Pet Lovers

[gardenman]

Should you leave a pet bird unattended for five days? No. In a perfect world you would never leave any animal unattended ever, but people have to work, end up in hospitals, or may find themselves incapable of getting back home for some reason. Most of the concerns people have expressed can be overcome.

The water issue can be solved if you can train the bird to drink out of a hamster/guinea pig bottle instead of a dish. Many pet shops use these for birds, so it's not an uncommon experience for a bird. That keeps the water clean and a good supply available. Ideally you'd clean that out daily, but assuming the bottle and water were clean to start with, you could get by for five days with a large hamster/guinea pig type water bottle. You could even use multiple bottles to be safe.

Multiple food dishes with a surplus of food placed throughout the cage, including things like millet sprays, would likely be able to provide enough food for five days with little to no trouble. Cockatiels love millet sprays, so hanging five to ten fresh millet sprays in the cage with additional food would keep him well fed.

Birds, parrots of all types in particular, are social animals however and isolating one with no social contact for five days would prove stressful. Would it be more stressful on the bird than placing it at a pet boarder? That's hard to say. I've seen pet shops with multiple sick, and in some cases dead birds, in cages and I would rather keep the bird at home alone than put it into such an environment. You have to do what you feel is best.

Ideally no pet would ever be left alone to get into trouble, but in reality every pet has to spend some time on their own. Five days is too long in my personal opinion, but it can be done if you make the proper adaptations far enough in advance. Weaning the bird onto hamster/guinea pig water bottles, using forageable food like multiple millet sprays, and maybe leaving a radio or television on for some form of companionship, would be an option. Not an ideal option, but an option. 

[60sgirl]

@RinaRina contact your local animal shelter or humane society. The shelter I volunteer at is very, very good at helping people in need. We often "board" verything from a dog to a bird to a rabiit or guinea pig. Even had 2 sugar gliders we took care of.   Worth a shot to call them and ask. 

[RinaRina]

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@gardenman wrote:

The water issue can be solved if you can train the bird to drink out of a hamster/guinea pig bottle instead of a dish. Many pet shops use these for birds, so it's not an uncommon experience for a bird. That keeps the water clean and a good supply available. Ideally you'd clean that out daily, but assuming the bottle and water were clean to start with, you could get by for five days with a large hamster/guinea pig type water bottle. You could even use multiple bottles to be safe.

Multiple food dishes with a surplus of food placed throughout the cage, including things like millet sprays, would likely be able to provide enough food for five days with little to no trouble. Cockatiels love millet sprays, so hanging five to ten fresh millet sprays in the cage with additional food would keep him well fed.

Birds, parrots of all types in particular, are social animals however and isolating one with no social contact for five days would prove stressful. Would it be more stressful on the bird than placing it at a pet boarder? That's hard to say. I've seen pet shops with multiple sick, and in some cases dead birds, in cages and I would rather keep the bird at home alone than put it into such an environment. You have to do what you feel is best.

Ideally no pet would ever be left alone to get into trouble, but in reality every pet has to spend some time on their own. Five days is too long in my personal opinion, but it can be done if you make the proper adaptations far enough in advance. Weaning the bird onto hamster/guinea pig water bottles, using forageable food like multiple millet sprays, and maybe leaving a radio or television on for some form of companionship, would be an option. Not an ideal option, but an option. 

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"I've seen pet shops with multiple sick, and in some cases dead birds, in cages and I would rather keep the bird at home alone than put it into such an environment. "

Bingo!

@gardenmanTHANK YOU for your suggestions.  I just got a "bad vibe" about leaving my bird at the pet store.  And I called veterinarians and you wouldn't believe what they charge AND all the extra unnecessary stuff they do.  If my bird died after being boarded, given that I've had him for 26 years, I'd be devastated.  BTW, I called Petsmart and Petco and they no longer board birds for the some of the reasons you mentioned.

[conlt]

Even though you have to use this pet shop now and buy a cage. Which in my opinion is ridiculous, I would do it this time and plan way in advance when you have to go away again. I have a family member come to my home and care for my birds once a day when I am gone. My brother owns a pet shop and specializes in birds. He has never had anyone buy a cage and he charges much less then the shop you are using. You could keep the cage for transport or for an emergency. I have alternate cages and kennel cabs for my birds. I live in Florida and we actually evacuated back in 2004, I had all my birds in their kennel cabs in a motel room, they did fine. We took them out as usual and did not let the maid clean. In the future I would find an alternative to this pet store. What she is demanding of you does not sound right. You have to have care for your bird though. Just a thought about 45 min from me is an avian vet who boards birds. Maybe, if you don't have an avian vet available, a regular vet might board them.

[conlt]

Millet is not enough nutritinon to keep a bird alive. I dissagree with leaving the bird alone. I have 27 years experience in bird keeping.

[RinaRina]

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@conlt wrote:

My brother owns a pet shop and specializes in birds. He has never had anyone buy a cage and he charges much less then the shop you are using. You could keep the cage for transport or for an emergency. I have alternate cages and kennel cabs for my birds.

What she is demanding of you does not sound right.

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Of course he would't  .. AND  ...of course he does.

That woman must've thought I was stupid.  And she must've forgotten I'd told her the week B4 when I spoke to her on the phone that I'd had the bird for 26 years, yet she insisted I take some brochures about bird care. 

I already have two cages and two carriers.  I have NO intentions of buying another (overpriced) cage from her.  In fact, I went on Craigslist* and found two similar cages for under $20.

The whole scenario reminds me of a bait & switch scheme.  ("yes, I'll board your bird for $12/day, but you'll have to buy a cage from me for $50."  "Yes, I can sell you this car for $7,000, but if you want it with seats and an engine, it's an extra $12,000.")

@Craigslist* - There were pictures of the cages.  One cage was @ a church sale for $10.  The other was an individual asking $20. >>> The picture (of the $20 cage) had a "$4" tag on it.  The picture had been taken of the cage sitting on the floor.  It looked like an unfinished basement floor.  You could see MOLD on the baseboards.  (shaking head, eye roll)

[RinaRina]

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@conlt wrote:

Millet is not enough nutritinon to keep a bird alive. I dissagree with leaving the bird alone. I have 27 years experience in bird keeping.

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Ha!  Funny!  The caretaker told me my bird would only be given seeds.  My intuition was on the mark.  My bird has NEVER been on a seed diet.

BTW, I'm sure the other poster meant using the millet as a "treat".