Food for boarding

Sadly, we can't take Dexter on our family vacation coming up, the hotel will not allow him in the suite we have reserved. So, I've tried to find the best possible scenario for his care while we are gone.

After a few false starts and things that didn't work out, I settled on bringing him back to board at the bird store where I purchased him a year ago. There are a lot of birds there for stimulation, he only board birds for clients that purchased from him, he requires a health certificate before accepting any birds to board, it's a clean and well managed operation and they will handle Dexter and give him time out of his cage daily - all of which are very important to me.

They will feed him whatever food I bring, but I can not expect him to be cutting up fresh fruit and veggies every day like at home. He's got a bunch of babies that they are hand-feeding and Dexter's food is going to have to be scoop and serve.

So, I'm trying to put together a mix of mostly fresh items that I can make up a big batch that won't turn to icky mush by day 7. My plan so far is:

Bean mix (soaked, cooked and partially dried in the oven)
Radishes, cubed
Carrot sticks (barely blanched)
Corn kernels (defrosted)
Peas (defrosted)
Broccoli slaw (sticks of raw broccoli, carrot, red cabbage)
Blueberries, whole
Cherries, whole
Pomegranate seeds
Apples (dried, to soak up some moisture)

I wanted to add something else to absorb some of the moisture as things soften. Could I use rice? Would I put that in fully cooked, par-cooked or raw?

I have a dry mix that can be left in the cage for free-feeding throughout the day made up a dried fruit, nuts, coconut, golden'obles (pellets) and a minimal amount of seeds.

Any other ideas would be so helpful. I tend to agonize and worry over everything. I know it's just a week and he won't starve or be spoiled, but I need to know I sent along the best diet I could come up with. As it is, I'm freaking out at the thought of being without him for the week.

DexMom said:

Sadly, we can't take Dexter on our family vacation coming up, the hotel will not allow him in the suite we have reserved. So, I've tried to find the best possible scenario for his care while we are gone.

After a few false starts and things that didn't work out, I settled on bringing him back to board at the bird store where I purchased him a year ago. There are a lot of birds there for stimulation, he only board birds for clients that purchased from him, he requires a health certificate before accepting any birds to board, it's a clean and well managed operation and they will handle Dexter and give him time out of his cage daily - all of which are very important to me.

They will feed him whatever food I bring, but I can not expect him to be cutting up fresh fruit and veggies every day like at home. He's got a bunch of babies that they are hand-feeding and Dexter's food is going to have to be scoop and serve.

So, I'm trying to put together a mix of mostly fresh items that I can make up a big batch that won't turn to icky mush by day 7. My plan so far is:

Bean mix (soaked, cooked and partially dried in the oven)
Radishes, cubed
Carrot sticks (barely blanched)
Corn kernels (defrosted)
Peas (defrosted)
Broccoli slaw (sticks of raw broccoli, carrot, red cabbage)
Blueberries, whole
Cherries, whole
Pomegranate seeds
Apples (dried, to soak up some moisture)

I wanted to add something else to absorb some of the moisture as things soften. Could I use rice? Would I put that in fully cooked, par-cooked or raw?

I have a dry mix that can be left in the cage for free-feeding throughout the day made up a dried fruit, nuts, coconut, golden'obles (pellets) and a minimal amount of seeds.

Any other ideas would be so helpful. I tend to agonize and worry over everything. I know it's just a week and he won't starve or be spoiled, but I need to know I along the best diet I could come up with. As it is, I'm freaking out at the thought of being without him for the week.

Click to expand...

Funny bit first - just pop him over in your big bird and I will have him for you

Rice can be iffy for us and them, so no I wouldnt. I only cook fresh and serve now, no longer keep any cooked left overs. But, tiny baby pasta stars uncooked does work as well as oats. Can you not just freeze normal chop in day size containers which can be purchased for very little and then they retrieve one each night pop it in the fridge or at a pinch and forget 10-20 secs in micro and Dexter has warm chop. WDYT?

I thought about the chop, which I use often, but I'm trying to go as low maintenance as possible. I like the idea of small pasta instead of rice! I think I might even have some teeny tiny alphabet pasta in my cabinet.

I'm also disappointed that Dexter isn't getting to fly in the big bird . This was supposed to be his first big trip .

If it is chop that he gets daily and you are paying them - it doesnt sound hard work and I bet if you talk to them they will have some very demanding customers. Keep it as near to Dexter's normal routine and he will less put out. Different food, new place, strange people, and who's is this cage??

He's putting him in a large cage in his bird room, very close to the same size as his cage at home. I thought of bringing his vacation cage that he's familiar with (we use it for outside time) but I think the larger one is a better choice. I'm bringing his boing (which he sleeps on every night) and a bunch of familiar toys and new toys.

I use chop sometimes, but not always. I haven't made any since we finished the last batch, as it seemed he was getting bored with it (not eating as much). I've been using a base of frozen veggies (defrosted of course) mixed with fresh veg and seasonal fruit for his AM meal recently.

He will be fine so relax and enjoy big bird and your trip!

Honestly I would just get a dry mix and use that. When I board Parker he gets his Higgins fruit to nut mix the whole time. Things are already stressful enough, I try not to make it too high maintenance. I might leave him with his golden'obles II stuff when I board hi in August.

Actually, there's a start for you to create a dry mix

Golden'obles II (unto itself has 30+ ingredients including quinoa and brown rice)
Coconut flakes
Flax seed

chris-md said:

Honestly I would just get a dry mix and use that. When I board Parker he gets his Higgins fruit to nut mix the whole time. Things are already stressful enough, I try not to make it too high maintenance. I might leave him with his golden'obles II stuff when I board hi in August.

Actually, there's a start for you to create a dry mix

Golden'obles II (unto itself has 30+ ingredients including quinoa and brown rice)
Coconut flakes
Flax seed

Click to expand...

I thought about doing that, since he will have his normal dry mix available for free feeding (as we do at home). But, his morning and evening mealtimes of fresh food are such a huge part of the routine that I thought he would get super stressed out without at least something soft and yummy in the AM.

As usually, I am overthinking and making myself nuts (or should I say nuttier?).

When Porter goes on 'vacation' at the boarder I use he gets vacation stuff.

Two bowls one all dry food the other a bunch of freeze dried veggies and fruits I had in the dehydrator that they add water too
Quick... Easy bam.

Just reading this I think I am beginning to realise what my friends mean when they say I am a godsend to have their birds for the hols. No fuss and bother with foods, cages, just dump and run (well not quite literally) but they sure know they are safe, fed, loved, played with, etc etc etc.

I just need to relax so they can return the favours uhm?