Do you stress when vacationing away from Conure?

[cfr70]

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.

I didn't know they'd allow you to bring your bird on the bus. That's great that she's so relaxed with traveling. Bruce is just the opposite and loves to be home where he feels safe.
If I even open the back patio windows to let in a breeze he'll fly inside the house to safety, and the longest trip I ever took him on was a drive from NY to FL and he hated every single minute of that and I felt so terrible.
Sometimes I wish Bruce was more curious about getting outside as it would be nice to take him with me on my walks, but I'm sure he'd be traumatized and at his age it's way too late to try something new and mess up his routine. (which is why I'm fretting about his pet boarding next month. His whole routine will be upturned for 5 days which will probably cause him stress.)

 

[rheashard2]

I didn't know they'd allow you to bring your bird on the bus. That's great that she's so relaxed with traveling. Bruce is just the opposite and loves to be home where he feels safe.
If I even open the back patio windows to let in a breeze he'll fly inside the house to safety, and the longest trip I ever took him on was a drive from NY to FL and he hated every single minute of that and I felt so terrible.
Sometimes I wish Bruce was more curious about getting outside as it would be nice to take him with me on my walks, but I'm sure he'd be traumatized and at his age it's way too late to try something new and mess up his routine. (which is why I'm fretting about his pet boarding next month. His whole routine will be upturned for 5 days which will probably cause him stress.)

Poor baby. Does he have a favorite thing? Nameliss enjoys dramatized audio books and old time radio at vet. Nameliss is Bruce's travel opposite. She loves long drives. I never know what she'll mimic, insult or make snippy remarks about. I nearly wrecked once when a large van on passenger side drifted towards me. That wasn't the issue. It was Nameliss screaming, WATCH OUT YOU DAMN DUMMY WATCH OUT. I jerked the car a bit. I have only to look in the mirror to see where she got that. Also how to use it in just such a situation. It's hard not to worry when leaving pet at home or boarding. When I get home it's hard to tell who's happiest.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

The only part of road trips that my budgies really don't like is after the sun goes down and they get jostled around in the darkness going over bumps in the pavement. Winter is just overall a bad time to take long road trips with my birds up here in Maine. It's too cold and too dark. Ten hour summer road trips are no problem except, of course, the fact that I can't fit all 20 budgies and their five cages in any of our vehicles so we only a Joey because she lives alone and have a bird sitter come to our house while we're away. Someday we'd like to get a large RV and retrofit it with built in travel cages so we can take the whole gang on a ride cross country in the summer. We even call an RV that we see on the road a "budgie hauler" or just a "budgie".

 

[rheashard2]

The only part of road trips that my budgies really don't like is after the sun goes down and they get jostled around in the darkness going over bumps in the pavement. Winter is just overall a bad time to take long road trips with my birds up here in Maine. It's too cold and too dark. Ten hour summer road trips are no problem except, of course, the fact that I can't fit all 20 budgies and their five cages in any of our vehicles so we only a Joey because she lives alone and have a bird sitter come to our house while we're away. Someday we'd like to get a large RV and retrofit it with built in travel cages so we can take the whole gang on a ride cross country in the summer. We even call an RV that we see on the road a "budgie hauler" or just a "budgie".

I'd love to see pictures of your budgie hauler. You have a mischievous and inquisitive flock. I bet they'd be tempted to assume chores. Navigation would be top spot.

 

[cfr70]

Poor baby. Does he have a favorite thing? Nameliss enjoys dramatized audio books and old time radio at vet. Nameliss is Bruce's travel opposite. She loves long drives. I never know what she'll mimic, insult or make snippy remarks about. I nearly wrecked once when a large van on passenger side drifted towards me. That wasn't the issue. It was Nameliss screaming, WATCH OUT YOU DAMN DUMMY WATCH OUT. I jerked the car a bit. I have only to look in the mirror to see where she got that. Also how to use it in just such a situation. It's hard not to worry when leaving pet at home or boarding. When I get home it's hard to tell who's happiest.

Yes he has a favorite little stuffed chick that he snuggles with in the evenings in his little area on the sofa. I've caught him a few times enjoying the little chick just a little too much lol....and he actually preens the little white "feathers" at the top of it's head. So I will leave it with him in his hiding box when he goes boarding to help him feel safer.
When I ride with him to the Avian vet downtown in the Uber, i'm sometimes terrified, especially on the highway when they're all going 80-90mph....In my terror I take consolation that if it crashes then at leave we'll go together!
Here's his favorite toy...he plucked out one of it's eyes and I never found it. ......the empty aspirin bottles are a thing with him. He loves snuggling up to it and pecking his beak on it. I don't know why, maybe he thinks their eggs? I leave one pill inside and rattle it and he loves the sound it makes.

 

[cfr70]

The only part of road trips that my budgies really don't like is after the sun goes down and they get jostled around in the darkness going over bumps in the pavement. Winter is just overall a bad time to take long road trips with my birds up here in Maine. It's too cold and too dark. Ten hour summer road trips are no problem except, of course, the fact that I can't fit all 20 budgies and their five cages in any of our vehicles so we only a Joey because she lives alone and have a bird sitter come to our house while we're away. Someday we'd like to get a large RV and retrofit it with built in travel cages so we can take the whole gang on a ride cross country in the summer. We even call an RV that we see on the road a "budgie hauler" or just a "budgie".

Wow. 20 budgies in the car! That must be fun! I agree, the pavement bumps are the worst! Years ago when I drove Bruce to boarding, I stupidly left him in his large cage because the back area of the rental car had a huge area that fit the whole cage. So I let Bruce just stay back there while I drove thinking he'd be more comfortable.
After he came home I noticed he was keeping one foot up a lot. Of course I freaked out and took him to the vet who said it most likely was a sprain from the car trip.
It took weeks before he was back to normal again and I felt so guilty whenever he held that poor foot up....So now on drives I make sure he stays in front with me in his little travel cage with blankets on the bottom of it for him to sit in and protect his feet. I try to avoid any little bump I see on the road ahead and look out for them like a hawk.
Other drivers probably think i'm crazy because I drive so slow and cautious when I rent a car with him. Highways are better because the pavement tends to be smooth, but I stay in the right lane and drive like Mr. Magoo lol.

 

[PeentPeent]

I stress so hard that I can't even eat sometimes! I worry over my babies constantly.

But everything vacation i make sure whoever watches them takes pics every morning and night and it helps me. But it's great to be away but never for too long.

 

[rheashard2]

I stress so hard that I can't even eat sometimes! I worry over my babies constantly.

But everything vacation i make sure whoever watches them takes pics every morning and night and it helps me. But it's great to be away but never for too long.

Good for you. It's a delicate balance to share one's life. Instead of allowing it to dominate or be dominated. It doesn't matter if it's a pet or significant other.

 

[cfr70]

I stress so hard that I can't even eat sometimes! I worry over my babies constantly.

But everything vacation i make sure whoever watches them takes pics every morning and night and it helps me. But it's great to be away but never for too long.

It's funny but most of the stress I experience is usually before the vacation in the days leading up to it. I will feel the same way as you about not eating because of that feeling of foreboding and apprehension. The weeks leading up to the trip, like right now (i'm 3 weeks away) are the worst with all my fretting!

But oddly, as soon as my vacation starts I am totally into it and that foreboding feeling vanishes. It's hard to explain. It will take me FOREVER to leave the pet resort on the day of my trip with "Just one more goodbye" to Bruce because i'm terrified of leaving him and feel so guilty. I know it must sound so odd.....but once I leave and the vacation starts, i'm suddenly ok. I mean, I will still worry, but the stress feeling is much less.

And then there's that enormous happiness when I walk into the pet resort and see Bruce screaming bloody murder at me ordering me to take him home right now! LOL. (Yes, he will hold a grudge for a day or two when he's back home!)

I think it would help tremendously if Bruce had a mate to share his boarding experience instead of being on his own. So take a lot of comfort that your babies have each other for company while you're away!

 

[PeentPeent]

It's funny but most of the stress I experience is usually before the vacation in the days leading up to it. I will feel the same way as you about not eating because of that feeling of foreboding and apprehension. The weeks leading up to the trip, like right now (i'm 3 weeks away) are the worst with all my fretting!

But oddly, as soon as my vacation starts I am totally into it and that foreboding feeling vanishes. It's hard to explain. It will take me FOREVER to leave the pet resort on the day of my trip with "Just one more goodbye" to Bruce because i'm terrified of leaving him and feel so guilty. I know it must sound so odd.....but once I leave and the vacation starts, i'm suddenly ok. I mean, I will still worry, but the stress feeling is much less.

And then there's that enormous happiness when I walk into the pet resort and see Bruce screaming bloody murder at me ordering me to take him home right now! LOL. (Yes, he will hold a grudge for a day or two when he's back home!)

I think it would help tremendously if Bruce had a mate to share his boarding experience instead of being on his own. So take a lot of comfort that your babies have each other for company while you're away!

Haha this is exactly how I am!! I'm feeling it now my BF who watches them while I'm at work is going to be gone for the week and I'm dreading leaving them alone for hours at work just dread. But I know when I come home I'll be so happy


We love these birdies to bits!

 

[PeentPeent]

It makes me so happy I'm not the only one like this

This thread gives me validation

 

[rheashard2]

It makes me so happy I'm not the only one like this

This thread gives me validation

Agreed.

 

[cfr70]

Haha this is exactly how I am!! I'm feeling it now my BF who watches them while I'm at work is going to be gone for the week and I'm dreading leaving them alone for hours at work just dread. But I know when I come home I'll be so happy


We love these birdies to bits!

I know the feeling. For Bruce's first 5 years I worked the overnight shift from 11pm to 8am. And I felt it was the best time to work because he was covered and fast asleep in his cage during those years, so he couldn't miss me.

But I would still fret while at work and have crazy visions of someone breaking into my apt in the wee hours and stealing him. Each morning was so happy when got home and there he was to greet a new day. I'd spend the whole morning with him before my afternoon napping.

Now that I'm retired he gets to have me all day and night lol. But I do remember those work times and all the fretting. I think having birds is a lot different from any other pets because of how fragile and delicate they are and we tend to worry more.

Your birds have each other for company so they should be fine. Can you find a trusted sitter just to pop in once a day to check on them for that week?

 

[PeentPeent]

I know the feeling. For Bruce's first 5 years I worked the overnight shift from 11pm to 8am. And I felt it was the best time to work because he was covered and fast asleep in his cage during those years, so he couldn't miss me.

But I would still fret while at work and have crazy visions of someone breaking into my apt in the wee hours and stealing him. Each morning was so happy when got home and there he was to greet a new day. I'd spend the whole morning with him before my afternoon napping.

Now that I'm retired he gets to have me all day and night lol. But I do remember those work times and all the fretting. I think having birds is a lot different from any other pets because of how fragile and delicate they are and we tend to worry more.

Your birds have each other for company so they should be fine. Can you find a trusted sitter just to pop in once a day to check on them for that week?

Luckily I will be there for the morning and the evening before they sleep . I feel that they are so delicate so it's hard not to worry.

I only have one sitter they love but she's not able to help this week. But I'll def spend all my free time with them before it's cage time. And I'll think of them while I'm at work the whole time

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

My macaw goes into storage at his vet’s office when we travel. The longest time in storage was 5 weeks.They take good care of him, so I don’t worry. All the birds that are being boarded seem calm and happy sitting on their play stands, so I assume my bird is happy as well. They tell me he is quiet and well-behaved except that he often climbs down from his stand and explores the facility! He asks to be picked up and stroked. No extra charge for having the staff love on him. He is a bit naughty in that he always polishes off every single nut that I leave for him for treats!

 

[cfr70]

My macaw goes into storage at his vet’s office when we travel. The longest time in storage was 5 weeks.They take good care of him, so I don’t worry. All the birds that are being boarded seem calm and happy sitting on their play stands, so I assume my bird is happy as well. They tell me he is quiet and well-behaved except that he often climbs down from his stand and explores the facility! He asks to be picked up and stroked. No extra charge for having the staff love on him. He is a bit naughty in that he always polishes off every single nut that I leave for him for treats!

This would make me feel much more secure because your bird is allowed to stay out and be free. Macaws seem to be much more calm and sedate compared to other birds that it's easy to leave them outside their cages for extended periods. I wish Bruce were like that!

If Bruce weren't such a terrorizing kamikaze flying at everyone who would just sit out on his stand like a good boy, I'd feel a lot better because he'd not spend boarding trapped in his cage. He hates shiny jewelry and has literally flew to attack female guests in my home wearing necklaces or bracelets! So it's much safer for everyone to keep him caged at boarding. Macaws are very lucky to be allowed out.

 

[rheashard2]

I can never leave Nameliss out anywhere! Not even at the vet. Her idea of exploring is examine, evaluate and disassemble. Drawers and cabinets once discovered are targeted for attempted opening. On one trip, we were busy with the dog. Nameliss was on the counter. I looked up. She was climbing up a hanging stethoscope reaching for the cabinet door. At home I have tried to think of a birdie tracker device. I've found her in other rooms under beds, behind furniture. Once I found her in the kitchen hanging from towel on fridge door. She was trying to reach trash can with motion sensor opening. Not the first time she climbed towel so those are kept knotted. I've wondered if there is a I MUST KNOW, HAVE switch that toddlers have.

 

[cfr70]

I can never leave Nameliss out anywhere! Not even at the vet. Her idea of exploring is examine, evaluate and disassemble. Drawers and cabinets once discovered are targeted for attempted opening. On one trip, we were busy with the dog. Nameliss was on the counter. I looked up. She was climbing up a hanging stethoscope reaching for the cabinet door. At home I have tried to think of a birdie tracker device. I've found her in other rooms under beds, behind furniture. Once I found her in the kitchen hanging from towel on fridge door. She was trying to reach trash can with motion sensor opening. Not the first time she climbed towel so those are kept knotted. I've wondered if there is a I MUST KNOW, HAVE switch that toddlers have.

I'm very lucky that Bruce isn't like that and why I can trust him out free all the time. Even when I go out for my errands, he stays out free in the house but he basically just hangs around the living room in his buffet table with all the nooks and crannies where he can play inside or rest, and he knows to stay out of the bedrooms and kitchen.
There was only one time I came home and I could not find him anywhere in the house. He usually greets me as soon as I walk in the door but that one time I called for him with no response back and went through the whole house panicking that he was gone.
After 10 minutes, I finally found him way in back of the bottom drawer of the buffet table under a mound of shredded cardboard that he chewed up and he was either stuck under it all or he was so comfortable that he refused to come out and greet me. Boy that gave me a scare!
It must be stressful with Nameless being curious of the kitchen. Thankfully Bruce seems to know that's where the hot stove is and senses danger there and knows to stay away. The only time he'll go in there is to fly through it to go out the back door into the patio.
But yes, it's like living with a constant toddler only with feathers and seeds all over the house.

 

[rheashard2]

My nickname is Nameliss (please) Aim Less. My original avian vet told me that a happy contented grey was inquisitive, investigative and looked for things that usually caused some form of trouble. He was right.

 

[cfr70]

My nickname is Nameliss (please) Aim Less. My original avian vet told me that a happy contented grey was inquisitive, investigative and looked for things that usually caused some form of trouble. He was right.

How old is Nameliss? He looks much larger than my Sun Conure and would probably tower over him lol. I would love another bird and really like the medium sized parrots. But after 20 years with only Bruce I think it would be very unfair to both birds if I brought in another one. But when I see photos like Nameliss I get pangs! When I go to the pet store I leave heartbroken because I want to take them all home with me.