|
|
Post by alliebirdmom on Mar 20, 2017 20:24:26 GMT -5
Does anyone have recommendations for the best way to prepare my sweet baby for me leaving on vacation? I have a 10 day family vacation planned for May and this will be the first time I am leaving my Allie bird for an extended period of time. Allie will be a year old in April and generally she is a fearless explorer and encounters any new situation head on. However, she is very attached to me and I'm worried she won't understand why I have suddenly disappeared from her life. I want to do everything I can to make this as easy as possible for her. If not, I know I will be so worried about her I won't even be able to enjoy my vacation.
I would also love to hear opinions about whether it is better to have someone care for her in my house or take her somewhere to stay while I'm gone. I have found a wonderful lady who works at my vet office (very experienced with birds) who can care for Allie while I'm gone. She offered to either come to my house twice a day or suggested I may want to drop Allie off at her house (she also has a Quaker). I'm tempted to take her to the sitter's house since she is more likely to get longer periods of attention there. I'm hesitating for two reasons. First, Allie has a very large cage which will be hard to transport (I can probably find a way if I need to) and, secondly, I'm also worried about her going to a completely new environment (mommy disappears AND she leaves the home she knows). However, I do like the idea that in the sitter's home she would be able to hear the other bird, see people walking around, etc. and (hopefully) not be lonely.
I know each bird is unique and what works for one may not work for others, but I would love to hear any advice or insight about how other people have handled this situation. I appreciate your thoughts!
|
|
|
|
Post by easttex on Mar 21, 2017 4:33:24 GMT -5
I don't know which would be objectively better, and I've changed my mind several times while trying to write a response  . If it were for a shorter period it would be an easier call to leave her in her own environment, but ten days is a long time to be without much interaction. If two brief visits a day is all she would get, I'd probably take her to the sitter, provided she can be quarantined from other birds and the sitter takes all the necessary precautions - washing between birds, etc. If you have the opportunity, it might help to have a trial run where you leave her with the sitter for a few hours so she gets the experience of having you return for her. If you do decide to leave her at home (and I can certainly understand your reluctance to move a big cage back and forth), you could leave a tv or radio on during the day. In my experience, it doesn't take long for these things to turn into background noise for birds, but it would be better than nothing. I'd also be tempted to set up a webcam for the sake of my own anxiety. Do try to have fun on vacation!😀 |
|
|
|
Post by Caseysmom on Mar 21, 2017 22:07:23 GMT -5
We went away for about that length of time a couple of years ago. I decided it would be best for Casey to stay in her own house, she had two sets of people checking in on her, some afternoons, my friend brought her work to our house to work in quiet and keep Casey company. She stayed happy and didn't seem affected by us being away.. though she was happy to see us. My dogs on the other hand went to a friends house, one of them got so worked up and upset, he tensed up so much he could barely move
I feel they are happier and safer in their own space. But I guess you could see how much time she could spend there.
|
|
|
|
Post by julianna on Mar 23, 2017 13:15:05 GMT -5
I frequently need to have Oscar babysat and when I first started I would make it just a short over night stay. I brought his huge cage to the sitters house. She also has a Quaker that can fly but Oscar does not fly. I am sure he was very entertained just calling the other Quaker and watching each other. I then went away for a few days... and each time I would leave.. I would say... "I'll be right back". And upon my return I would repeat that... "I came right back". He would gets lots of hugs and kisses.
I also left him for more than 10 days at a time now and everything goes quite well. He knows I will return and he is not scared or anxious when we go there. I think he loves seeing other birds like him. The sitter also had two smaller birds and because Oscar (and many Quakers) are cage protectors, when one of the little birds landed on Oscar's cage he bit the birds toe off from inside his cage. That was very scary. The sitter knew she should have been more careful and did not make too much of a fuss... thank goodness... and she still watches Oscar for us to this day.
Because you are lucky to have found a vet that will watch your little one... you are very fortunate. She will know exactly how to feed him, bath him etc. I personally prefer to bring my Quaker to the sitters than have someone come in for a few moments at a time. I believe Quakers need more attention than that and I would hate to hear your little one has become distressed.
Best wishes on your decision.
|
|
|
|
Post by alliebirdmom on Mar 23, 2017 20:46:02 GMT -5
Thank you all so much! I keep going back and forth; Some days I think one thing and the next day I'll wake up and decide the opposite. Julianna, I really like the idea of using a phrase for when I leave and come back. Allie is super smart and I think she would put that together fast. I always tell her "bye bye" when I leave the house for work in the morning, and she knows what that means.
She is used to being alone during the day while I'm working and I do leave the radio on while I'm gone so she has some background noise. Caseymom, your point about it being less stressful in her home does make sense. If she stayed home with visits from the sitter, her routine for most of the day would be the same as usual. However, as easttex pointed out, the length of time she will be alone is the only downside.
You've all given me food for thought and I at least have some more time to plan. I'm starting to think that if I was going to leave her at the sitter's house I might need to try a trial run first. If she seems stressed after a day or two at the sitter's, I'll know that 10 days is definitely off the table.
|
|
|
|
Post by pidgesmum on Mar 26, 2017 18:36:16 GMT -5
I'm having the same issue. Pidge is around 6 months. I have sold my house and having difficulty buying another. There will be a few weeks where I will be scrounging beds off people and maybe can't take Pidge. I've got two people practically competing for the honour of taking him but am feeling very anxious. I also want to go camping for a week or more.
|
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Mar 27, 2017 23:14:07 GMT -5
Cupcake goes to my parents' house in a small but functional-enough travel cage-- they have a cockatiel. The birds definitely entertain each other to some extent, but they don't really interact. Cupcake definitely scares the cockatiel (everything does)... But my parents give her lots of attention, so she loves it. I think this kind of situation is fairly ideal, but not easy to come by. My vet says that he would always recommend the bird stay in its' own environment if at all possible, but that birds tend to get some entertainment out of being boarded temporarily because it's kind of like "bird camp", so it's not that bad... Personally we've never boarded Cupcake once in over 5 years, and I'm sure we will have to eventually, but we just haven't wanted to if we could avoid it, and thus far we have. I'm not sure if that was the right move, but she is a flighted bird that flies a lot, and I don't really want to cage her for days on end... that said, I feel like it's an option that would be useful to have. A trial run feels like the right way to do it... When we do board her, we intend to stage very short term visits to the vet to board her for first a matter of hours, and then maybe a day. I want her to be sure we are coming back when we leave her for more than a day. Hopefully it works.
|
|
|
|
Post by beccilouise on Apr 1, 2017 14:36:55 GMT -5
When I go on holiday, Maya goes to a lady in Crowthorne who I trust implicitly. Last time, Maya took a liking to her very shy son and the pair of them apparently spent the week playing video games in his room like and actual pair of teenagers! I would say that, unless the person can stay at your house, take the bird to them. This means they will be around people and not feel lonely. I felt so bad when I left Maya at Amanda's and I worried about her all week and when I got back, she was really pleased to see me but had obviously had a lovely time bossing everybody about. Your baby will be fine and, if the lady who is taking care of her is experienced with birds, so much the better! I agree with the above though that a trial run will probably help you find some peace of mind, and also prepare your bird. Good luck!
|
|
|
|
Post by alliebirdmom on Dec 13, 2017 15:39:37 GMT -5
I wanted to reach out once more to say thank you to everyone who provided advise and support about my vacation planning. In the end, Allie stayed at home and the sitter came to my house. Allie did very well. She was super cuddly when I got home so I know she missed me, but she was healthy and didn’t seem upset. She constantly amazes me with her ability to adapt to new situations. When Hurricane Irma came through FL, I had to pack up her and her new sister (green cheek conure rescue) and stay with relatives. Both birds did so well.
|
|
|
|
Post by cnyguy on Dec 13, 2017 21:21:57 GMT -5
Glad that things went well for your vacation time, and that you and the birds safely weathered Hurricane Irma. Welcome to your new feathered companion too. |
|
. If it were for a shorter period it would be an easier call to leave her in her own environment, but ten days is a long time to be without much interaction. If two brief visits a day is all she would get, I'd probably take her to the sitter, provided she can be quarantined from other birds and the sitter takes all the necessary precautions - washing between birds, etc. If you have the opportunity, it might help to have a trial run where you leave her with the sitter for a few hours so she gets the experience of having you return for her.
