codependent cockatiel, week long no birds trip, and animal depression

[bug_n_flock]

Hey folks. Tomorrow my boyfriend and I are leaving to drive a few states north to visit my grandmother while we still can (dimentia is evil.) As well as the rest of my family. We are not sure whos house will be staying at, or if we will be staying in a trailer on the farm like we did last visit. For simplicity all animals are staying here.. dog, cat, and extremely overly attached to me cockatiel, all of them.

My mother will be checking on our animals about 3 times a day(morning, night, and afternoon with the two later in the day times being longer visits for attention and such), but I'm worried about Alex. When I go out of town he gets really grumpy and mopey. He wont whistle at anyone, wont play on his own, bites anyone who tries to pet him, and only eats the barest minimum amount of food to keep him going.

Any tips for how to lessen the impact of this trip on my needy and old best friend? Already have millet sprays, was thinking to make him a balsa wood toy today (he loves these) and just spend a bunch of time with him today as I pack?

My poor buddy...

From phone


As an addition: I think Fatty and Pistol will be fine. They will miss me and miss the attention, but they are each capable of independent play, unlike Mr. Bird.

 

[itzjbean]

These things do happen and we can't be with our animals all the time. This close to your departure there really won't be much you can do I'm afraid. Only accept that he will be grumpy and mopey but he won't be like that forever. You can reassure him out loud when you will be back, but other then that the only option I see is...FaceTime? Does he respond to radio/TV? Can your mom give him some extra attention when she comes over, talk to him softly, offer some millet through the cage bars, etc? That is all I can think of to make it easier for him.

 

[bug_n_flock]

Hmm, never thought of video chatting. That's an idea. Since you specified so close to departure, does that mean once I return there would be something I could do to help him be better equipped for any future trips? It kills me that he is so utterly dependant on me. Cute, yes, but it can't be healthy for him.