Question about vacation?

[Sc0tt]

Hello.

So I rescued Casper about 4 weeks ago now. I spend anywhere from 4-9 hours a day with him out and around me. We train, play, snuggle, watch TV, do homework and all that.

This Friday I'm going to Disney World with my girlfriend and her family from the 14-21. I live with my parents, and they have assured me that (even though Casper bites them) they will take him out of his cage for large portions of the day that they're home, and talk and feed and try to interact with him as much as possible. I'm just really worried about feather plucking and stuff, and even though he has never done it before, do I have a lot to worry about for being gone these 7 days? Is there anything I can do to make it better for him while I'm gone?

 

[Tammy]

First off, thank you for rescuing Casper.

If he has never plucked before I don't think you have anything to worry about. Make sure he has lots of toys to entertain himself with. You may also want to consider making a recording of your voice & have your parents play it back for your bird. I recently took a cruise to the Bahamas & my Amazon did fine. Be prepared to have Casper stick to you like glue when you come home. You could also try talking to him while you are away if your parents can put you on speaker phone. I do that often if I have to spend the night away.

Good luck, Merry Christmas & enjoy your vacation!!

 

[Sc0tt]

First off, thank you for rescuing Casper.

If he has never plucked before I don't think you have anything to worry about. Make sure he has lots of toys to entertain himself with. You may also want to consider making a recording of your voice & have your parents play it back for your bird. I recently took a cruise to the Bahamas & my Amazon did fine. Be prepared to have Casper stick to you like glue when you come home. You could also try talking to him while you are away if your parents can put you on speaker phone. I do that often if I have to spend the night away.

Good luck, Merry Christmas & enjoy your vacation!!

Thank you! I will most definitely make a recording and try to call home as much as possible. I wanted to wait until after this vacation to get a bird, but I had to jump on the opportunity to rescue Casper back in November.

 

[MonicaMc]

Last year (well, almost 2 years ago now), I went to New Zealand for 3 weeks to go visit my newly born nephew when he was about a week old. During this time, I had all of my birds boarded at the local parrot shop. The day after I got back, I left again for 1 week in the Bahamas!

Back then, I had 5 cockatiels, a budgie, a bourke and Charlie, the mitred. All the small birds went into my flight cage where-as Charlie got to go in one of the cages at the shop.


Here's a photo of the small birds in a travel cage

Then them in my flight cage (I had bought new perches and toys for them for their stay at the pet shop!)

And Charlie in the first cage he got to stay in. After a somewhat larger cage became available, they transferred him to that.

Needless to say, all of them did fine! Although the budgie did escape the cage one time... I don't trust friends or family with my birds, and although I didn't want to leave them at the bird shop, as at the time I couldn't have someone I didn't know coming to my house, either. My dog ended up staying with a pet sitter, and after getting to know her, I would trust her with my birds as well! Although she's not a birdy savvy person, she does pet sit for birds!


Last time I had family watch over my birds, I lost one of them... don't know why, as her body was not saved for me to do a necropsy on... so needless to say, I can be picky over who watches them!

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

I like the idea suggested of recording your voice, and also trying to speak with him.

I would add that you could make a few short video's of your self talking to him. Better would be if you would be able to video-call your home on skype or something like it.

You have a day or two to get your parents and birdy closer. Let them start feeding them insead of you, and opening cage, etc. while u r still there to 'oversee'.

have a fun vaca.

 

[kc_y0]

If he's in his same cage, his same house and your parents are able to keep up a similar routine, he should be just fine. Have your parents handle him a little more prior to going away so he's not so worried.

I go away for short periods often and I have my sister house sit for my while I am away, so that Audrey is still in her same environment. She does get a little grouchy for a few days when I return, but thats the worst of it.

Have fun at disneyland!!

 

[momto3]

We left our birds for almost 3 weeks with a pet sitter last summer and they did fine. They were grouchy when we returned, but that is to be expected. I think a familiar environment will help and even though he currently bits your parents, he knows them. Who knows, he may start to warm up to them since they will be his primary caretakers while you are gone. Have a good vacation and try not to worry too much!

 

[Sc0tt]

Thanks guys! I fully trust my parents and my dad has been holding him/letting him hang out on him the last day, so I'm sure everything will be fine. I'll see ya all (or rather read you all) when I get back!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Haha vacation what's that XD I used to go on 2-3 week road trips with my parents, also to Kauai and on camping trips but now I never do because I can't bare to leave Rosie behind.

On the few times I did go visit my grandparents out of town for 2-3 days I put Rosie's food in individual baggies, as well as a bag of treats(easy way for my parents to get Rosie back in her cage, just put a treat in her cup), and foraging toys are a good way to keep them busy.