Going Away

[sunnyshine]

I'm going on a three day trip this week, and it'll be my first time going away since I've had the birds. I don't have anything to worry about regarding them getting plenty of food and interaction because I live with family who love and help care for them. They probably won't get playtime out of their cages while I'm gone, but they will get talked to all day. A couple days in a row last week I wasn't able to feed or see them in the morning until later, and it had Sunny screaming all day. He hasn't screamed since but I will feel horrible if he ends up having a fit because I'm gone and my family has to deal with his screaming for three days! Is there anything I can do or my family should do while I'm gone to keep them calm?

[PowerBBS]

Even when my fids are inside their cages for just a few hours, I leave on a radio or TV so that they can at least have that to entertain them instead of plain silence.

Ask you family to sit with the cages/birds. Even if it's not you, they do love to be with others rather than alone. Chew toys are a good idea now, since you say they may not get out of the cage until you return. This will give them something to do with their time.

I've actually made voice recordings of my voice for my fids and a custom Mix cd and put it into a cd player on repeat entire cd mode and left that for my fids (of course, turning it off at night - I actually have an application on my computer - which is in the bird room - that takes care of when to play music, voice and when not to).

However, the norm is that sometimes they may spend a day or two without you and there's no time like the present to introduce them to that. Bewarned, they can get cranky when you come back (our gcc used to get P/O'd when we left for more than one working day).

[Beaks]

ear plugs may work LOL

[sunnyshine]

Change of plans due to a family emergency... Rather than just my leaving for three days, we will all be leaving and for at least a week. My sister is going to come over every day that we're gone to feed Sunny and Skittles and to check on them. I wasn't worried before because only I was leaving so they would still be fine, just missing me. But I'm a lot more worried now that they will be completely alone for a week besides when my sister comes over to feed them. Today I got them each a new toy and a treat stick to hopefully keep them occupied for a while and help distract them. Tomorrow morning before I leave, I'm going to hide Nutriberries inside toys around their cages to give them something else to do. I'm going to have my sister turn on the radio for them during the day and I'm glad that I have two birds now so at least they can keep each other company. I'm a lot more worried now. I hope they'll be okay and still love me when I come back!

[dragon06]

A couple of years ago I had to go away for 10 days and the rest of the people in my house had to as well. We had a pet sitter come in once a day to feed the birds and the cats and that was it. I have a Senegal and a Budgie. Both were just fine when I got home. A little bit peeved at me but that didn't last very long. I think your fids will be just fine.

Just to add a bit more...when my Senegal was very young I had to leave him with friends for 8 months because of my immigration to the US. He eventually got his "immigration" too and we were reunited. He remembered everything about me and still loved me as much as before I left. So I think if my baby can last out the 8 months and still love me the same and recognize me immediately and everything yours will be ok. Let me tell you those were a long 8 months! I was so happy when I finally got his papers and could go pick him up! He sat on my lap in a travel carrier for the whole 10 hour drive and was just as happy as could be.

[ROYJOY]

they'll be ok, you're giving them lots of foraging fun by hiding things around, but they'll sure be glad to see you when you get back.

[saucie]

Originally Posted by PowerBBS

I've actually made voice recordings of my voice for my fids and a custom Mix cd and put it into a cd player on repeat entire cd mode and left that for my fids (of course, turning it off at night - I actually have an application on my computer - which is in the bird room - that takes care of when to play music, voice and when not to).

You know, that reminds me of a thought I had. Do you guys think a "scarecrow" of you would fool the birds if you also had a recording of your voice? Sometimes, I put pillows under my blanket on my bed to make it look like I'm still sleeping, and then I sneak out of the room. I'm not sure if it's working...

[jenseits]

This is a little late for your situation, but I might recommend getting one of those parrot videos (sometimes called things like "Birdy Vision" or "The Parrot Sitter" or stuff like that). It's basically scenes and soundtracks of parrots hanging out and interacting. I've read that it socializes your birds to think they are part of the flock. That way even if you leave, you can play it and have the birds feel like part of their flock is still around.

I play one during the day (on a continuous loop, but you could also set a timer to go off at some point during the day) and it tends to calm Stewie down when I'm away or he just wants attention and I can't give it to him.