Leaving My Conure for Several Days

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Leaving My Conure for Several Days

by Donna
(Atlanta, Georgia)

I have a 2-year-old Green Cheek Conure named Tiki Bob. We are very close. I work from home and he "assists" me most of the day, so we spend a lot of time together.

I am leaving town for six days to take part in an out-of-state wedding and am very concerned about being separated from Tiki Bob. Yes, I will miss him -- but I am worried about how he will handle this. He will not be left alone. My husband and sons will be here, and he likes to hang out with them, but will he think I've abandoned him?

Also, my husband and sons will be joining me out-of-town, but not until later. Tiki Bob will be without any of his humans for two days. The house won't be empty. His parakeet brother will be here, as will his cat and dog siblings. Of course, the birds will be safely caged! (Our dogs and cat do not bother the birds, but we never leave them unsupervised or accessible to each other.)

Tiki Bob is so flock-oriented and sees me as his main flock member...I am really concerned about this separation. Any words of wisdom and advice appreciated.

Thank you,

Donna

Comments for
Leaving My Conure for Several Days

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Jan 26, 2011

Thanks
by: Anonymous

Thanks for all the advice! It all worked out. My sister-in-law just house sat for us over the weekend, so all my furry and feathered kids had company and were well cared for. I missed them terribly, but was able to relax and enjoy the wedding festivities!

Jan 15, 2011

Taking birds on a trip
by: Tracie

Taking the birds with you would be great! Are you driving or flying? If you are flying, you will need both travel carriers and travel cages for when you get there for the birds. You also need to find out if there are any regulations on bringing birds to the state you are traveling to.

If you are driving, it is the easiest way to go. You can just put them their travel cages and off you go.

If your birds do not have travel cages, purchase them now so that the bird can get used to them before you put them in it for hours and also taking him in a car. You want him to feel like he is in his second home, safe and sound, when traveling in the scary car.

I provide my birds with a bird tent, so they can hide in there if they want. I don't hang any toys in the cage, so that they don't get knocked off the perch. I do attach toys to the side bars that do not swing. I bring alone other toys to hang when we get to our destination.

I put in safety perches that they are comfortable with and that they can grip easily. I use a water bottle for water so that their water stays fresh and doesn't spill. I stop every couple of hours and get the birds out and hug on them and give them a break from the cage.

We use the Adventure Pack travel cage, because it is stainless steel, light weight and will not crack or peel over the years.

Jan 15, 2011

How About Taking Them?
by: Donna

Thanks for your input! As for the dogs and cat, I have long had a neighbor who comes by three times a day whenever we leave town. The animals know and trust her.

When away, bird cages are placed in a bedroom the other animals can't access. The birds hang out in that room some, so they are familiar with it.

We just don't go away that often. Tiki has never been left for longer than a few hours. What do you all think about me taking the birds with me?! I'll be staying with my sister who has given the green light on the birds coming. She doesn't have any indoor pets and no small children. It's a nice, quiet house and my birds will stick close to me anyway. So...taking the birds...good idea or not?

Jan 14, 2011

Leaving bird alone not suggested
by: The Avian Vet

Your bird should not be left unattended for two days.

Dr B

Jan 12, 2011

Leaving My Conure for Several Days
by: Linda

Donna, it is not a good idea to leave birds, dogs and cats together in the house unsupervised for hours much less two full days.

If an emergency occurs, what then? My suggestion is to arrange for a housesitter for those two days and make sure they are bonded and insured and come with good references or are trusted friends who know the birds and animals. This will take a bit of time, and you can make it go faster by calling your Avian Vet for help in finding someone who is comfortable around birds, dogs and cats unless you already know someone.

You are literally leaving your pet family in a very bad position here, and there is a high probability that things will go terribly wrong. You cannot leave birds, dogs and cats together alone whether the birds are in cages or not. Cages can be knocked down and birds tortured until someone gets the cage open and then they will most likely kill the birds. Also dogs behave differenty with cats when their humans are around than they do when no one is around.Dogs and cats are in reality enemies and I've seen this happen with my own dogs and cats, so please do not leave all of these animals alone without any supervision at all. Even if you can just find someone to come over twice a day to feed, water and make sure all is well, that would beat leaving them on their own for that long.

Please take these comments seriously because the lives of your pets do depend on it.

Linda

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