eclectus
Since Oliver joined my family back in 2012 I could count on my one son to help me when I went away on business but now he's living 20 minutes away and is not able to come in daily. My husband and my other son are petrified Oliver will bite them ...and with good reason because he did nip each once but to no fault of Oliver's but rather because they don't understand bird language and went to grab him on their terms. So needless to say, when I leave they will care for him but not let him out. Oliver has never ever not been out and about from his cage. I thought to try and find someone to hire to come in or to take him to Charlie the breeder who boards and knows Oliver well. My fears with Charlie are: he has people coming in and out of his store and they may poke at him; he may not let him out; Oliver could pick up bad habits or worse a disease. Help!
 

Pinkbirdy

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Will he step up on a stick and stay put where you put him?
 
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drlisaort

drlisaort

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Oliver, Male (SI) Eclectus
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Will he step up on a stick and stay put where you put him?


Yes, he is excellent at stepping up whether a stick or finger and will stay put for the most part unless he's looking for me. As I mentioned he's really a very sweet little guy but because they went to pick him up without queuing him he took a gentle nibble and they are now freaked out to touch him. :confused:
 

Pinkbirdy

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macaw,LS2,congo grey,2Blk Hd caiques,Hawkhead,yellowstrk lory,Blue frnt amazon,sun conure ,Yellow sided greencheek ,Goffin ,Rosebreasted Cockatoo,Greenwing Macaw,Blue and Gold Macaw,Nanday conure,Ecle
I would be having them take them out on a stick and put him back everytime he goes out. Then everyone will get used to it before you go . I would tell your family this is whats best for him and you need their help.
 

katie_fleming

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Oct 30, 2012
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Montreal, Canada
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Jasper (6yr old Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot)
If we lived closer I would have offered to help bird sit, but I see we're not even in the same country! :p

If they don't like holding him what if they opened the cage door and let him come out on his own? Not sure what your cage looks like but he would probably be happy just being able to climb on top if they're not comfortable holding him.
 
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drlisaort

drlisaort

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Oliver, Male (SI) Eclectus
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I would be having them take them out on a stick and put him back everytime he goes out. Then everyone will get used to it before you go . I would tell your family this is whats best for him and you need their help.

Thank you! Yes, we had a discussion tonight on some ways I can help them with Oliver that might make them feel more comfortable. You are so right I should be having them take him in and out for practice long before I go...but what usually happens is if I am around he pulls his nonsense where when I'm gone he's an angel. :rolleyes:
 
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drlisaort

drlisaort

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Thank you Katie! I wish you lived closer too! We could babysit for each other when one has to go out of town!

Your suggestion is excellent. I do have a play area on the top of his big cage and also a play stand. I think you might be on to something where they can just open the door and let him climb on top and feed him up there as there are two dishes in place on top as well as in his cage. And maybe they can con him back in with food as it's quite the motivator for him. I guess my only concern is the swinging door as I'd hate to have him pinch his leg....maybe I can find some kind of clamp to keep the door from swinging...

Thank you!!!
 

katie_fleming

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Jasper (6yr old Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot)
Np :)

I often open the door for Jasper and let him come out on his own if I've just come home and I need to unpack, etc. It's open until I go to bed so he'll go in/out of his cage as he pleases all evening. I put foot toys/hanging toys around and he plays with those on top of his cage.

You could use a zip tie on the door maybe? They're cheap so even if you use one or two a day it won't cost much and then you wouldn't have to worry.
 
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drlisaort

drlisaort

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I would be having them take them out on a stick and put him back everytime he goes out. Then everyone will get used to it before you go . I would tell your family this is whats best for him and you need their help.

Thank you for an excellent, excellent suggestion! I'm very grateful for your help....Lisa
 
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drlisaort

drlisaort

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Oliver, Male (SI) Eclectus
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Np :)

I often open the door for Jasper and let him come out on his own if I've just come home and I need to unpack, etc. It's open until I go to bed so he'll go in/out of his cage as he pleases all evening. I put foot toys/hanging toys around and he plays with those on top of his cage.

You could use a zip tie on the door maybe? They're cheap so even if you use one or two a day it won't cost much and then you wouldn't have to worry.

Thank you Katie for an awesome idea! I never thought to use a zip tie. Do you know where I'd purchase something like that? I believe you are not in the states but perhaps you have some of the same "franchise" stores by you. Also the zip ties I'm thinking of (if I understand what it is!) have wire with paper wrapped around it and knowing Oliver he'd try and chew on that making it dangerous for him. He's the most curious parrot on the planet! :green1: At my second home I have the perfect cage that I just open the top and put his perch in place and he can roam up and down all day(while I'm home of course!)...but the one in my main home has a separate shelf closing it off from the main cage. Thank you in advance!
 

Dopey

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Since Oliver joined my family back in 2012 I could count on my one son to help me when I went away on business but now he's living 20 minutes away and is not able to come in daily.
Around here 20 minutes is nothing and when I leave town my son and friends all have to travel 15 - 30 minutes to help with my zoo (animals).

I think just opening the door and letting the bird hang out is a great idea.
 

Dopey

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Np :)

I often open the door for Jasper and let him come out on his own if I've just come home and I need to unpack, etc. It's open until I go to bed so he'll go in/out of his cage as he pleases all evening. I put foot toys/hanging toys around and he plays with those on top of his cage.

You could use a zip tie on the door maybe? They're cheap so even if you use one or two a day it won't cost much and then you wouldn't have to worry.

Thank you Katie for an awesome idea! I never thought to use a zip tie. Do you know where I'd purchase something like that? I believe you are not in the states but perhaps you have some of the same "franchise" stores by you. Also the zip ties I'm thinking of (if I understand what it is!) have wire with paper wrapped around it and knowing Oliver he'd try and chew on that making it dangerous for him. He's the most curious parrot on the planet! :green1: At my second home I have the perfect cage that I just open the top and put his perch in place and he can roam up and down all day(while I'm home of course!)...but the one in my main home has a separate shelf closing it off from the main cage. Thank you in advance!
My "zip ties" are plastic and I get them at the dollar store. PM me your address and I will mail you a package. :)
 
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drlisaort

drlisaort

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Oliver, Male (SI) Eclectus
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How thoughtful! I have a great dollar store nearby so I'll just pop over there myself...thank you...thank you....
 

Dopey

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They are thin plastic with usually a small square hole at the other end to keep the tie tight. The plastic has bumps on one side of it. The bag I got has red, black, and clear/white zip ties.
 
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drlisaort

drlisaort

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Oliver, Male (SI) Eclectus
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Since Oliver joined my family back in 2012 I could count on my one son to help me when I went away on business but now he's living 20 minutes away and is not able to come in daily.
Around here 20 minutes is nothing and when I leave town my son and friends all have to travel 15 - 30 minutes to help with my zoo (animals).

I think just opening the door and letting the bird hang out is a great idea.

I could not agree with you more that 20 minutes is not far...but this particular son is a new attorney with a great first job that demands his time putting him in this mode of 20 minutes each way and a few hours with Oliver is too much time. I'm sure his tune will change when he goes out of town and has to leave his boxer puppy Panda. :D

I love the open the door idea and now that I understand (thanks to you both! what the plastic strips are making it seems even more like a fantastic idea. I also have a little door at the top side of the cage which may even be better to avoid bad habits coming out of the original door. He steps up beautifully from anywhere in his cage and I worry changing the routine may give him a little too much self-direction. Okay...I'm a bit of a control freak. :rolleyes:
 
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drlisaort

drlisaort

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Hi Everyone!

I just got back from Chicago my first trip leaving my husband and Oldest son with Oliver and it worked fantastic thanks to all of your suggestions. Oliver was out each day and all they had to do was hook the door open securely and he climbed up to his stand and played for hours going in and out of his cage to eat and sleep. Yay!!! I feel confident July will be fine...especially if they continue to practice daily...or at least a few times each week when I work late.

Thank you!
 

Anansi

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So glad it all worked out! It takes so much of the stress out of the equation when you know that your ekkie is in good hands and doing well while you're gone.
 
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drlisaort

drlisaort

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Oliver, Male (SI) Eclectus
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So glad it all worked out! It takes so much of the stress out of the equation when you know that your ekkie is in good hands and doing well while you're gone.
Yes, a huge relief for sure! I love the fact that they now realize it's not so hard to let him out...now if they just keep it up even when I'm out of the house working. :rolleyes:
 

Anansi

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Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
Hahaha! Now that they've started down that road of interaction, Oliver will win them over in no time. Soon they'll both be picking him up and giving him scritches. [emoji23]
 

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