Out of town bird care...

[jenni0482]

I just got my two tiels about 2 weeks ago and they're starting to settle in a bit. Still not huge on the whole contact thing, but they do like coming out of the cage and they will make their way to the window and sit in the sun.

I'm going away in a couple weeks for about 4-5 days. I have someone that will take care of the animals (I also have finches, fish, and 3 cats), but they will basically be coming in just to give fresh food and water. Is this going to be ok for the cockatiels? Will they do alright without the human socialization for that long? They do have each other, and I know that that helps, but I don't want them to get stressed out.

The other option I have is a friend who owns a parrot who has offered to take them to her place while I am gone. This way they will still get the human socialization (talking to anyways) but I don't think they are comfortable enough with people for them to allow someone new in a new environment taking them out of their cage. I'm afraid that this will stress them as well and not too sure which the better option would be...

Last time I went away, I had someone that lives in my basement take care of my pets, but unfortuneately he was more irresponsible than I had thought, and actually lost some of my finches during the week I was away. I'm pretty nervous about going away this time, but the plane tickets have been booked for quite sometime.

What do you think my best option is here?

[catschair]

I always leave my birds at home and have someone come in -- have left them for up to three weeks, and they have been okay. Not sure if it is the "best" solution, but I have never had any problems. Good luck!

[jenni0482]

Great, I think that's the easiest option too! I figured if my cats can handle it the birds must be able to too! Thanks!

[KDK241]

That would be what I would do too. I have never left my birds for longer than a night and even then I turned up the answering machine so they could hear it and called and left messages for themNeedless to say, my boyfriend thought I had gone INSANE....but it was the first time I had ever left them for that long.