Leaving my GCC for 3 weeks?

[AceyDoubleYou]

Hi all,

I'm a a college student, and I have owned my 8 month old green cheeck conure for about 4 months, and we're very well-bonded. He gets out of time cage multiple times a day, even when I work and go to class, is fully flighted, talks, and is used to having the toys in his cage changed every few weeks. I'm interested in a 3-4 week long study abroad program in Ecuador (it is not until September 2010). But I'm worried about leaving my bird here for that long (and no, I can't bring him with). My mom is willing to care for him and did so once before for 5 days, but she isn't a bird person, so this means he won't get to come out of his cage for 3-4 weeks and won't get very much interaction. I also have a pair of budgies that he likes that live in another cage I keep right next to his, so he would still be able to vocalize with them, but that is about it. There is another friend I may be able to leave him with that knows more about birds, but I'm not sure if that will work. For those of you who had to leave your birds behind when traveling, what did you do? Is 3-4 weeks long enough that my little guy could developing a serious behavorial problem like feather-plucking? Is it so long he could become dangerously depressed? Thanks in advance for your help!

[Valo's Moirana]

for a bird that's usually well handled and interacted with, 3-4 weeks should be okay. and there's also the possibility of interaction without letting him out of the cage - talking and giving treats through the cage bars. make sure he's in a big enough cage that he can move around some.

i've been gone for over 2 weeks before - i bring my guys to the vet and board them there for the time being since i don't have anybody who would watch them for that long. they're usually displeased when they come back home, but they get over it (the first time, valo looked at me and turned around when they brought him to me - he was VERY unhappy)

[LovelySydney]

Maybe you have a close friend or other family member who would be able to take the bird in and interact with it? I agree with what Valo's Moirana is saying, that it shouldnt be that traumatic for the bird. It would be different I think if you were leaving for say, a year, then Im sure the bird would wonder where the heck its parront went!! You have a lot of time to find a place for him to stay (if not with your mother) so Im confident you will find a plan that works for both you and the bird. Good luck, keep us posted.

[Flappuccino]

Just a suggestion, and this may not be true of all birds, but...

Many birds have a preference for males over females, or the other way around.

When I had just 2 birds, a lovie and gcc, I left them with my brother-in-law for 5 weeks when my mother-in-law had a stroke.

My lovie is MY girl, nothing will ever change the bond we have, so she was no problem.

My gcc, however, decided during that time that he likes males better. Doesn't matter who it is, if they're male, he shows off for them, and wants attention.
He'll leave me for my sons, my hubby, my BIL, etc.

Oh boy did it break my heart.

Anyway, I'd suggest leaving your birds in the care of someone who's the same gender as you.