Do you stress when vacationing away from Conure?

cfr70

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Location
Kissimmee, Florida
Parrots
Sun Conure 15 years old May 2020.
Hello all!
My little buddy Bruce is 21 and a half this month and....knock on wood...still a tiny little terror who runs the house! He's like a dog or cat who is never caged and allowed to fly about the home as he pleases. Pics of him are below that I snapped today. We've been together since November 2005! :)

It's been just me and him for these past 21 years and needless to say he's very clingy to me and hates anyone else! My last vacation away from him was over 3 years ago and I finally got the nerve to book a 4 day cruise for next month because one....I really need time away and a break from my routine with him and two, at 55 for me, there's only so many vacation years left so I really don't wanna put them off anymore!....And three.....Bruce will probably live another 10 to 15 years and by then i'll probably be too old and riding in a hover round to be able to go anywhere by then lol. So I have to just stop putting them off.

I'm going in 4 weeks, but I'm already panicking and stressing at leaving him at the pet resort for 5 whole days, especially at his age when he's so fixed with his routine and to me.

Do any of you stress when going away too? Where do you leave your little ones? I live in Orlando and thankfully Disney World has a top notch pet boarding place that I trust completely so I know he'll be safe, but I worry about him having to stay locked in his cage for 5 days like a prison sentence.

The photos below will explain it best....he has a whole buffet table where he has different shelves and boxes to chew up and hiding places to play around in each day. He's never in the cage except to grab some food before flying right back out.

He sleeps in the middle shelf on the right side of the buffet on a comfy bed made from old shirts. The vet suggested this due to beginning of arthritis in his feet and he loves sleeping in there.. At bedtime he settles right in for the night.

So what I did for his boarding was create a box in his cage that he can scurry inside if he gets scared or nervous at the pet resort. And also easy on his feet. I put 2 boxes together to make a really big space inside where he can feel safe and still sleep at night on his shirts.

He's already investigated the new cage box and likes it so i'm telling myself that he'll be just fine and not to fret or worry. Am I the only one who stresses like a crazed person for going away or are others like this too? I hope i'm not the only one!

He's always been a solo bird so that probably has a lot to do with it. If he had a mate I gather I would feel so much better but I guess I'm his mate haha.

I'd love to hear what you all do when and if you go away from your Conures? Or if you put off vacations like I usually do? Here's Bruce below and photos of his buffet table playground, his cage box I made today, and his favorite spot outside on the patio where he watches the birds. He flies in and out of the house at will, he's incredibly spoiled! :)

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Unequivocally YES!!! I worry. I worry about everything. I have trusted boarding at my vet or my daughter. My concern is that birds hide being ill. Something could come up that I would see quickly based on behavior, eating and such. Another including my daughter could miss these small signs. I call and talk to my CAG. My daughter becomes annoyed. I discovered at my vet that I am not the only one who includes a cell phone with birdie supplies. I have planned birdie talking time for inbound and outbound calls. It's arranged that if busy I will get a text with a possible alternate time. Calls to my main number are for emergency only. So don't worry. Take a deep breath and take care of yourself so you can take care of your avian companions.
 
This is what I'm going to ask the pet resort when I drop him off next month. Daily text messages would definitely ease my worries and if they can send a photo once a day I will be able to relax lol.
Talking time would be even better but I'm profoundly deaf so I can't do that. (Though I can hear Bruce clear as a bell when he screams as any conure would know their high decibel level). It's one of the reasons I love having such a loud pet.
It's reassuring to know other bird owners fret while away from their babies too. I have purposely cancelled vacation plans from fear of leaving him and the older I get the more I feel that I shouldn't do that or life will pass me by.
Does your pet boarding charge extra for the daily calls? I'm prepared to pay extra fees for the reassurance and will probably email them tomorrow to find out as it's a great idea to know Bruce is ok while in his "prison". He hates being locked up and will scream bloody murder non stop if I cage him to clean the house or if company is over.
But strangely they say he never screams when at the pet resort so it's only at home lol
And he's only 20 and a half. I don't know why I wrote 21 and a half in my post above. I don't want to rush things and hope he's with me for many years to come.
Thanks very much for sharing and letting me know I'm not the only one who stresses when going away from my conure. 🐦
 
My vet doesn't charge extra. I'm providing the phone. It's all based on if they have the time. Just knowing that reassures me.
 
By the way, at 55 you have LOTS of years left for vacations!
Haha thanks! I'm sure hoping! It gets a little unnerving though when you begin to realize there's more years behind you than are ahead, so I want to get as many vacations in from now on after giving up so many in the past to care for Bruce in the past. I always said "next year" and I can't keep doing that.
If I can do at least one big trip to recharge each year that's fine with me. At Bruce's advanced age, I just worry more about leaving him than I did in his younger years as he's very attached to me and I to him. What an odd pair we make, but he's my everything. :)
 
YESSSSSSSSSS! And I have had bad things happen to me while I was gone (Pet rat escaped her cage and killed three of my birds about 25 years ago), so I'm particularly paranoid. Next May is a convention I've attended for several years, and it's going to be my first year with Yvons, my grey. I might have someone come over and make sure he has food.
 
When he sees the Ibis birds out back bathing in the pond he flaps his wings and screams for his bath! So I bring out his bath bowl and he jumps in flapping away until he's completely drenched. Now he'll be busy preening for the next hour and I can have a peaceful break lol.

Here he is after his bath just now, and also the Ibis outside bathing that sets him off for his bath.
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YESSSSSSSSSS! And I have had bad things happen to me while I was gone (Pet rat escaped her cage and killed three of my birds about 25 years ago), so I'm particularly paranoid. Next May is a convention I've attended for several years, and it's going to be my first year with Yvons, my grey. I might have someone come over and make sure he has food.
Oh that's horrible! I couldn't imagine coming home to a scene like that. It must have been incredibly traumatizing and those poor birds. It's one of the reasons why I refuse to have any other pets as i'd be terrified of Bruce being harmed.

Having someone over to care for them while away is great as it allows them to stay in their familiar and comfortable environment. I used to do that all the time when Bruce was much younger. I'd go away for a few days and have a pet sitter come 3 times each day to uncover him in the morning, a mid afternoon visit, and an 8pm night visit to cover him and turn off the TV. It was expensive, but well worth it for the peace of mind.

But that was when he was still caged and used to it. There's no way he'd accept being in his cage while at home, so that's why he needs to go to boarding now. And I also feel safer knowing he's in a place that's monitored 24/7 with people.

And since I made that big hideaway next box for his cage, i'm fretting a little less knowing he has a safe and comfy place to sit in if he gets stressed.
 
Haha thanks! I'm sure hoping! It gets a little unnerving though when you begin to realize there's more years behind you than are ahead, so I want to get as many vacations in from now on after giving up so many in the past to care for Bruce in the past. I always said "next year" and I can't keep doing that.
If I can do at least one big trip to recharge each year that's fine with me. At Bruce's advanced age, I just worry more about leaving him than I did in his younger years as he's very attached to me and I to him. What an odd pair we make, but he's my everything. :)
A slight change in attitude is needed. It's been over two decades since I last saw 55!! I still walk, periodically and putting myself back into half marathon training. I get the look at doctors with question to verify my year of birth. My cardiologist denied my request for an electric scooter. I had to agree for a governor placed limiting maximum speed of 2 mph. I can walk significantly faster. My current idol is a woman who won her body building class on the downhill side of 80!
 
A slight change in attitude is needed. It's been over two decades since I last saw 55!! I still walk, periodically and putting myself back into half marathon training. I get the look at doctors with question to verify my year of birth. My cardiologist denied my request for an electric scooter. I had to agree for a governor placed limiting maximum speed of 2 mph. I can walk significantly faster. My current idol is a woman who won her body building class on the downhill side of 80!
People like yourself inspire me so much! I have a neighbor who is similar to you. She is 86 and still does her thing and is very independent I hope i'm that lucky too. I'm just in awe of people like that.
I like that you mention walking because I walk everywhere! I don't drive and I hate the bus, so I walk at least 4 miles r/t to the stores every other day. Hopefully that's a big contributing factor to longevity....Having a pet to care for is definitely another one.
 
After the losses my family has suffered in the past year I agree with not putting off for next year what you can do today (within financial reason).
I'm sorry for your losses but as you say, they can have a silver lining as they can be a wake up call for the rest of us to do what you enjoy before it's too late.
I have always said to myself "I'll travel when Bruce is gone"....yet here he is 20 years old and it doesn't look like he's going anywhere lol. He'll probably live till i'm 70 so i'm realizing that putting off travel is just wasting precious time.
But I love him to pieces even if it means not traveling as much as i'd like. I just snapped this of him relaxing and peeking out of one of his boxes. (Whenever I order something online, I always save the boxes for him to chew up or play inside.).....The corner cushion at the end is his evening spot with his toys when i'm watching TV next to him. I drape a blanket over the top and he sits inside.
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I'm sorry for your losses but as you say, they can have a silver lining as they can be a wake up call for the rest of us to do what you enjoy before it's too late.
I have always said to myself "I'll travel when Bruce is gone"....yet here he is 20 years old and it doesn't look like he's going anywhere lol. He'll probably live till i'm 70 so i'm realizing that putting off travel is just wasting precious time.
But I love him to pieces even if it means not traveling as much as i'd like. I just snapped this of him relaxing and peeking out of one of his boxes. (Whenever I order something online, I always save the boxes for him to chew up or play inside.).....The corner cushion at the end is his evening spot with his toys when i'm watching TV next to him. I drape a blanket over the top and he sits inside.
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Bruce may be to old to adapt to travel. Check him out on overnight trips if he is. Travel with any pet depends their personality and training. I like to travel. If going and will be sedentary (visits o siblings)the critters go with me. If I'm going and will be out of room (casinos) then I use vet boarding.
 
Bruce may be to old to adapt to travel. Check him out on overnight trips if he is. Travel with any pet depends their personality and training. I like to travel. If going and will be sedentary (visits o siblings)the critters go with me. If I'm going and will be out of room (casinos) then I use vet boarding.
He despises travel and hates going in his travel cage. Every 3 months he needs his nails trimmed and the closest Avian vet is downtown Orlando which is a 30 minute Uber ride each way.
He absolutely hates it and I feel badly for him and glad it's only once every 3 months.
I would LOVE to be able to just take him everywhere (I'm a casino fan too and love Vegas!) but he just wouldn't go for it all all and it would definitely ruin the vacation.
And I would be terrified of leaving him alone in a hotel room while I was out for fear someone would take him away. Just the thought of it makes me shudder.
I've seen people's travel blogs where they took their birds with them and really envy that...but it's definitely a no go with Bruce.
 
Hello all!
My little buddy Bruce is 21 and a half this month and....knock on wood...still a tiny little terror who runs the house! He's like a dog or cat who is never caged and allowed to fly about the home as he pleases. Pics of him are below that I snapped today. We've been together since November 2005! :)

It's been just me and him for these past 21 years and needless to say he's very clingy to me and hates anyone else! My last vacation away from him was over 3 years ago and I finally got the nerve to book a 4 day cruise for next month because one....I really need time away and a break from my routine with him and two, at 55 for me, there's only so many vacation years left so I really don't wanna put them off anymore!....And three.....Bruce will probably live another 10 to 15 years and by then i'll probably be too old and riding in a hover round to be able to go anywhere by then lol. So I have to just stop putting them off.

I'm going in 4 weeks, but I'm already panicking and stressing at leaving him at the pet resort for 5 whole days, especially at his age when he's so fixed with his routine and to me.

Do any of you stress when going away too? Where do you leave your little ones? I live in Orlando and thankfully Disney World has a top notch pet boarding place that I trust completely so I know he'll be safe, but I worry about him having to stay locked in his cage for 5 days like a prison sentence.

The photos below will explain it best....he has a whole buffet table where he has different shelves and boxes to chew up and hiding places to play around in each day. He's never in the cage except to grab some food before flying right back out.

He sleeps in the middle shelf on the right side of the buffet on a comfy bed made from old shirts. The vet suggested this due to beginning of arthritis in his feet and he loves sleeping in there.. At bedtime he settles right in for the night.

So what I did for his boarding was create a box in his cage that he can scurry inside if he gets scared or nervous at the pet resort. And also easy on his feet. I put 2 boxes together to make a really big space inside where he can feel safe and still sleep at night on his shirts.

He's already investigated the new cage box and likes it so i'm telling myself that he'll be just fine and not to fret or worry. Am I the only one who stresses like a crazed person for going away or are others like this too? I hope i'm not the only one!

He's always been a solo bird so that probably has a lot to do with it. If he had a mate I gather I would feel so much better but I guess I'm his mate haha.

I'd love to hear what you all do when and if you go away from your Conures? Or if you put off vacations like I usually do? Here's Bruce below and photos of his buffet table playground, his cage box I made today, and his favorite spot outside on the patio where he watches the birds. He flies in and out of the house at will, he's incredibly spoiled! :)

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You have a gorgeous baby there, @cfr70! Have you noticed our Photo Of The Month contest for November? I think the theme might be right up your alley and a pic of Bruce would make a wonderful entry - just sayin' ;)

 
He despises travel and hates going in his travel cage. Every 3 months he needs his nails trimmed and the closest Avian vet is downtown Orlando which is a 30 minute Uber ride each way.
He absolutely hates it and I feel badly for him and glad it's only once every 3 months.
I would LOVE to be able to just take him everywhere (I'm a casino fan too and love Vegas!) but he just wouldn't go for it all all and it would definitely ruin the vacation.
And I would be terrified of leaving him alone in a hotel room while I was out for fear someone would take him away. Just the thought of it makes me shudder.
I've seen people's travel blogs where they took their birds with them and really envy that...but it's definitely a no go with Bruce.
Too bad Nameliss can't talk to him. She asks softly... bye-bye I gotta go.... bye-bye I get going. This accompanied by the sound of jangling car keys. It's repeated over and over, louder and louder. I have to get up, put her harness on, get travel pack and go out. I can just walk to mailbox or sit in car. But I have to take her out of the house. Nameliss looks forward to going to the vet. She's very well behaved. Only minimal protesting for nails and beak. Vet visits mean forbidden fast food French fries on the way home. Often with a trip to a pet store like PetSmart to pick out a toy and see strangers. She's got an ego that requires feeding by having strangers. She enjoys their cooing. It sounds cute. But be in the middle of a craft project, reading a book, planning a grocery trip then deal with her. No matter what people say I believe parrots hold a grudge. Yes I have taken her on outings to the grocery, hardware, and the like.
Nameliss has gone to the casino with me a couple of times. I don't make a habit for some of the reasons you gave. I leave the TV on for her company. I've been annoyed more than once with her. Imagine standing outside your room. Then hearing hysterical laughter. This while contemplating the law of losing. So I guess she likes casinos too
 
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Too bad Nameliss can't talk to him. She asks softly... bye-bye I gotta go.... bye-bye I get going. This accompanied by the sound of jangling car keys. It's repeated over and over, louder and louder. I have to get up, put her harness on, get travel pack and go out. I can just walk to mailbox or sit in car. But I have to take her out of the house. Nameliss looks forward to going to the vet. She's very well behaved. Only minimal protesting for nails and beak. Vet visits mean forbidden fast food French fries on the way home. Often with a trip to a pet store like PetSmart to pick out a toy and see strangers. She's got an ego that requires feeding by having strangers. She enjoys their cooing. It sounds cute. But be in the middle of a craft project, reading a book, planning a grocery trip then deal with her. No matter what people say I believe parrots hold a grudge. Yes I have taken her on outings to the grocery, hardware, and the like.
Nameliss has gone to the casino with me a couple of times. I don't make a habit for some of the reasons you gave. I leave the TV on for her company. I've been annoyed more than once with her. Imagine standing outside your room. Then hearing hysterical laughter. This while contemplating the law of losing. So I guess she likes casinos too
Nameless doesn't even need a travel cage? She just wears the harness and out the door? I would love to travel with Bruce like that because he hates his travel cage, but I doubt Uber drivers would take to a loose bird in their car! :ROFLMAO:
I tell him early on "We're going to the doctor" and he screams back at me and hides in his buffet table. So it's a whole 10-15 minute game getting him into the travel cage. But once he's in the car with the cage on my lap he enjoys looking out the window at all the cars on the highway. I think it fascinates him.
But he's always so happy when he gets back home. As soon as I open the front door and walk in he screams to be free again. And I do the same with the TV...I keep it on all day long just for him. And he knows as soon as it goes off it's time for sleep and he flies into his little bed to settle in for the night.
 
I take Nameliss travel pack for being in a vehicle. She's safe there secured with seat belt. Or if I decide to go into a store or something. You said you hate buses. Nameliss and I love them! Me because of zero parking. Nameliss because she likes people watching. If bus is crowded and pack awkward, Nameliss has been known to travel in my pocket.
 

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