Please Help

[Ina246]

I just had a death in the family. I need to know what is best for the bird. Do I leave her at home with someone who visits on a regular basis, or do I take her to a friends house (who she hasnt met) who will be home at night full time? Which will be a better situation for her and less scary?

Thank you
Christina

[Sashagirl]

Christina

I would leave her home where she is more comfortable and allow the person that someone who will visit regularly as long as they know how to properly care for a parrot.That will be less scary for her.Taking her out of her home to meet be cared for by someone she never met will be more scary.I know it's an emergency but make sure you have an emergency avian vet contact as well as human contant.Sorry about your loss.

Marcia

[mmarteen]

I guess it would depend on a number of things.

How long is the absence? Are you going out of town for a weekend or for months or are you unsure how long you will be gone? If the absence is long, the bird might be better at the freind's home, if the friend has more time to spend with the bird, even if the time is just "ambient" attention. Birds are social creatures and if it is a lone bird, it will feel lonely if left for weeks by itself with a person only checking in once a day.

Does the bird get a lot of outside the cage time normally? If the answer is yes, being shut up in a cage for an indefinite period of time is going to be tough for the bird. It's going to feel like a punishment for him, even if it isn't. Finding a way for the bird to get some time out of the cage would be good. Like making an arrangment so that the bird loving freind can visit your bird at the friend's house and play with him, if the freind who provides the space can't do that, for one reason or another.

The best solution in these cases is to find a bird boarding place with responsible bird-oriented professionals who will do more than just feed the bird. We have a great one where I live in MN (Avian Suites). It's not cheap but it provides wonderful peace of mind. It's now part of the budget when I go out of town, longer than overnight. I may leave town less but I feel better when I do.

mm

[pfness]

Home is a quiet place. Someone coming in once a day to feed and water and spend an half hour talking is better than taking to another house. At least at home it has the comfort and convenience of it's own cage, which birds are territorial about.

I have left for a week before and my daughter comes over and spends an hour every day.

This way, the "know you are coming back" and not giving them to someone else. They could feel abandoned if taken to another house and you are gone for a week.

Also, and I realize this probably isn't a close by relative but....
But when my husband passed away in 2006, I took the bird that he was most bonded to, to the funeral home. Birds are intelligent. He could see that his friend was no longer alive and he never pined for him after that. He KNEW he was gone for good.

But that is what birds do...they pine. And if you are going to be gone for a week, or even 3 days, leave them home. You don't want them to get into a plucking mode because they will continue that even after you are back.

[dshore]

Of all the response to your need for help the response that makes the most sense is from "pfness". All the others seem to create more anxiety for the poor bird. Home is the best place for the bird at this time. Have an old friend come in and spend some time with the bird - at least he/she will be in a comfort zone and birds ARE territorial.

[Ginich]

If you are talking about your bird, then try to get a pet sitter to come in. It should be someone who knows about birds so they can, at least, get the food and water changed without getting bit. If it is a friend that doesn't know much about birds, then leave written instructions and the vet's number. I would also leave the tv or radio on for company while you are away. That would be the first choice. If this is not possible, then your birdless friend can become friends with your zon while you are gone, shower her with treats and fresh veggies, and you will be able to leave her whenever you go on vacation.

[yambasticks]

If you are discussing the "long term care of this bird, you must do more than just have a friend come in.

You must sit down and measure it out in your mind what really is best for this bird.

YOu want this bird going into skilled loving hands, and at any point if I were you if it were possible I would take the bird home with me especially if the bird at least knows me, that way the sense that his owner died will be less stressful for the bird.

Then find someone, if your person who died did not make provisions in his/her will for the bird strt looking for the appropriate fmily tha will love this bird for it's entire life.

It might be a little scary for the bird, but right now youreally have to consider what is overall going to be in the best interest of the bird.

A pet sitter? I really think this bird doesn't need "Temporary people in its life, especially right now.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[hcc59]

Christina,
I am sorry about your loss, and I applaud you for taking on this responsibility.
I have to agree with those that say to leave the bird in the same home.

I am wondering if there is some type of entertainment, stimulation like a TV or radio that can be put on a timer.
The person that gives food could manage the radio and timer.

My parrot has a tv that he watches during the day. I used to have a radio, but I found he liked the TV more. I leave it on for him to keep him occupied.
I turn it off in the late after noon as he has become bored with it and leaves his playstand and then returns to inside his cage for a nap.



take care
Christopher

[mmarteen]

I agree with the person who said, if it's a short absence, having someone look in, feed and water the bird once a day is all right. Longer than 3 days I would not leave my birds alone for 90% of the time for longer than that. And there are 3 of them, in separate cages.

For a short absence, tv is good. I leave a little tv on in the bird room when I leave for more than a few hours. (They seem to especially like children's programming and cartoons, with all the sound effects and music!)

Terretoriality refers mainly to the bird's cage, nest box, tent and toys. If the bird is kept in it's own cage with it's own things. I don't see what the problem is moving it to a friend's home temporarily. The main problem is that if the bird is bonded to YOU it won't have you around but according to the original post, that was not an option. Most birds will adapt just fine. They don't like change but they will handle it OK. They are social though, and do get lonely, just like humans. Some species are more adaptable than others. Tiels, for instance are tough little guys and will pretty much go with the flow. Cockatoos on the other hand can be much more sensitive and only bonded to one person, etc. Your mileage may very.

[Ina246]

Thank you all for your help. I think we have decided to keep all the kids at home (dogs and bird). The visitor is my neighbor and she cames by 3-5 times a day and stays here for almost an hour each time when she watches the dogs. She has had a too so she knows a little what she is getting into. We will only be gone for a couple of days. We live in Cali and our family is mostly in Kansas. We are also going to make a new dvd for them of us talking to them. I hope that will help keep her calmer, she can still hear us and see us. We think we will be flying out on Wednesday and returning Friday. The husband cant stand to leave her alone. So hopefully the trip will be short enough to not be to scary for her. We are also having the sitter come visit daily until we leave. Jezz has already met her on multiple occasions previously.

Once again thanks for your help.