The bf and I have decided to take a short holiday at the end of July to Tasmania We are leaving lunchtime Thursday and returning lunchtime the following Tuesday, so it will be four full days.

 

I am thinking of leaving Coco at home alone, i can get somebody to change food and water every second day ( I have lots of bowls that I can use so he doesn't run out of seed). I have a radio that I always leave on for him as well. How do people feel about leaving them alone for this length of time (particularly not being able to cover his cage over at night)?

 

I could leave him with somebody, but then I run the risk of him being left in a draft; in front of a heater; them using teflon cookware etc....plus he is quite a scardy cat and has only just started to bond with me, and I would hate to lose the 5 1/2 months work.

 

Thanks in advance for any advice

I would say he would be fine on his own for 4 days

 

I can budgie sit if you are worried about others quality of care

I would say he would be fine on his own for 4 days

 

I can budgie sit if you are worried about others quality of care :fear

 

 

That is good to hear thank you

 

Thanks for the offer to budgie sit, I don't think he would want to come home with me if he had other little budgies to talk to at your place (and you would have to check my pockets for bird-napping too) I will keep that in mind. I just don't want to scare him too much with the change of scenery and the drive over. I know I am probably being too cautious....

I personally have not left Merlin for more then 3 days that to me is the max and I leave him 2 seed bowls and 2 water bowls, it worries me because there is no one there to blow the husks off and they can starve, also I leave music on low and I keep the cage covered on 3 sides to make him feel safe during the night.

No worries at all. It can be quite stressful for these little guys when they change location. He would be much more comfortable in his own home :fear

 

He will be just fine for the four days. provided he is not in a drafty area, he should not need to be covered. You may notice that he will be a little sulky for a few days after you come home - like any animal, they miss their owner when they go away.

 

I have always wanted to go to Taz!! I will get there one day

 

I hope you have a brilliant time and would love to see pictures of the sights

I personally have not left Merlin for more then 3 days that to me is the max and I leave him 2 seed bowls and 2 water bowls, it worries me because there is no one there to blow the husks off and they can starve, also I leave music on low and I keep the cage covered on 3 sides to make him feel safe during the night.

I agree with Elly

No worries at all. It can be quite stressful for these little guys when they change location. He would be much more comfortable in his own home He will be just fine for the four days. provided he is not in a drafty area, he should not need to be covered. You may notice that he will be a little sulky for a few days after you come home - like any animal, they miss their owner when they go away. I have always wanted to go to Taz!! I will get there one day I hope you have a brilliant time and would love to see pictures of the sights :budgiedance:

We are staying with a friend (in his 1bdrm apartment) in hobart, so it is a nice budget holiday! I am told it is very cold, so I should bring some thermals. I will post some pics when I get back

I personally have not left Merlin for more then 3 days that to me is the max and I leave him 2 seed bowls and 2 water bowls, it worries me because there is no one there to blow the husks off and they can starve, also I leave music on low and I keep the cage covered on 3 sides to make him feel safe during the night.

I agree with Elly

If somebody was to come every second day to refill the seed dishes, would that that change your views? Is the food issue the main concern?

Yes food is a major concern, if you had someone come every 2nd day and change the food and water that would be perfect. I know when I fill Merlin's seed in the morning by evening the empty husks have already covered the seeds on the bottom. As for covering, don't completely cover them just on the 3 sides and 1/2 way so they feel safe at night especially if you cover them all the time at night and it keeps them from getting a draft.

Yes food is a major concern, if you had someone come every 2nd day and change the food and water that would be perfect. I know when I fill Merlin's seed in the morning by evening the empty husks have already covered the seeds on the bottom. As for covering, don't completely cover them just on the 3 sides and 1/2 way so they feel safe at night especially if you cover them all the time at night and it keeps them from getting a draft.

 

I will do that then :budgiedance: .

 

Thanks for the advice. It is a tricky situation, I don't want to cause more stress to him by taking him to somebody's house, but on the other hand, I don't want anything to happen to him by leaving him at home. This sounds like a nice compromise though

I had Merlin at my in-laws for 2 weeks, I don't want to do that again, they took good care of him but he came back with respiratory irritation from whatever they used in their house, I was glad when we went on vacation last time that I had a trustworthy pet sitter that took care of him at our house.

I have seen seed despensers that don't allow a build up of husks. I cant find a picture of one, but a good petshop might have one :budgiedance:

Anything can go wrong in 4 days!

 

i wouldn't leave it alone that long !!!

Build of of seeds ( leaving no feed for your bird) Build of of **** in the water your bird would be drink gross water for 4 days) What happens if the house burns down? ( not that I wish for that to happen) But anything can happen ..

I'd take Liv up on her offer for the Budgie sitting mate :budgiedance:

Edited July 7, 200816 yr by Neat

Anything can go wrong in 4 days!

 

i wouldn't leave it alone that long !!!

Build of of seeds ( leaving no feed for your bird) Build of of **** in the water your bird would be drink gross water for 4 days) What happens if the house burns down? ( not that I wish for that to happen) But anything can happen ..

I'd take Liv up on her offer for the Budgie sitting mate

 

I understand what you mean Neat, but I will have somebody come every second day (at least) to change water and seed (plus I have a couple of seed bells to use). Plus, at the end of the day, my bf and I both work full time hours, so something going wrong could just as easily happen while we are at work (as awful as it is to think about).

I agree that anything can happen at any time - there is a level of paranoia in all of us but we wouldn't ever leave the house if we listened to all of our concerns.

 

Personally i think he will be fine if he is covered like Elly said, If he has 2 water sources that are up and out of the way of getting seed and poop in them. 2 seed filled dishes and even some sprinkled on the bottom of the cage. a seed bell, a millet spray..... a radio left of quiet (even better on a timer so he can have quiet at night) ....

 

Have your friend check on him if your worried and relax on your holiday :hap:

Oh,

:heheheh

 

Agree with Liv on that ( extra water dishes ) a Bell / Bar if some one is checking them should be sweet

I agree that 4 days away is fine. I was hesitant to leave Charley and Maxie initially but have had to go away with work for 4 or 5 days at a time, and other trips for a week. My daughter checks on them every second day and I leave the radio on softly, no cover on the cages and ensure that the place is safe SHOULD Charley (Houdini) find his way out (i.e. bathroom door closed with toilet seat down. doors closed and blinds slightly closed, enough to let in light but not enough for him to fly and hit the window if he did get out. Of course I worry about things like fire etc however that could happen any time if I'm at work or shopping, so I try to put that out of my mind when away.

 

I miss them when I'm away and Charley is always a little sulky when I first come home, but he's soon his chirpy self again. So, my personal opinion (and I'm no budgie expert!) is feel relaxed and assured that they will be fine while you're away.. and enjoy your holiday!!!! :budgiedance:

I agree that 4 days away is fine. I was hesitant to leave Charley and Maxie initially but have had to go away with work for 4 or 5 days at a time, and other trips for a week. My daughter checks on them every second day and I leave the radio on softly, no cover on the cages and ensure that the place is safe SHOULD Charley (Houdini) find his way out (i.e. bathroom door closed with toilet seat down. doors closed and blinds slightly closed, enough to let in light but not enough for him to fly and hit the window if he did get out. Of course I worry about things like fire etc however that could happen any time if I'm at work or shopping, so I try to put that out of my mind when away.

 

I miss them when I'm away and Charley is always a little sulky when I first come home, but he's soon his chirpy self again. So, my personal opinion (and I'm no budgie expert!) is feel relaxed and assured that they will be fine while you're away.. and enjoy your holiday!!!! :glare:

 

Thank you, that is a good idea about leaving loo seats down etc. I will do that before I leave in case he gets a little spiteful for me leaving him and tries to get out! Thanks for the advice

Seed bells are great for holidays as you don't have to worry about husks.

The little water containers that poke through the bars of the cage are good as they have a smaller surface area so are harder to poop in. I also double attach them with wire so they are less likely to fall off.

I've left my budgies for a week before. I always overstuff the cage with seedbells, almost one per budgie sometimes almost two, a giant bowl of seed and give them at least 2 different water sources and often 3. Making sure that at least one is attached inside the cage so if a drinker does fall off they still have water. When I came back I found they hadn't even touched the dish of seed, they had so much food.

just make sure they are one to eat seedbells my 2 wouldn't touch them

Seed bells are great for holidays as you don't have to worry about husks.The little water containers that poke through the bars of the cage are good as they have a smaller surface area so are harder to poop in. I also double attach them with wire so they are less likely to fall off.I've left my budgies for a week before. I always overstuff the cage with seedbells, almost one per budgie sometimes almost two, a giant bowl of seed and give them at least 2 different water sources and often 3. Making sure that at least one is attached inside the cage so if a drinker does fall off they still have water. When I came back I found they hadn't even touched the dish of seed, they had so much food.

Thanks for the good ideas Sailorwolf

just make sure they are one to eat seedbells my 2 wouldn't touch them

Good point Elly. I gave him a seedbell about three days ago to test them out and it is just about gone! I tried them when I first got Coco and I threw it away because he didn't touch it. I guess now maybe he is a little more adventurous

Make sure all of them are eating it, the others may be eating it and Coco might not be touching it.

Make sure all of them are eating it, the others may be eating it and Coco might not be touching it.

 

Coco is her only bird

Make sure all of them are eating it, the others may be eating it and Coco might not be touching it.

 

Coco is her only bird

 

But Liv is going to fix that in spring hehehe

Make sure all of them are eating it, the others may be eating it and Coco might not be touching it.

 

Coco is her only bird

 

But Liv is going to fix that in spring hehehe

 

hehe Sure am

And do you think outside birds would also be okay alone for a couple of days if they have enough water and food?