need help!! im leaving bamboo here!!

[cassiepengo]

hey!
im going for a 15 day vacation for Christmas, and my budgie bamboo will be here all alone.its a pretty sticky condition, because im traveling for 2-3 days continuously, in dirty dusty loud and shaky trains, so taking him with me is not an option. there are no breeders i can leave bamboo with either, there are no experienced bird owners. i cant find a pet sitter (my mom wont let me anyways, she wont trust a random in the house) i cant even leave him here alone, he'll die for attention. so the only other thing i can do is leave him with my neighbor. well my neighbour is pretty annoying and nosey. the other day, i took him to my neighbours house so he can get used to being there,and she dint even ask me before putting her hand in and holding him. bamboo is a very friendly bird so of course he stepped up, and she was gloating around like shes really cool, and she did something epic. she told me she will take him out and give him exercise in her room. its so annoying!! and the worst part is shes a close family friend, and now that my mom already told her im gonna leave bamboo with her, i cant do much. its gonna seem pretty rude. i have a pretty good mind to tell her to not try and take bamboo out of the cage, cause i know how be getting any excercise at all. ive completey spoilt him, and hes out of his cage almost all day. :54:

im sorry this post is so long, but i need your help!! i see a lot of experienced bird owners around here, so im very hopeful. any suggestions and ideas will be highly appreciated. please help me out!!

 

[SpotsandSally]

I'd tell her that if she takes Bamboo out of the cage then you will be MAD.

I don't mind someone taking care of my animals - feed, water, veggies (for parrots), maybe a toy change, but I would NEVER allow them to take them out of the cage. ESP, a budgie. Is bamboo clipped? Even a clipped budgie is faster than a human, a something as simple as a cracked window, or a door with a large gap underneath... Swoosh, he's gone. And if he decides to fly, then she might try to grab Bamboo and hurt him, or he might freak out in the new enviroment, etc.

I know the feeling of annoying people - really, I do. There's just some people who get under your skin - they usually have little respect for you or think they're the greatest person in the world. Or both. But either way, I would say that she's allowed to let him step up onto her finger and maybe let her gently stroke him - INSIDE the cage. Maybe hand feed him some millet.
But yep, I'd say no out of the cage, and just make sure he's ok on feed, water, and veggies.

 

[cassiepengo]

whew, im glad to see your not really worried about him, cuz i am!! ive never left any of my pets with anyone(mostly because i never had a pet that stayed for more than a week ) and yeah, im so surely gonna tell her to shut her mouth and let him stay in his cage. well no, bamboo isint clipped. i dont think i need to clip him, hes a good boy, and he wont go anywhere other than my shoulder. but i dont want her to try out running around the house with bamboo.but what about his exercise?? his cage isint really big enough for him to "fly" around. i dont wanna leave baby here, i'll miss him!!

 

[MomtoPercy]

I am pedantic about my pets' care and won't leave them with anyone. Luckily my sis lives close by so we take care of each others' babies.
Can I ask why your mom can't take care of him for you?

 

[cassiepengo]

my moms coming with me! im not going alone, im in school!! im so worried about leaving bamboo with my neighbour!! she has this annoying friend whose at her house most of the day, and she knows NOTHING about animals. like i said, shes at my neighbours house all day, and she tried holding him too. thank goodness bamboo got scared of her, and dint step up. i cant imagine what she would have done to him!! probably taken him out, and let him free, and chase him or something. sheesh!! im worried to death

 

[QuakerMom]

I think you are over-worrying, Cassie. But have you looked into a veterinary clinic that boards? That's where I would go if I didn't have trustworthy and knowledgeable friends.

 

[cassiepengo]

yeah, maybe i am. there are no clinics that keep birds. in fact, no vets here even work for birds. its just dogs and dogs.

 

[Van.Diemen]

I think you should be grateful. you have someone that is willing to look after your pet. You made the commitment to owning a bird and if you cant give 100% care because you didn't wait until you were in a position to you certainly shouldn't be bitter at someone who is helping YOU close the gap. I'm sorry if this seems condescending, and it's certainly not intended to be that way, but are you actually serious?

You roll the eyes in your post because your bird steed up to your neighbour? The green eyed monster is showing its head I think and I had to read your post multiple times to make sure I wasn't jumping the gun but honestly, who's fault is it? Why are you even in this situation?

Not trying to be a jerk but if you cant look after animals under your care be grateful for people that will get you across the line.

 

[cassiepengo]

hey, look. its not my fault. i got bamboo thinking i'll leave him with one of my friend. she has lots of birds, and she knows what to do. but all of a sudden, her dad got this transfer, and shes not here. what do you expect me to do?? throw away my bird or something?? you dont need to get mean about it. i get what ur saying, and even though my neighbour is annoying, its not that im not thankful

 

[Mayden]

Woah folks, lets calm it. I think it's perfectly fine for Cassie to be worried - and I'd be annoyed if my bird stepped up for someone instantly too! I put a lot of time and effort into my birds and for someone to act smug that my bird stepped up for them first time, would grind my gears because they then get this impression that birds are "easy" and that "oh, well I can do anything now".

I think leaving them with that person should be fine, just set some ground rules such as "I don't want him out of the cage. No matter what. You can stroke him in the cage, step up, etc. but not out of the cage."

Food and water change schedules should be set and cleaning and things too.

I don't think it's fair to attack someone for having to go on a trip like that if preparations are usually made and fine. Life throws us all sorts of curve balls that we have to take them as they come and just deal with it. It doesn't make someone a bad pet owner if they're not prepared for every single one.

If I had to take a trip right now... I'd struggle to find a sitter for my lot. Because we never intentionally plan to go away, we've never had to deal with it. We have things in mind, but nothing we could count on just yet. Our vets are looking at boarding, in emergencies we could relocate all the pets to our parents (a fair few towns away) but a trip out of town wouldn't warrant dismantling everything and relocating them all. Doesn't make me a bad parront at all.

I've sacrificed all ideas of a holiday until I'm 50+ with my lot, think that puts me in the 'good parront' books actually. But some things ARE unavoidable - and being a dependant, what family says, goes.

Is there no way you can travel with Bamboo? I've taken my birds on trains a ton of times and they've suffered no ill effects from it. Unless it's a genuine coal train or something then I'd take my birds.

 

[gizzygirl]

I agree with worrying about leaving him and I would take him with you on the train. I disagree about the jealousy. I'm happy when my birds step up for people, especially strangers, it means I have well socialized and behaved birds, that I'm a good parront. Plus it lets others see how great they are and recruits new bird nuts!

 

[cassiepengo]

okay, thanks a lot its just that ive never left any of my pets with anyone, so im not sure what to do. well its not really possible to take bamboo along. its an ac train, and its waaaay to cold for bamboo. plus, i'll be traveling a lot, need to catch a different train everyday. we're visiting about 7 cities in a fifteen day trip, can you believe it?? its too hectic and scary for bamboo. im not sure if i wanna risk it!!

 

[Mike17]

okay, thanks a lot its just that ive never left any of my pets with anyone, so im not sure what to do. well its not really possible to take bamboo along. its an ac train, and its waaaay to cold for bamboo. plus, i'll be traveling a lot, need to catch a different train everyday. we're visiting about 7 cities in a fifteen day trip, can you believe it?? its too hectic and scary for bamboo. im not sure if i wanna risk it!!

While agree the hectic nature of your train trip would be stressful for Bamboo, if "ac" means airconditioned I doubt that would be an issue! Our birds sit in a/c all day during summer, and if I could bring the verandah birds inside into it, I would, they often show signs that they're feeling the heat (and where I live isn't as hot as many parts of India, I'd imagine, with a good sea-breeze most days).

I do understand the issues of leaving birds with others, although the neighbour who has looked after our birds over a couple of days (and not all of them - we travelled with 7 cages in the car!) is very sensible and responsible and would love to have a bird of her own except she has an "inside" cat. Your "carer" sounds a tad kooky to be honest, but if you can't take Bamboo with you, it may be the best remaining choice. We have a long trip away (by car and aeroplane) in March and I'm quite worried about care arrangements, with 20 birds! Especially as one has to be fed mornings with a mush

 

[cassiepengo]

haha!! 20 birds is a lot!! how do you even manage them??

 

[Kalidasa]

I think bamboo would be fine with your neighbor. I think I would be a bad idea to take him on a train in India. You know how it is

 

[cassiepengo]

yeah, its torcher.

 

[drlisaort]

I can totally understand how you feel. It is quite scary to leave another in charge when you have a set routine and relationship with your Bamboo. I do agree with the others though that your Bamboo is well socialized, which is a good thing--and it's because of the wonderful job you've done. As for taking your bird out, I have to smile on that one because I'm going to Chicago for four days and can't bring Oliver with and NONE of my family, who will remain here, will take him out. Sheesh...so I have the opposite problem. I'm considering hiring a person to come in each day to play with him...but as you say that's not a comfortable decision either.

Lisa

 

[Mayden]

I agree with worrying about leaving him and I would take him with you on the train. I disagree about the jealousy. I'm happy when my birds step up for people, especially strangers, it means I have well socialized and behaved birds, that I'm a good parront. Plus it lets others see how great they are and recruits new bird nuts!

Oh don't get me wrong - Merlin steps up for everyone, shoulder sits with anyone, chats, plays, interacts with anything. I'm such a proud momma when I go out, especially in public. Bars are a big hit because he can come out and fly in a 'secure' environment, and he can go to everyone. It's amazing, I love it.

BUT, I like it to be on 'my' terms, rather than other peoples. I pass my super awesome bird to people. Not people inflicting themselves on my bird. I don't want people to presume they can do XYZ with my bird unless I okay it with them first because they then get under the impression that they can get that bird (or any other) to do what they want.

I love it when people begin to appreciate how wonderful they are - and they learn a lot from Merlin. It's great!

If anyone looks after my boys though, they have to keep to my rules! That includes being caged (unless you're a select few people that I can trust to handle the bites and keep windows closed etc!)

 

[cassiepengo]

omg, guys thanks a lot. im really feeling better seeing you all are not actually concerned much. i dont really mind bamboo sitting on others hands, and stuff, but i mean- she dint even ask me before putting her hand in. and now that she got it right the first time, shes gonna think shes all awesome, and she can totally do whatever she wants with him, cuz she can control him. i dont like that part about her

 

[HalfInsane]

I have left Pixel in the care of friends of mine a few times. I now also know an awesome person who pet sits. I've never had a problem, nor do I worry. I leave a VERY detailed list (even though I keep her care simple) and I also have a page describing symptoms of a sick bird, plus my vets number and address. And I ask the person to call me if ANYTHING at all concerns them. I've left Pixel for a weekend here and there since I got her, and have also gone on two week long trips away from her (one of which I went to New York... Other side of the continent!)... and hopefully no one thinks I'm a bad parront for this... but I intend to keep my travelling to one trip a year (and maybe a weekend here and there); I think that's pretty fair the both feather butt and myself.

I think the key is to have someone who you both trust and respect, and who respects your wishes, as well as your birds'.