Home away from home...

[Ash1es]

Hi. I'm looking into getting a cockatiel. It is hand raised and is ready to come home soon. I know this summer I will be gone for 1 week and a weekend here and there for camping. Although I know I can bring the bird camping on the weekend trips, I can't bring him during my week long trip. My mom lives close by and she has had a cockatiel in the past and loves having them around so I'm thinking I could take him and his cage to her house when I will be gone.

Do any of you take your bird and their cage with all of their stuff to another home while you're gone? How do they seem to react? Is it something that they are ok with and get used to if you do it often enough? It would only be between my house and my mom's when I'm gone. I just don't want to stress the poor guy out, but then again, maybe he'll like it if I do it often and he gets used to it? I'd appreciate any opinions and advice. If it's something that would stress him out or not be good for the bird, I won't get him.

[jenseits]

Originally Posted by Ash1es

Do any of you take your bird and their cage with all of their stuff to another home while you're gone? How do they seem to react? Is it something that they are ok with and get used to if you do it often enough?

.... If it's something that would stress him out or not be good for the bird, I won't get him.

I've done that and it's been fine. IMO it's better than leaving the bird home alone for long stretches (even if someone comes over to feed him, that's not enough interaction). When I just had one bird it was easier to lug all of his stuff and he was perfectly fine in his "home" at someone else's house. Now that I have two, it's nearly impossible to bring both cages without a moving truck. If I'm only gone for a few days, they have to go to the bird-sitter's in their travel cages.

This summer I'll be house-sitting for some friends for a couple weeks. I plan to rent a truck and bring both birds' regular cages with me.

If this is a concern, how about waiting 'til you're done with your trip to bring the bird home?

[Ash1es]

I could ask the owner if she would keep him until after my trip, but the trip isn't until the first week in August so that's quite some time yet.
I thought about getting another cage for when they would go over to my Mom's house to stay but since I will only have one for now, I would just move his cage.
By the way, I think it's pretty awesome you're taking yours with you when you house sit.
Thanks for your input :)