List for Bird-Sitters

My boss abruptly informed me that I would be going overseas for roughly two weeks this month (roughly a week at a time with a week locally in between). Needless to say, I was rather upset for a variety of reasons. But that's beside the point.

My partner will be home with Cairo. That being said, Cairo isn't 'his' parrot - my partner trains Cairo for tricks and occasionally shares an afternoon fruit snack, but feeding, cleaning, and other parrot upkeep he doesn't do.

Main Question:
What do you all have on your How-To/To-Do Lists for your bird sitters?


Secondary question, how can I make the routine easier on my partner? I've all his food pre-chopped and frozen (little guy is unlikely to get rice while I'm gone though), and I've made and frozen some birdie bread in case my partner really is short on time for some reason. Things like probiotics (vet just said it's good in general to have him on probiotics but not mandatory), those things might have to wait until I come back (Cairo takes his via syringe, which means I always carefully measure it out). My partner will keep up on most training (the two of them enjoy their training time together), but my partner doesn't feel comfortable with harness training. But the cleaning of everything - that's going to be tricky.

Finally, a sort of tangential question.... When I Skype my parents and my mum speaks to Cairo in Malay (the language he grew up with), he runs up and tries to peer behind the laptop screen. It's cute, yes, but I'm wondering if it would selfish and almost be cruel to Skype Cairo while I'm overseas. He'll hear my voice and kinda see me, but he won't be able to go to perch on me like he enjoys doing. So, should I try to interact with Cairo via Skype?

When I go away, I leave a very detailed list for my husband (he doesn’t normally take care of the birds at all). I divide it up into am, pm, bedtime. I list exactly what to feed, how much to feed, when to change the waters and when to wash bowls and when to clean things (otherwise I’m pretty sure it won’t happen). Every parrot food is labeled in my house lol (5 birds, 5 different diets) and the serving size spoon is there waiting for him. I just focus on listing only what is required, rather than “what I would do” so that it doesn’t look so daunting and picky. Anything he chooses to do beyond my list is just a bonus.

When I take care of my in-law’s U2, we do skype with them and he really enjoys it - I would try it and see what he thinks of it! Your partner is close to Cairo and will be able to tell if Skyping is a good thing or not for him....and decide from there .

My friends are happy to jump in and feed and water them, cleaning cages is not something I ever asked them to do.
You brought up a good point, may I should have a 'task-list' somewhere for them!
(you did it again: making me think! )

I do not think it is cruel to skype with them - I think it is better to same some contact than none at all. They are smart animals and kind of understand you are there, but not really there in the flesh.

You really take amazing good care of everyone there, I think you will do just fine.

I've pet sit Parrots before. Most ienets had a short list food amount time d
Of feeding..then s long list of what to do if this is that happens, like if they git out of the cage abd won't go back, or if they won't come out do I can clean, behaviors ect plus a back up person, the vets phone number, quick stop, hemostats for blood featheres.. I think your partner will step up and do great,! But I feel your stress! I had to travel when Burt the Bird was my only bird, and the first time (she really) he lost so much weight and after that I left instructions that they had to sit and talk to her for s half hour while she ate.

I’ve only left Bumble for a few days a couple of times, but I have several pages of instructions. Mostly it’s daily routines, the games she likes to play, stuff like that. I portion out her food in advance so all my boyfriend has to do is wash dishes and put the food on them. Vet’s number, where to reach me, etc. I try REALLY hard not yo make it condescending LOL


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