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Post by julianna on Jan 7, 2016 14:47:26 GMT -5
Hi Folks... I have to go out of town for one evening and my bird sitter is not available. I am going to have to leave Oscar alone and wanted your advice. I will be gone from 8:00 a.m. one day to 1:00 in the afternoon the next day.
I will have Oscar in a closed cage with toys and lots of food and water. I was thinking of leaving the radio on for him... but that would mean it would be on all evening as well. Not sure if that is a good thing.
I am not going to cover his cage but just let him look around and be able to see out the windows.
Has anyone else had to leave their QP alone for a night? Any advice for me?? Thanks |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jan 7, 2016 15:27:52 GMT -5
What I would suggest is that you partly cover his cage if he is used to it at night. Just leave the radio on softly so it doesn't disturb his sleep. The chances are he will be really angry when he sees you the next day but he will be safe with food and toys. So don't stress about it - he will be perfectly fine  |
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Post by easttex on Jan 7, 2016 18:44:08 GMT -5
You could put an inexpensive timer on the radio. A couple times when I've had to stay over in Houston, I left Allie in the care of my husband, which is pretty much leaving her alone. Once I had to stay for two nights. I had only planned on one, and so had prepared a second food bowl for him to switch out. The second day, he topped up her pellets. Unfortunately, he confused the regular pellets with her treat pellets, so she made out like a bandit until I got home in the early afternoon. He never did manage to cover her, but I left her in her day cage and she was not in a draft. |
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Post by biteybird on Jan 7, 2016 19:05:38 GMT -5
We've left Bonnie on her own overnight three times and she was fine. I just made sure she had plenty of pellets and her guinea pig water bottle on the side of the cage. I didn't cover the cage or leave the radio on (like Julianna mentioned, I didn't want the radio to keep her awake at night). Now, Easttex's idea of a timer on the radio is a great idea! Sometimes when we go down to the caravan I've left Bonnie at home overnight just to give hubby a break from her squawking. She hasn't seemed to mind and hasn't yet made us 'pay' afterwards - whoops, now I've jinxed it... |
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Post by beccilouise on Jan 8, 2016 4:08:46 GMT -5
I've done this with Byron and it was fine. I covered one half of his cage and left the blinds up so he could see when it was day time. I just gave him lots of cuddles before I left and after I got back. He seemed not too bothered by it. Our schedule is quite erratic anyway so I have quite a strict ritual for leaving Byron so that he knows I'm going or he's going to be left alone. Then he knows that he will always see me during the next 'day'.
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Post by easttex on Jan 8, 2016 6:53:25 GMT -5
I have quite a strict ritual for leaving Byron so that he knows I'm going or he's going to be left alone. I think ritual is important for them. You don't want to be militant about things, but consistently using little routines to cue them is smart. |
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Post by Caseysmom on Jan 8, 2016 7:56:29 GMT -5
Casey has been left alone overnight before, having the radio on timer is a good idea. We also have routines she knows when I say bye bye see you later I am heading out the door. I think they are happier left in their house for a night then going somewhere different. We've gone away for longer and just had people come in and
let her out and talk to her during the day, she was always fine when we got back. Happy and ready to greet us.
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Post by julianna on Jan 8, 2016 14:09:12 GMT -5
Thank you all for the advice. I feel better now knowing that he will be okay for one evening. I also plan on covering his regular sleep cage (which is close to the kitchen cage) so that he does not see it and think he needs to go in there for bed. That one does not have a lock and besides it is packed with his tie wraps so ... not a good place to spend the day.
Whenever I have had to leave Oscar I always tell him... that I am going far far away. He usually is good with that and does not cling. Of course the best part is coming back and having all the kisses. (smiles)
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