How to care for your parrots on vacation

[FlockFive]

How we prepare our parrots and pet sitter for when we go away on vacation. We hope you find this video helpful.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpT7OmweFAY"]HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR PARROTS ON VACATION - YouTube[/ame]

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I see that Happy has some black feathers/stress bars on her back, is she okay?
Other than that, great video You’re a lot better prepared than I am.

 

[Tami2]

WOW!! You guys are awesome, great detail & amazingly prepared for any situation & or emergency.
If you don't mind me asking, what do you pay per day for a sitter to come to the house. I realize you have 3 & I only have 1. But, I'd like to get an idea. So, I can compare with a possible Vet boarding.

Also, does your sitter prepare fresh fruits, veggies, pasta/grains etc...

We haven't taken a vacation yet where we can't bring Levi. It is such a dilemma trying to make the best decision for his wellbeing when we do. I've heard so many negatives on leaving them.

Excellent Video thanks so much for sharing!! :heart:

 

[Aquila]

I have a notebook full of info on all my birds, it needs to be typed up at some point, but I always write down about their personalities and such, who's friendly, who's nervous, who bites, lol. Thankfully I've had someone close that stayed here to watch the birds that was already familiar with them, and I have too many to board at my vet!

I usually bag individual pellet portions per day in labeled ziploc bags, with names and days. For fresh food, I've never been gone longer than a week so I usually don't bother, but now that I have a dehydrator I can prepare some things easier. I try to have everything laid out as organized as possible and have clear written instructions.

 

[riddick07]

My problem is finding someone that can handle the amount and types of the animals in the house without charging as much as the vacation itself costs

I alone have 9 parrots, 55 snakes (some that require two people to handle they are so large), Possible eggs/hatchlings/pregnant boas/baby snakes depending on the vacation time, 1 lizard, and 1 cat.

And since I live at home there are another 4 parrots and 3 cats that aren’t mine.

So we require at least two people per visit Incase something needs to be done with the big snakes. Plus, finding 2 people comfortable with large snakes and can be safe. The snakes don’t need much care but the danger level with the large ones is the problem.

Then, of course I have to trust the person with the snakes. That they won’t steal them to sell or accidentally kill them messing with the equipment. Or lose one. And that they know how to handle eggs and pregnancy. I mean it’s a lot of responsibility for someone to handle the snakes alone. The birds are easier since for most I don’t require them to handle them at all. You don’t need to open a bird cage to do a light cleaning just pull the tray but the snakes everything comes out including the snakes.

 

[LordTriggs]

see if I was around I'd offer to look after all

the snakes I'd be more wary of just cause I've been bitten by a boa before (ouch)

 

[Aquila]

My problem is finding someone that can handle the amount and types of the animals in the house without charging as much as the vacation itself costs

I alone have 9 parrots, 55 snakes (some that require two people to handle they are so large), Possible eggs/hatchlings/pregnant boas/baby snakes depending on the vacation time, 1 lizard, and 1 cat.

And since I live at home there are another 4 parrots and 3 cats that aren’t mine.

So we require at least two people per visit Incase something needs to be done with the big snakes. Plus, finding 2 people comfortable with large snakes and can be safe. The snakes don’t need much care but the danger level with the large ones is the problem.

Then, of course I have to trust the person with the snakes. That they won’t steal them to sell or accidentally kill them messing with the equipment. Or lose one. And that they know how to handle eggs and pregnancy. I mean it’s a lot of responsibility for someone to handle the snakes alone. The birds are easier since for most I don’t require them to handle them at all. You don’t need to open a bird cage to do a light cleaning just pull the tray but the snakes everything comes out including the snakes.

I don't think I'm THAT far away from you, lol. Though dealing with the pregnant snakes would be new for me!

You definitively have a unique situation, hopefully you don't have to go anywhere anytime soon!

 

[riddick07]

see if I was around I'd offer to look after all

the snakes I'd be more wary of just cause I've been bitten by a boa before (ouch)

Yeah my biggest snakes are Retics and they aren’t full grown yet. My biggest and oldest female is around 12-13ft right now and she’s just around the 3 year mark now. Eating 4-5lb pigs or rabbits. I avoid that bite for sure lol

My problem is finding someone that can handle the amount and types of the animals in the house without charging as much as the vacation itself costs

I alone have 9 parrots, 55 snakes (some that require two people to handle they are so large), Possible eggs/hatchlings/pregnant boas/baby snakes depending on the vacation time, 1 lizard, and 1 cat.

And since I live at home there are another 4 parrots and 3 cats that aren’t mine.

So we require at least two people per visit Incase something needs to be done with the big snakes. Plus, finding 2 people comfortable with large snakes and can be safe. The snakes don’t need much care but the danger level with the large ones is the problem.

Then, of course I have to trust the person with the snakes. That they won’t steal them to sell or accidentally kill them messing with the equipment. Or lose one. And that they know how to handle eggs and pregnancy. I mean it’s a lot of responsibility for someone to handle the snakes alone. The birds are easier since for most I don’t require them to handle them at all. You don’t need to open a bird cage to do a light cleaning just pull the tray but the snakes everything comes out including the snakes.

I don't think I'm THAT far away from you, lol. Though dealing with the pregnant snakes would be new for me!

You definitively have a unique situation, hopefully you don't have to go anywhere anytime soon!

Lol I’ll have to keep you in mind to interrogate in the future. My trip next year has been canceled. But I know we will have a major one around 2020-21 so some time to figure stuff out. I’ll definitely have a boa or two breeding at that time.

 

[bigfellasdad]

We should all hire a large yacht and holiday together with our parrots