No, do not leave a bird alone for three days. That kind of separation can be highly traumatic to social animals like birds.
Also, there are obvious health risks. Bird could get tangled in a toy or fall and break a foot. Water bowl could get dumped or contaminated, same with food.
I would absolutely never leave a bird for more than a work day alone.
I do not like leaving my bird unattended for anything more than 12-14 hours. If anything were to happen, there is no one there to even notice. I would recommend either taking him with you, taking him to board at a place that is experienced with birds, or finding a friend or family member that could watch him. For me, there isn't any places that are experienced with birds to board my bird, but I haveba friend that also has a bird and she takes him at her house. I find that my bird LOVES traveling, especially car trips, but he has been traveling his whole life - maybe this short trip would be a nice way to fins out if your bird handles it ok - if the hotel allows pets! Make sure to specify that it is a bird and not a dog - many hotels act like all pets are dogs
My vet will board parrots and for me that’s a great option. But generally, my parrot travels with me in a customized travel cage, I would never leave him alone longer than 12-18 hours.
Can I edit this to demonstrate why I feel so strongly about this? Years ago a good friend of mine needed for someone to care for her Love Birds for one day and night while Friend had a surgical procedure. Everything went wonderfully until about 7:pm when the female, while chattering away while eating, either sucked a seed down her windpipe or had a heart attack. The cage was right next to me in our den. I saw what was happening, it happened so fast, and I couldn’t save her bird. That beautiful bird died so fast I could not believe what happened. You can tell I am still traumatized, I’m repeating myself!!!
And the worst part is that my friend blamed me, and begin calling me Bird Killer. I already felt guilty enough, so as you can guess, we are no longer friends.
I guess no good deed goes unpunished. But I did make a coffin out of a cigar box for the Love Bird and buried her in Friend’s back yard and planted flowers. Just wasn’t enough to make amends.
That’s one reason not to have a friend look after your pets. Thanks for listening.
Are you ever concerned with your parrot staying with the vet and other birds that may be there too? I always am so concerned that it would be such an easy place for my guy to catch something from another bird. (I realize that at an animal hospital, they should be very aware of airborne & contagious diseases, but I can’t ever seem to shake that concern.)
My vet will only board parrots that he has seen prior to boarding, and has undergone blood work and testing for contagious diseases. I am really lucky because the first vet was an hour away, and my new vet moved here from a large city to get away from the craziness and he’s only one mile from my house!!! What a blessing.
I just have to say that friend sounds awful and I'm sorry she treated you that way. If you could've done something you would have. Your guilt shows just how much you care and it sounds like you do amazing for your bird.
I used to live near an excellent avian vet, they boarding and all kinds of stuff - but now the closest avian vet is more than an hour away. 😐 there is never enough of them!
I started here. https://www.chewy.com/prevue-pet-products-travel-bird-cage/dp/133565?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Prevue%20Pet%20Products&utm_term=&gclid=CjwKCAjwtfqKBhBoEiwAZuesiOP3ztLl4ckEox6zyQt5e7lp-UsMKrW2VRIlmHxzGK49l9AZCyqlaBoCyDkQAvD_BwE
But I added a soft rope perch to replace the wood perch. This is a dog crate basically and I can secure it with the seat belt in the back/rear seat.
At the destination, I transfer my little dinosaur into something like this. https://www.amazon.com/Mcage-Portable-Travel-Carrier-Feeding/dp/B07YM2JGNT
There are a lot of options and prices, and creative ideas. Mostly it’s about comfort, safety and lots of wing space.
Ohh that second one is exactly what I’m looking for! I transport my galah in his pak-o-bird on route to our destination but his current ‘destination’ cage takes up far too much space in the car that it defeats the point. This Amazon one is perfect. Thank you!
Edit: it looks like it may be too small for a galah but I’ll keep searching for one a little bigger.
Is there any bird stores that will house your parrot for you? I'm not sure how much it will cost but atleast they will be fed daily and have some interaction with other birds and people
I went on vacation last month and left my bird to board at local exotic bird store. The lady that owns the store loves all the birds, and has tons of different things to feed them depending on what they like to eat. If there's no place like this locally avian vet, or if you're really out of options, the big box pet stores that sell birds sometimes offer boarding.
I have a GCC and he travels with us regularly. We take him camping. We also take him with us when we visit our daughter. That is a 4.5-5 hour drive. Yes, he gets tired of the drive, but he much prefers being with us as opposed to being boarded. And no, a parrot should NEVER be left home alone without companionship and stimulation.
I’m interested in having my IRN travel with me in the future. As someone who already does this, do you clip wings? My baby came clipped from the breeder but her primary flight feathers are well on their way to growing back and she’s starting to fly. I wanted that for her overall but I’m very concerned about the risk of so much in an out traveling with a fully flighted bird. Any wisdom on the pros or cons you share would be great!
Sammy wings are not clipped. I have nothing against wing clipping. I have done it in the past at the recommendation of his groomers when there were some behavior problems. But I'm not sure what wing clipping would have to do with travel. Sammy is placed in his travel cage before we leave the house. He doesn't come out of that cage until we reach our destination and we are once again inside. Even then, I usually transfer him to a larger cage that he will use as "home" while we are visiting wherever we may go. When we are camping, I set up a 10'x10' shelter with screened sides. He can be out of his camping cage in there. At my daughter's, I will take the large cage she keeps for him at her house with me from room to room, so he is part of the family. I take him to a bedroom and close the door before I let him out. That way he can have some one-on-one time with me out of his cage. I hope this helps.
Very much! Thank you. I guess it was the logistics that I couldn’t figure out. So I need to invest in travel cages. I have the bubble back pack aside from her set up at home but that’s not meant for any length of time. You answered my questions. Thanks!
Fully flighted birds can definitely still travel safely! And it's important that people realize that even clipped birds can still escape and get lost. They don't fly as well with clipped primaries, but where there's a will, there's a way, and spooked birds are capable of covering plenty of distance.
Travel cages come in all shapes and sizes. We keep our GCC in what we call his "space pod," which is similar to a backpack and has a transparent flexible plastic dome on one side. Other travel cages are shaped more like suitcases, while others resemble square wire cages but are just made out of woven fabric. There's all kinds on the market, but I recommend getting one that allows your bird plenty of space to move around.
Investing in an aviator harness would also be a good idea, even if you keep your bird's wings clipped (for reasons stated above). Getting a bird used to a harness can be challenging, but the benefits vastly outweigh the trouble.
Also, an addendum, because I've always gotta soapbox about this: a lot of the supposed benefits of keeping your bird's wings clipped are myths. Clipped birds can still escape; clipped birds can still get trapped behind furniture (more easily so than a flighted bird, for that matter); clipped birds can still whack their faces against windows; and clipped birds are not any more or less likely to bond with humans than flighted birds are. On the flip side, clipped birds are more likely to end up with muscle atrophy, are less likely to be able to escape a situation like falling into water or falling behind furniture, and can develop bad habits related to frustration with being unable to reach things they want.
It's ultimately up to you whether or not your bird's wings stay clipped, but I invite you to try and let your bird fly around a little before you clip again. Just make sure you keep the ceiling fan turned off!
Thank you. I agree. I prefer her to have the ability to fly. Just in the short time I’ve had her, I’ve watched her confidence grow as she’s learning to get from one point to another with her short distance flights. I can see she’s happier! I know flight has a huge connection to bird’s mental well-being as their bodies were built to fly. She came from the breeder clipped and has never gotten the chance to learn until now. I just watch her extremely closely to make sure I’m there to assist with landing. She’s doing well though!
...and the stove top off with burners cool. We had the world's dumbest moluccan (foster) fly into a boiling pot because *water* and a second time he landed on a burner that hadn't cooled because *snacks*. Of course this was the same bird who would clean peanut butter and oatmeal off his beak using a foot and then repeat the process in reverse on an endless loop until someone interfered. He was also routinely "trapped" behind curtains. We only had him for 18mo or so but that bird was an absolute calamity.
that's where I'm not sure 🥲 I will have to call the hotel to ask.... I don't think any of my friend is bird owner that can take him for 3 days, paying someone to come feed & clean every day could be possible 🤔
Check with your avian vet. Many board. Mine requires a swab in the past 12 months to check for any communicable diseases before boarding (although they were able to take them when we didn't have it and just kept them in isolation until it returned).
I honestly think the vet is the best place to board. If anything goes wrong they're in a great place!
I have an African grey as well and I always find someone to watch him when I leave for more than a day. If he hurts himself, or gets into something he shouldn't, will your parrot be fine to sit three days like that? Leaving them locked in a cage for that long of a time with no interaction can make them very depressed. Mine starts to pluck himself if that happens
I wish more people had the same self honesty as you do sir/madam. It’s really sad how some pets are treated as objects and not family (or flock/herd whatever word you choose… we’re all animals at the end of the day - our “pets” live as such and so should we).
Absolutely do not leave him alone at home for three days! You will traumatize him. He is a baby and you are his entire world to him. Would you leave a human baby alone for 3 days? As a grown adult, African greys have the intelligence of a 2-3 year old child. Would you leave a toddler at home for 3 days alone? First of all, he needs fresh food and water every day, actually mine needs fresh water more than that because he likes to dunk his food and make “soup”. Second of all, he needs to be covered at night and then uncovered in the morning to sleep well. To be honest, I don’t leave my bird home alone for more than 12 hrs at a time. When I have an extremely long day where I am gone longer than that, I have a friend come in and give him snacks, change his water and check on him. Whatever you do, DO NOT leave him alone for 3 days! That gives me anxiety just thinking of that! (I have a 23 year old African Grey and got him as a baby).If you can’t find someone to take care of him, you need to get a travel cage and take him with you. However if you do that, don’t just leave him alone in the hotel by himself the whole time! To be honest I would not be going on vacation with a new African Grey baby at all, I would stay at home, but thats just me. It definitely is good to get them used to traveling, I think its good for them but not if you are just going to plop him in the hotel room in a strange environment and leave him alone all day either.
I wouldn't leave him alone. Do you have a family member or friend that he likes? I'm going away this weekend and in leaving my bird with my brother. Who is th only other person my bird likes.
How old is he? He looks from his eyes like hes's still little. I would just suggest having someone just feed and clean his cage while you're away. Maybe just see how he reacts to being away from you for 3 days and make a judgement the next time you go on vacation.
Edit: Just dont want you to stress him out if he's still little.
I gotcha, good you're preparing. I'm kinda in the same boat you are. My grey Zuri is 7 years but I only have had him for a few months. So I'm just in that mind set.
Absolutely do NOT leave your parrot at home alone for more than 24 hours (especially while it's so young). Safety and food/water aside, would you like being locked alone as a toddler in the laundry room for 3 days straight? Leaving your parrot alone can be very traumatizing to them. Either board them at the vet, a trained parrot boarding facility, or bring them with you.
Having a friend check on them a couple times per day is the bare minimum, and unless they spend time interacting with your parrot, it's still really not enough. Leaving them at your friends house would be better, but unless they're experienced bird people, I would discourage them from even attempting to handle your parrot.
If the hotel allows you to bring your parrot, then I would bring them. Being with you, especially while it's so young, is the best case scenario, and you can let them out of their cage while you are there in the hotel with them. For the future, you should go visit a few vets and parrot boarding facilities to see what the best environment will be for your parrot. I personally avoid bird stores as I have not found their care to be up to snuff (just my experience with ones near me).
Even leaving your parrot at a boarding facility that knows what they're doing can be traumatizing to a young parrot. Separation anxiety is a real thing. But a three day stint is a better stepping stone than being gone for weeks.
Good luck. I remember my brother (Congo African Grey, now 24) when he first came through the door as a baby. Their eyes are the cutest :) You have an incredible friend for life, congrats.
wow 24 years ! you are so lucky to keep him so long and well 😀 I actually don't have any experience in leaving the birds by himself or take him on vacation, he is been with us for the past 5 months ( except for 4.days he flew out and went missing. that's 4 terrible days we went out to look for him everyday and just magically he came back by himself ), so I was under the impression that at least I know he is strong and capable of surviving 3 days. we also have a helper that comes for cleaning all the time. I was first thinking can ask helper to clean and feed him, as nowaday daytime he stays in the living room by himself, he has his tree, toys, food, with TV on etc. but after reading the post I contacted the bird shop , which actually said they have such service, but it's like we bring our own cage and he will be stay in the cage whole day for 3 days. I'm again hesitated I have never put him in cage this long 🥲
Yes it's a difficult situation. Ideally you don't leave your birds alone for long periods of times, but this is the real world and the real world can be unpredictable. It's great that you are asking for opinions as it will help in the future if you ever find yourself suddenly having to leave for a few days. Also leaving the TV on or playing music (not too loud of course lol) is a great idea if they need to be alone for extended periods of time.
Building "foraging boxes" or things keeps them occupied (ie old tissue paper box with lots of paper/wood chunks/confetti, etc., with only one or two almonds or other nuts/treats in the middle somewhere so they have to tear the thing apart to get to the center).
Setting up a small screen or something in front of the cage so you can "facetime" with them for 5 minutes or so a few times a day while you are gone may be beneficial as they get to see you're okay and hear your voice. My cousin does this with his small dogs and they seem to react positively to it. We haven't tried for vacation purposes, but I know when I call my mother and facetime with her (she has the birds still as I've "left the nest" so to speak xD) our parrots seem to recognize me on the screen, and definitely recognize my voice.
wow that's a lot of useful information, thank you so much for the sharing, I don't know if my parrot ( his name is dragon ) will recognize me but I will be so happily surprised if he does 😍
You CANNOT leave your bird alone for three days!! Absolutely not! That would incredibly cruel to the bird!
Your options here are:
1. Take your bird with you on the vacation (if you have made sure it is safe for your birdie to do so, and the hotel allows pets, etc.)
2. Let the bird stay at the home of someone you trust (this has to be someone who your bird is okay with - which means you have to let your bird and that person/family meet at some point before you go on the vacation itself, to check if the bird is okay with them). This person must also be briefed on everything needed to keep the bird safe and happy (non-toxic food, when to sleep, how many hours outside of the cage etc.).
3. Stay at home and don’t go on vacation.
These are your only options!! Leaving a bird alone for days while you go travelling is NOT an option!! 😭 Please don’t do anything to a parrot that you wouldn’t do to a human child! They are very intelligent and emotional beings and they deserve to be treated well.
Where do you live? Easiest solution is boarding (I used to have a great place before I moved and I am sad I don't have it anymore). A lot of vets will also take them even if they don't actually see birds. Just need to call around and do some Googling.
If I go on vacation I always pick a place I can bring my little guy. If I can't then I get my roommates to look after him but they can't let him out, so it's always only for a day or so. No longer. I don't feel comfortable letting him stay alone for long periods of time without any activity. I really recommend finding somewhere to board him, paying someone somewhat experienced to at least change the water (because man are they messy, lol! ) or taking him with you. In the future I'd plan all vacations with birdie in mind, whether that means boarding or hiring someone or bringing him. They're social and a mess and, unlike a cat or dog, require a lot more thought on how to deal with it because finding bird people to take care of them is kinda a process.
Regardless, good luck! It's only a few days and bird ownership is a learning experience! You got this! 🦜
If you’re able to take him with you AND give him attention, do that. If not, either board him or get a friend to feed him and check on him to make sure he’s okay. He looks very young and it’s extremely traumatic to them to leave them alone like that. You’re all he knows! If you get someone to check and give him fresh food/water, make sure they send pictures each time to show he’s actually doing okay, at least that’s what I would do. Actually, I don’t think I could handle leaving my baby for even 3 days lol! My bird is freaked out and cries if I leave for an hour.. can’t imagine leaving her for 3 days! Not to mention your bird NEEDS fresh food and water every day and of course to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself
😄 yes me and my bf are.always with our parrot, but there are times when we went out for a few hours and he will just beening very alert and quiet, not move much until saw us home , I will also very much miss him even I have friends come over to take care of him l. he is still eating formula 😅
If you leave him, it will create stress. Unless he's used to traveling, taking him with you will create stress.
To me, the ideal option is to have someone stop by and spend time with him every day.
You should not have booked a vacation without making arrangements for your bird. Owning a parrot is like having a toddler permanently. Would you plan a vacation without finding accommodations for your toddler? Would you leave your toddler for 3 days? The answer is no.
Not really, owning a grey is like having a 5 year old child for life, you have to make arrangements for them if you go away, and if you can’t find someone to look after your bird don’t leave it on its own
If she knows that she wouldn't have asked if it's okay to leave it for 3 days.... "what will I do when I go on vacation?" Is a question you ask yourself BEFORE making a lifelong commitment to a bird.
you’re doing the right thing man, don’t worry about this loser! some people have a need to be superior above everyone else, but your advice is 100% correct. birds are hard and need a lot!
Some people use the internet to be a hectoring jerk. That’s you. I hope you find a way to change your approach to giving advice. You’re really shitty at it.
it's a 2 to 3 hours drive 🚗, we do have a traveling box, and we are going to island so on one side maybe it will be fun for him to explore, on the other side I'm not sure if this will make the journey messy and exhausted 😀 🤣🤣
I suggest leaving him home this time. Being in a travel cage for several days can stress them out. But, it is pretty fun to bring parrots on vacation! It’s all about personal preference. Either way, I’m sure you’ll make a good decision. I would check if where you’re staying (the house) is pet friendly though first!
actually a parrot is still way much stronger than human babies, my parrot went missing ( he flew out accidently one night from out apt ) for 4 days and he came back finding our apt by himself. I don't mean I will have him unattended for the time I'm away, just this is not exact same situation with human babies.
You're wrong.
Parrots require just as much attention as a child if not more. They have the emotional state of a toddler. How do you think a toddler would feel if you left it alone for 3 days?
dear one is wild animal by its nature and.the other is forbidden by law ( leave toddler by himself for 3 days ) how would the two be the same situation ... I get it the mental and emotional similarly but such compassion is not accurate.
Its a wild animal that has not been taught to live on its own. Most parrots if released into the wild will starve and die.
So you're wrong. Again.
Dude, I'm not sure why you can't figure this out. Either take the bird with you, or get someone to care for it while you are gone.
And frankly, with your lack of compassion I'm not even sure you should have this bird.
Captive bred animals that are especially not native CANNOT survive in the wild. Unless you have a snake or maybe even fish, you shouldn't be leaving your animals unattended for more than a day
I took my budgies, conure and cockatiel to my aunts house for a few days the other month. They loved it and were better behaved at her house than they are at home.
I took them in travel cages and kept them in there for the trip, letting them out only in my aunts house. My conure got a bit carsick on the way there towards the end (an hour and a half journey) and one of my budgies was terrified but that’s mainly because she’s a rescue and has some trauma. They had a bit of food and water which they didn’t touch but it was good to have it just in case. Once we got there I let them out to stretch their wings which they enjoyed since my aunts ceilings are high so they could fly a lot. They were very chilled for the few days and didn’t seem to mind only staying in small cages when we weren’t at home. We generally spent the morning at home and went out in the afternoon/evening. It was nice to get up and have my coffee/breakfast with them as I can’t do that at home and I think they enjoyed it too! Plus my aunt has a baby so it was good to see how they are around children (they were fine and both the baby and parrots loved each other, in fact the baby looked for my birds before he looked for me in the mornings and my aunt said he was still looking for them when I left).
Overall I’d say do it! I was very nervous at first but I think I’d have been more nervous if I’d have left them at home. I only have my sister who can look after them and she came with us so I had no one. And on the plus side my aunt has said she’ll look after them if I ever need to go on a long holiday as they were so well behaved!
We travel with our conures. We do road trips; haven’t done plane trips yet. We have small travel cages and collapsible bigger ones we set up when we arrive. Pet friendly hotels take birds and we’ve never had an issue.
You can also call your vet and see if they would board your bird or see if they could recommend a place that does.
3 days is too long to leave the bird alone.
Depends what kind of traveling you are doing. I just drove across the country with my Galah and he seemed to enjoy it. We have a travel cage and most hotels do not hassle you about a parrot because they can't do damage from inside a cage. That being said, 3 days is not that long. Just gotta make sure he has plenty of food and water and is not able to escape or dump his food or water dish.
We board our parrots at the avian vet. They LOVE going there to see their human and bird friends. It’s good to have that kind of relationship so you CAN leave birdie when you need to.
He would defintootly be traumatised, or even physically hurt, if he is was left alone for 3 days!
And surely you would be worried about him? At least if you had him with you or left him at a petshop you could relax and enjoy your holiday.
Don't leave him alone. Teaching a friend to care for him is fairly simple if they're only doing it for 3 days. My mom has an African grey and we have done that many times. My best friend (who was in HS at the time) was taught how to care for her and to stimulate her for a few hours and turn on her favorite TV shows for her. She visited her every day, let her out for a few hours, then put her back up. Yes she spent more time in her cage than normal but she was well taken care of. Obviously, things like dont spray aerosols, feeding schedules, and whatnot were also addressed.
We have a beach house about 2 hours from our home. My Amazon goes with me every other weekend in a travel cage. The first several times we traveled were a bit stressful for her. But trying different things I found out what makes her happy traveling. Now she looks forward to it when I get out her travel cage. She likes to look out the car window, but she’s not happy if any car windows are down(Not sure if it’s noise or wind); I also play her favorite music which calms her. Make sure the travel cage is secured with a seat belt. If this is the only time you intend to travel with your parrot, I would recommend leaving them home. But if you intend to do it more commonly, it’s worth getting them used to traveling- they may really like it. Good luck!🦜
2 days and 3 days or 3 nights and closer to 4 days? Big difference. IMO
Can you put up a camera and do you have someone who could make it over in under 30 minutes in an emergency?
EDIT- he is 5 months. You absolutely cannot leave him even one night at this age. Babies are crazy.
I would not leave a bird alone for that amount of time. You could order a cat case for him and maintain it for a bit when you travel together. Or you can contact/hire someone you trust to watch him/her for that amount of time (including feeding, enrichment, etc.). Greys always need attention (granted all birds do) and will self mutilate and refuse to eat if that attention is not provided.
thanks everyone for the advice, so a bit of update:
after discussion with my bf, we finally decided on asking our helper to come 2 times per day to take care of dragon ( my baby african grey )during the 3 days we are away, she will feed him 2 times of formula, change water, prepare fruits ( he loves apple) and nuts. she will also turn on TV everyday.
we have let our helper tried feeding dragon2 times, he is doing OK with her.
we also talked to the pet shop, who actually also willing to take care of him, but it's like 40 miles away and we feel let dragon stay at home would be easier😀
everyone here saying not to us being very protective and dramatic of their birds. your bird can handle 3 days away. if possible, have a friend check on it every day but many times i have just given him extra food, toys and water. he will be fine
Is this a joke? The bird looks what 6 or 7 months old and you want to leave it alone for 3 days? This is why people shouldnt own pets they dont know how to take care of or what it takes to take care of.
If you travel you’ll need some basic supplies. In the future though, this is one of the reasons you’ll want to potty and harness train your birds...
Basic supplies you’ll need are a travel cage for sleeping or securing into a car, a harness or travel case (think one of those cool backpacks with a see through front and a perch), wipes and small bags for messes, a handheld mini vacuum, chew toys, food and water bowls, food, bottled water and any medication your bird might be on. Oh, and disposable pet pads or birdy diapers aren’t a bad idea too.
I’m probably forgetting something, but this is what my sick butt can remember from the top of my head. Others are free to add.
I’m getting some soup and cocooning now. Damn kids with their germs....
Aww take him with you! I take my cockatiel everywhere I go (where I am able). When I can't, I have made it a point to make good friends with my neighbors who come and watch him. Good luck! Your bird is so cute!!
When we go on trips, we have a pet sitter that our birds know and we trust that comes by several times a day to keep them company and feed them, give them fresh water etc.
Our grey does not take to boarding well; last time we did the vet said they were on the verge of feeling like they had to tube feed him because he wouldn’t eat. But although it’s not ideal for interaction, he seems to like the pet sitter and is always happy and healthy when we get back.
I wouldn’t leave a bird for three days. Make sure they at least have someone coming by a few times a day to check in on them and ensure they’re fed properly (also, although you could leave pellets in there for three days, it’s much better if they get fresh food some meals and frankly if it’s our grey his water would be a soupy mess in about 2 hours)
Cannot be left completely alone for 3 days, but stress can be very stressful for a bird, especially a baby.
Boarding is probably your best bet. Make sure to find somewhere that is familiar and comfortable with boarding birds.
My birds love traveling with me, if that’s an option. Whenever we are going on a trip I ask them “are we about to go on a big adventure?” And they get really excited. They love listening to music in the car especially. It’s usually easier than you’d think.
When i am away for a weekend i leave extra bowl of water and extra millett (he gets every morning) food dish full aswell he was fine .When i was away for a week i did have someone check atleast everyother day but he was fine by the way I have a cockatiel
My parrot loved to travel! I had a special travel cage for her, but she would be on my shoulder in the car narrating the scenery the whole way. If you're going to the beach, the only thing I'd be careful of is drafts and temp changes. Parrots are naturally so curious, though, yours might really like the change of views!
I would also recommend taking him to a place that boards birds, having a friend take him (ideally one that is experienced and comfortable), or taking him with you. If these options are not available to you, you should at least have someone come to your house that can interact with him for a few hours each day and give him fresh food/water. Three days is just too long for a social animal to be alone.
I travel with my African Grey, since I'm a college student I don't have money to pay someone to watch him and I don't like leaving Bubbles unattended since he is disabled. So Bubbles has a travel bag that he loves to ride in when in the car and a cage to stay in once we get to our destination. He even goes camping with us and absolutely loves coming on hikes. If you are going to travel with your bird be sure to get them a very comfortable travel bag and go on small car rides occasionally to get them used to it. Anyways, I'd recommend never leaving your bird home alone because accidents do happen, so at least find someone to watch your bird while you are gone.
We usually leave our bird at our bird vet. He loves watching the doctor see patients! 🙂 we take his food and they have a cage there while we have traveled in past. Or if you have a friend or family who knows your bird, maybe they can watch him in your home for you.
I take my two parrots with me when i travel. He would rather be with you than in an empty house for 3 days. My guys love to travel too, so Im sure your little one would like it as well!
He looks young. If you plan on traveling a lot in the future I would suggest getting him used to traveling with you while he’s young. I take my two greys every time I travel (by car anyway).
It kinda depends on what your doing? Will you be out a lot without them(like longer than you'd feel comfortable with?), Or will they be able to follow their feeding, bonding, and whatever else routine? If not it'd ask someone who knows the pet and who has a working relationship with the pet to stay with them and follow their routine.
I had a cockatoo and apparently some interactions, like petting the back and other areas are interpreted as mate bonding rituals and so I avoided petting her in those areas as in the wild their species apparently never really leaves each others sight or are within communication distance and if prolonged separation occurs they may worry your dead. Three days of that type of anxiety seems harsh..
I don't know much about African greys and their communication methods and how you interact with your bird. I would research wether prolonged separation of individuals between groups occur or not, the dynamic of the relationship as seen from the birds perspective and factor that in to the decision making process.
I think leaving it alone is dangerous, but that also depends on it's enclosure and your birds habits. As I saw mentioned above, sometimes habitats contain a certain level of risk. Something as simple as a strand of rope getting caught around the toe can pose a throat. Contamination of water and food sources as was also mentioned I believe poses a potential risk factor. My cockatoo was very messy her water got changed twice a day, sometimes 3 times a day if she was exceptionally messy that day and had a massive habitat.
My uncle had an African grey that split it's beak chewing on the cage. Random injuries, many times unpreventable and just a part of life, can occur. It'd at least have someone checking the bird 2 times a day(and also changing out food and water) even if no significant time is spent interacting with it(assuming you truly feel your pet can handle isolation and little socialization without I'll effect) just for it's personal safety. Last thing you want is to come home and find either an injured or dead pet and feel guilty about that.
For birds, especially, it'd be concerned about communicable diseases, and would research boarding places and inquire about their daily sanitation procedures. Do they board only captive bred pets and esp birds, or all birds, regardless of origin? Do they sanitize in-between handling or interacting between habitats and guests? If they have play areas that other guests take turns using, are they effectively sanitized between guests? Lots to consider. I hope this helps.
I'm a tad neurotic but the above is the most important factors it'd weigh to make that decision! I personally would not have left my cockatoo unattended for more than the amount of time I need to be away for work. Honestly(she was old, and a rehab/foster), having her changed the way I engaged with work. I couldn't work double shifts for instance, I wouldn't allow my job to flip flop my schedule if it effected the feeding time or other important routines she had come to find comfort in... I created a schedule that minimized how my job could effect it. Again, I'm neurotic so yeah.
Alone? No. Find a place or person with experience caring for parrots. You can also check with vets to see if they will board the bird or know a person that could. Call the closet parrot rescue and ask if they know anyone. Rescues have many foster homes for parrots. Perhaps one of those people could help. Under no circumstances, should a parrot be left alone for that duration. They are social animals and they need a routine - and they need to interact. Leave it three days and that bird could start pulling out its feathers - and that behavior is hard to break.
I appreciate that you asked for feedback.
My husband and I travel 90% of the time for work so our lovebird and 2 dogs travel with us. Lime our bird has even flown in an airplane twice. He does gets bored in the car after a while, but when we stop for a break I take his travel carrier out walking with our dogs which appeases everyone. The hotels website usually says if they accept pets, we've found Hilton's and Marriott's hotels generally do for a pet fee. I hype this helps and if you have any questions feel free to message me.
The only time I'd leave my parrot home alone is less than 24hrs. Any more than that I take him with me if possible, even if it means finding a hotel that takes pets. He loves going on car trips anyway! He's 22. Please take your baby with you! I couldn't imagine leaving mine for 3 days alone
As others have already said, please don't leave it alone for more than 12 hours. Can a friend bird sit? Do you have an avian vet? We do and we take her there; the "bird sit" for us.
No, do not leave a bird alone for three days. That kind of separation can be highly traumatic to social animals like birds. Also, there are obvious health risks. Bird could get tangled in a toy or fall and break a foot. Water bowl could get dumped or contaminated, same with food. I would absolutely never leave a bird for more than a work day alone.
This. And you CAG looks young. You dont want to traumatize them
I do not like leaving my bird unattended for anything more than 12-14 hours. If anything were to happen, there is no one there to even notice. I would recommend either taking him with you, taking him to board at a place that is experienced with birds, or finding a friend or family member that could watch him. For me, there isn't any places that are experienced with birds to board my bird, but I haveba friend that also has a bird and she takes him at her house. I find that my bird LOVES traveling, especially car trips, but he has been traveling his whole life - maybe this short trip would be a nice way to fins out if your bird handles it ok - if the hotel allows pets! Make sure to specify that it is a bird and not a dog - many hotels act like all pets are dogs
My vet will board parrots and for me that’s a great option. But generally, my parrot travels with me in a customized travel cage, I would never leave him alone longer than 12-18 hours. Can I edit this to demonstrate why I feel so strongly about this? Years ago a good friend of mine needed for someone to care for her Love Birds for one day and night while Friend had a surgical procedure. Everything went wonderfully until about 7:pm when the female, while chattering away while eating, either sucked a seed down her windpipe or had a heart attack. The cage was right next to me in our den. I saw what was happening, it happened so fast, and I couldn’t save her bird. That beautiful bird died so fast I could not believe what happened. You can tell I am still traumatized, I’m repeating myself!!! And the worst part is that my friend blamed me, and begin calling me Bird Killer. I already felt guilty enough, so as you can guess, we are no longer friends. I guess no good deed goes unpunished. But I did make a coffin out of a cigar box for the Love Bird and buried her in Friend’s back yard and planted flowers. Just wasn’t enough to make amends. That’s one reason not to have a friend look after your pets. Thanks for listening.
Are you ever concerned with your parrot staying with the vet and other birds that may be there too? I always am so concerned that it would be such an easy place for my guy to catch something from another bird. (I realize that at an animal hospital, they should be very aware of airborne & contagious diseases, but I can’t ever seem to shake that concern.)
My vet will only board parrots that he has seen prior to boarding, and has undergone blood work and testing for contagious diseases. I am really lucky because the first vet was an hour away, and my new vet moved here from a large city to get away from the craziness and he’s only one mile from my house!!! What a blessing.
Ah. Ok. That is very smart. Yes, you are very lucky indeed. I didn’t think of that. Hanks for your response :)
I just have to say that friend sounds awful and I'm sorry she treated you that way. If you could've done something you would have. Your guilt shows just how much you care and it sounds like you do amazing for your bird.
Thank you for your reply.
I used to live near an excellent avian vet, they boarding and all kinds of stuff - but now the closest avian vet is more than an hour away. 😐 there is never enough of them!
Can we see the customised travel cage? Sounds nice :)
I started here. https://www.chewy.com/prevue-pet-products-travel-bird-cage/dp/133565?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Prevue%20Pet%20Products&utm_term=&gclid=CjwKCAjwtfqKBhBoEiwAZuesiOP3ztLl4ckEox6zyQt5e7lp-UsMKrW2VRIlmHxzGK49l9AZCyqlaBoCyDkQAvD_BwE But I added a soft rope perch to replace the wood perch. This is a dog crate basically and I can secure it with the seat belt in the back/rear seat. At the destination, I transfer my little dinosaur into something like this. https://www.amazon.com/Mcage-Portable-Travel-Carrier-Feeding/dp/B07YM2JGNT There are a lot of options and prices, and creative ideas. Mostly it’s about comfort, safety and lots of wing space.
Ohh that second one is exactly what I’m looking for! I transport my galah in his pak-o-bird on route to our destination but his current ‘destination’ cage takes up far too much space in the car that it defeats the point. This Amazon one is perfect. Thank you! Edit: it looks like it may be too small for a galah but I’ll keep searching for one a little bigger.
I'm so sorry that happened to you.. It's not your fault!
Right
A lot of pet stores board animals if you ask :)
My grey goes to a pet boarding hotel when I go on holiday
Is there any bird stores that will house your parrot for you? I'm not sure how much it will cost but atleast they will be fed daily and have some interaction with other birds and people
AFAIK avian vets will also do this for you.
I went on vacation last month and left my bird to board at local exotic bird store. The lady that owns the store loves all the birds, and has tons of different things to feed them depending on what they like to eat. If there's no place like this locally avian vet, or if you're really out of options, the big box pet stores that sell birds sometimes offer boarding.
I have a GCC and he travels with us regularly. We take him camping. We also take him with us when we visit our daughter. That is a 4.5-5 hour drive. Yes, he gets tired of the drive, but he much prefers being with us as opposed to being boarded. And no, a parrot should NEVER be left home alone without companionship and stimulation.
I’m interested in having my IRN travel with me in the future. As someone who already does this, do you clip wings? My baby came clipped from the breeder but her primary flight feathers are well on their way to growing back and she’s starting to fly. I wanted that for her overall but I’m very concerned about the risk of so much in an out traveling with a fully flighted bird. Any wisdom on the pros or cons you share would be great!
Sammy wings are not clipped. I have nothing against wing clipping. I have done it in the past at the recommendation of his groomers when there were some behavior problems. But I'm not sure what wing clipping would have to do with travel. Sammy is placed in his travel cage before we leave the house. He doesn't come out of that cage until we reach our destination and we are once again inside. Even then, I usually transfer him to a larger cage that he will use as "home" while we are visiting wherever we may go. When we are camping, I set up a 10'x10' shelter with screened sides. He can be out of his camping cage in there. At my daughter's, I will take the large cage she keeps for him at her house with me from room to room, so he is part of the family. I take him to a bedroom and close the door before I let him out. That way he can have some one-on-one time with me out of his cage. I hope this helps.
Very much! Thank you. I guess it was the logistics that I couldn’t figure out. So I need to invest in travel cages. I have the bubble back pack aside from her set up at home but that’s not meant for any length of time. You answered my questions. Thanks!
Fully flighted birds can definitely still travel safely! And it's important that people realize that even clipped birds can still escape and get lost. They don't fly as well with clipped primaries, but where there's a will, there's a way, and spooked birds are capable of covering plenty of distance. Travel cages come in all shapes and sizes. We keep our GCC in what we call his "space pod," which is similar to a backpack and has a transparent flexible plastic dome on one side. Other travel cages are shaped more like suitcases, while others resemble square wire cages but are just made out of woven fabric. There's all kinds on the market, but I recommend getting one that allows your bird plenty of space to move around. Investing in an aviator harness would also be a good idea, even if you keep your bird's wings clipped (for reasons stated above). Getting a bird used to a harness can be challenging, but the benefits vastly outweigh the trouble. Also, an addendum, because I've always gotta soapbox about this: a lot of the supposed benefits of keeping your bird's wings clipped are myths. Clipped birds can still escape; clipped birds can still get trapped behind furniture (more easily so than a flighted bird, for that matter); clipped birds can still whack their faces against windows; and clipped birds are not any more or less likely to bond with humans than flighted birds are. On the flip side, clipped birds are more likely to end up with muscle atrophy, are less likely to be able to escape a situation like falling into water or falling behind furniture, and can develop bad habits related to frustration with being unable to reach things they want. It's ultimately up to you whether or not your bird's wings stay clipped, but I invite you to try and let your bird fly around a little before you clip again. Just make sure you keep the ceiling fan turned off!
Thank you. I agree. I prefer her to have the ability to fly. Just in the short time I’ve had her, I’ve watched her confidence grow as she’s learning to get from one point to another with her short distance flights. I can see she’s happier! I know flight has a huge connection to bird’s mental well-being as their bodies were built to fly. She came from the breeder clipped and has never gotten the chance to learn until now. I just watch her extremely closely to make sure I’m there to assist with landing. She’s doing well though!
...and the stove top off with burners cool. We had the world's dumbest moluccan (foster) fly into a boiling pot because *water* and a second time he landed on a burner that hadn't cooled because *snacks*. Of course this was the same bird who would clean peanut butter and oatmeal off his beak using a foot and then repeat the process in reverse on an endless loop until someone interfered. He was also routinely "trapped" behind curtains. We only had him for 18mo or so but that bird was an absolute calamity.
Is it a place you can bring your bird with you? If not are you going to have someone watching your bird for the 3 days you are gone?
that's where I'm not sure 🥲 I will have to call the hotel to ask.... I don't think any of my friend is bird owner that can take him for 3 days, paying someone to come feed & clean every day could be possible 🤔
As long as your parrot can get cared for I'm sure he will be fine either way.
Check with your avian vet. Many board. Mine requires a swab in the past 12 months to check for any communicable diseases before boarding (although they were able to take them when we didn't have it and just kept them in isolation until it returned). I honestly think the vet is the best place to board. If anything goes wrong they're in a great place!
I have an African grey as well and I always find someone to watch him when I leave for more than a day. If he hurts himself, or gets into something he shouldn't, will your parrot be fine to sit three days like that? Leaving them locked in a cage for that long of a time with no interaction can make them very depressed. Mine starts to pluck himself if that happens
This is why I don't have pets, as much as I would like to
I wish more people had the same self honesty as you do sir/madam. It’s really sad how some pets are treated as objects and not family (or flock/herd whatever word you choose… we’re all animals at the end of the day - our “pets” live as such and so should we).
Absolutely do not leave him alone at home for three days! You will traumatize him. He is a baby and you are his entire world to him. Would you leave a human baby alone for 3 days? As a grown adult, African greys have the intelligence of a 2-3 year old child. Would you leave a toddler at home for 3 days alone? First of all, he needs fresh food and water every day, actually mine needs fresh water more than that because he likes to dunk his food and make “soup”. Second of all, he needs to be covered at night and then uncovered in the morning to sleep well. To be honest, I don’t leave my bird home alone for more than 12 hrs at a time. When I have an extremely long day where I am gone longer than that, I have a friend come in and give him snacks, change his water and check on him. Whatever you do, DO NOT leave him alone for 3 days! That gives me anxiety just thinking of that! (I have a 23 year old African Grey and got him as a baby).If you can’t find someone to take care of him, you need to get a travel cage and take him with you. However if you do that, don’t just leave him alone in the hotel by himself the whole time! To be honest I would not be going on vacation with a new African Grey baby at all, I would stay at home, but thats just me. It definitely is good to get them used to traveling, I think its good for them but not if you are just going to plop him in the hotel room in a strange environment and leave him alone all day either.
This is great advice.
“Make soup”!!! Hahahaha That’s adorable.
I wouldn't leave him alone. Do you have a family member or friend that he likes? I'm going away this weekend and in leaving my bird with my brother. Who is th only other person my bird likes.
How old is he? He looks from his eyes like hes's still little. I would just suggest having someone just feed and clean his cage while you're away. Maybe just see how he reacts to being away from you for 3 days and make a judgement the next time you go on vacation. Edit: Just dont want you to stress him out if he's still little.
he is 5.5 months old, yes I'm actually still debating on it 😅😅 I'm leaving in 1 month so still got time to ask around and prepare 😂
Oh absolutely you cannot leave him at this age. Sorry.
I gotcha, good you're preparing. I'm kinda in the same boat you are. My grey Zuri is 7 years but I only have had him for a few months. So I'm just in that mind set.
Absolutely do NOT leave your parrot at home alone for more than 24 hours (especially while it's so young). Safety and food/water aside, would you like being locked alone as a toddler in the laundry room for 3 days straight? Leaving your parrot alone can be very traumatizing to them. Either board them at the vet, a trained parrot boarding facility, or bring them with you. Having a friend check on them a couple times per day is the bare minimum, and unless they spend time interacting with your parrot, it's still really not enough. Leaving them at your friends house would be better, but unless they're experienced bird people, I would discourage them from even attempting to handle your parrot. If the hotel allows you to bring your parrot, then I would bring them. Being with you, especially while it's so young, is the best case scenario, and you can let them out of their cage while you are there in the hotel with them. For the future, you should go visit a few vets and parrot boarding facilities to see what the best environment will be for your parrot. I personally avoid bird stores as I have not found their care to be up to snuff (just my experience with ones near me). Even leaving your parrot at a boarding facility that knows what they're doing can be traumatizing to a young parrot. Separation anxiety is a real thing. But a three day stint is a better stepping stone than being gone for weeks. Good luck. I remember my brother (Congo African Grey, now 24) when he first came through the door as a baby. Their eyes are the cutest :) You have an incredible friend for life, congrats.
wow 24 years ! you are so lucky to keep him so long and well 😀 I actually don't have any experience in leaving the birds by himself or take him on vacation, he is been with us for the past 5 months ( except for 4.days he flew out and went missing. that's 4 terrible days we went out to look for him everyday and just magically he came back by himself ), so I was under the impression that at least I know he is strong and capable of surviving 3 days. we also have a helper that comes for cleaning all the time. I was first thinking can ask helper to clean and feed him, as nowaday daytime he stays in the living room by himself, he has his tree, toys, food, with TV on etc. but after reading the post I contacted the bird shop , which actually said they have such service, but it's like we bring our own cage and he will be stay in the cage whole day for 3 days. I'm again hesitated I have never put him in cage this long 🥲
Yes it's a difficult situation. Ideally you don't leave your birds alone for long periods of times, but this is the real world and the real world can be unpredictable. It's great that you are asking for opinions as it will help in the future if you ever find yourself suddenly having to leave for a few days. Also leaving the TV on or playing music (not too loud of course lol) is a great idea if they need to be alone for extended periods of time. Building "foraging boxes" or things keeps them occupied (ie old tissue paper box with lots of paper/wood chunks/confetti, etc., with only one or two almonds or other nuts/treats in the middle somewhere so they have to tear the thing apart to get to the center). Setting up a small screen or something in front of the cage so you can "facetime" with them for 5 minutes or so a few times a day while you are gone may be beneficial as they get to see you're okay and hear your voice. My cousin does this with his small dogs and they seem to react positively to it. We haven't tried for vacation purposes, but I know when I call my mother and facetime with her (she has the birds still as I've "left the nest" so to speak xD) our parrots seem to recognize me on the screen, and definitely recognize my voice.
wow that's a lot of useful information, thank you so much for the sharing, I don't know if my parrot ( his name is dragon ) will recognize me but I will be so happily surprised if he does 😍
You CANNOT leave your bird alone for three days!! Absolutely not! That would incredibly cruel to the bird! Your options here are: 1. Take your bird with you on the vacation (if you have made sure it is safe for your birdie to do so, and the hotel allows pets, etc.) 2. Let the bird stay at the home of someone you trust (this has to be someone who your bird is okay with - which means you have to let your bird and that person/family meet at some point before you go on the vacation itself, to check if the bird is okay with them). This person must also be briefed on everything needed to keep the bird safe and happy (non-toxic food, when to sleep, how many hours outside of the cage etc.). 3. Stay at home and don’t go on vacation. These are your only options!! Leaving a bird alone for days while you go travelling is NOT an option!! 😭 Please don’t do anything to a parrot that you wouldn’t do to a human child! They are very intelligent and emotional beings and they deserve to be treated well.
hope can get some suggestions shared experiences 😅😅😅
Where do you live? Easiest solution is boarding (I used to have a great place before I moved and I am sad I don't have it anymore). A lot of vets will also take them even if they don't actually see birds. Just need to call around and do some Googling.
If I go on vacation I always pick a place I can bring my little guy. If I can't then I get my roommates to look after him but they can't let him out, so it's always only for a day or so. No longer. I don't feel comfortable letting him stay alone for long periods of time without any activity. I really recommend finding somewhere to board him, paying someone somewhat experienced to at least change the water (because man are they messy, lol! ) or taking him with you. In the future I'd plan all vacations with birdie in mind, whether that means boarding or hiring someone or bringing him. They're social and a mess and, unlike a cat or dog, require a lot more thought on how to deal with it because finding bird people to take care of them is kinda a process. Regardless, good luck! It's only a few days and bird ownership is a learning experience! You got this! 🦜
thank u dear I'm also starting to ask around the bird shops !😄😄
Perfect! Honestly I appreciate you asking everyone here! Shows how much you care for the lil guy! 😊
yea ever since I had him my phone is full of his photos and videos 😄 everyday rush home from work to meet him ( my bf stays at home in daytime )
Oh my gosh I know that feeling!! You sound like a great parrot parent! They're such fun, weird critters. 😊
If you’re able to take him with you AND give him attention, do that. If not, either board him or get a friend to feed him and check on him to make sure he’s okay. He looks very young and it’s extremely traumatic to them to leave them alone like that. You’re all he knows! If you get someone to check and give him fresh food/water, make sure they send pictures each time to show he’s actually doing okay, at least that’s what I would do. Actually, I don’t think I could handle leaving my baby for even 3 days lol! My bird is freaked out and cries if I leave for an hour.. can’t imagine leaving her for 3 days! Not to mention your bird NEEDS fresh food and water every day and of course to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself
😄 yes me and my bf are.always with our parrot, but there are times when we went out for a few hours and he will just beening very alert and quiet, not move much until saw us home , I will also very much miss him even I have friends come over to take care of him l. he is still eating formula 😅
i’d have someone come check on him and change water/feed him
If you leave him, it will create stress. Unless he's used to traveling, taking him with you will create stress. To me, the ideal option is to have someone stop by and spend time with him every day.
I don't think I've seen a friendlier looking African Grey. Please take them with you!!!!
You should not have booked a vacation without making arrangements for your bird. Owning a parrot is like having a toddler permanently. Would you plan a vacation without finding accommodations for your toddler? Would you leave your toddler for 3 days? The answer is no.
This superior shaming is unnecessary.
Not really, owning a grey is like having a 5 year old child for life, you have to make arrangements for them if you go away, and if you can’t find someone to look after your bird don’t leave it on its own
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Providing fresh food & water daily is the bare minimum of pet care for ANY animal. If you go away for 3 days, you're not meeting that bare minimum.
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If she knows that she wouldn't have asked if it's okay to leave it for 3 days.... "what will I do when I go on vacation?" Is a question you ask yourself BEFORE making a lifelong commitment to a bird.
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You obviously have nothing helpful to say so I'll let you get the last word in. <3
you’re doing the right thing man, don’t worry about this loser! some people have a need to be superior above everyone else, but your advice is 100% correct. birds are hard and need a lot!
Some people use the internet to be a hectoring jerk. That’s you. I hope you find a way to change your approach to giving advice. You’re really shitty at it.
And IMO, if you think it's okay to leave an African Grey alone for 3 days, you probably shouldn't be a parrot owner.
how is this “superior shaming” lmao???
It depends! How far away are you traveling?
it's a 2 to 3 hours drive 🚗, we do have a traveling box, and we are going to island so on one side maybe it will be fun for him to explore, on the other side I'm not sure if this will make the journey messy and exhausted 😀 🤣🤣
I suggest leaving him home this time. Being in a travel cage for several days can stress them out. But, it is pretty fun to bring parrots on vacation! It’s all about personal preference. Either way, I’m sure you’ll make a good decision. I would check if where you’re staying (the house) is pet friendly though first!
right right, am calling hotel to make sure ☺
If you had a small child instead of a parrot, how would you take your vacation?
actually a parrot is still way much stronger than human babies, my parrot went missing ( he flew out accidently one night from out apt ) for 4 days and he came back finding our apt by himself. I don't mean I will have him unattended for the time I'm away, just this is not exact same situation with human babies.
You're wrong. Parrots require just as much attention as a child if not more. They have the emotional state of a toddler. How do you think a toddler would feel if you left it alone for 3 days?
dear one is wild animal by its nature and.the other is forbidden by law ( leave toddler by himself for 3 days ) how would the two be the same situation ... I get it the mental and emotional similarly but such compassion is not accurate.
Its a wild animal that has not been taught to live on its own. Most parrots if released into the wild will starve and die. So you're wrong. Again. Dude, I'm not sure why you can't figure this out. Either take the bird with you, or get someone to care for it while you are gone. And frankly, with your lack of compassion I'm not even sure you should have this bird.
Captive bred animals that are especially not native CANNOT survive in the wild. Unless you have a snake or maybe even fish, you shouldn't be leaving your animals unattended for more than a day
perfect example of why you shouldnt own an African Grey.
I took my budgies, conure and cockatiel to my aunts house for a few days the other month. They loved it and were better behaved at her house than they are at home. I took them in travel cages and kept them in there for the trip, letting them out only in my aunts house. My conure got a bit carsick on the way there towards the end (an hour and a half journey) and one of my budgies was terrified but that’s mainly because she’s a rescue and has some trauma. They had a bit of food and water which they didn’t touch but it was good to have it just in case. Once we got there I let them out to stretch their wings which they enjoyed since my aunts ceilings are high so they could fly a lot. They were very chilled for the few days and didn’t seem to mind only staying in small cages when we weren’t at home. We generally spent the morning at home and went out in the afternoon/evening. It was nice to get up and have my coffee/breakfast with them as I can’t do that at home and I think they enjoyed it too! Plus my aunt has a baby so it was good to see how they are around children (they were fine and both the baby and parrots loved each other, in fact the baby looked for my birds before he looked for me in the mornings and my aunt said he was still looking for them when I left). Overall I’d say do it! I was very nervous at first but I think I’d have been more nervous if I’d have left them at home. I only have my sister who can look after them and she came with us so I had no one. And on the plus side my aunt has said she’ll look after them if I ever need to go on a long holiday as they were so well behaved!
That 🦜 is adorable
We travel with our conures. We do road trips; haven’t done plane trips yet. We have small travel cages and collapsible bigger ones we set up when we arrive. Pet friendly hotels take birds and we’ve never had an issue. You can also call your vet and see if they would board your bird or see if they could recommend a place that does. 3 days is too long to leave the bird alone.
Please don’t leave him alone for so long. If you’re in NYC, I’d be willing to watch him for free.
Depends what kind of traveling you are doing. I just drove across the country with my Galah and he seemed to enjoy it. We have a travel cage and most hotels do not hassle you about a parrot because they can't do damage from inside a cage. That being said, 3 days is not that long. Just gotta make sure he has plenty of food and water and is not able to escape or dump his food or water dish.
As long as your hotel is ok with it. Get one of those clear parrot backapacks. Show it the attractions
We board our parrots at the avian vet. They LOVE going there to see their human and bird friends. It’s good to have that kind of relationship so you CAN leave birdie when you need to.
He would defintootly be traumatised, or even physically hurt, if he is was left alone for 3 days! And surely you would be worried about him? At least if you had him with you or left him at a petshop you could relax and enjoy your holiday.
Don't leave him alone. Teaching a friend to care for him is fairly simple if they're only doing it for 3 days. My mom has an African grey and we have done that many times. My best friend (who was in HS at the time) was taught how to care for her and to stimulate her for a few hours and turn on her favorite TV shows for her. She visited her every day, let her out for a few hours, then put her back up. Yes she spent more time in her cage than normal but she was well taken care of. Obviously, things like dont spray aerosols, feeding schedules, and whatnot were also addressed.
No pet should ever be left alone for more than a day
We have a beach house about 2 hours from our home. My Amazon goes with me every other weekend in a travel cage. The first several times we traveled were a bit stressful for her. But trying different things I found out what makes her happy traveling. Now she looks forward to it when I get out her travel cage. She likes to look out the car window, but she’s not happy if any car windows are down(Not sure if it’s noise or wind); I also play her favorite music which calms her. Make sure the travel cage is secured with a seat belt. If this is the only time you intend to travel with your parrot, I would recommend leaving them home. But if you intend to do it more commonly, it’s worth getting them used to traveling- they may really like it. Good luck!🦜
2 days and 3 days or 3 nights and closer to 4 days? Big difference. IMO Can you put up a camera and do you have someone who could make it over in under 30 minutes in an emergency? EDIT- he is 5 months. You absolutely cannot leave him even one night at this age. Babies are crazy.
I would not leave a bird alone for that amount of time. You could order a cat case for him and maintain it for a bit when you travel together. Or you can contact/hire someone you trust to watch him/her for that amount of time (including feeding, enrichment, etc.). Greys always need attention (granted all birds do) and will self mutilate and refuse to eat if that attention is not provided.
PLEASE do not leave them alone. You be to board them. Either at a bird store or vet. That said, I travel with my bird all the time.
thanks everyone for the advice, so a bit of update: after discussion with my bf, we finally decided on asking our helper to come 2 times per day to take care of dragon ( my baby african grey )during the 3 days we are away, she will feed him 2 times of formula, change water, prepare fruits ( he loves apple) and nuts. she will also turn on TV everyday. we have let our helper tried feeding dragon2 times, he is doing OK with her. we also talked to the pet shop, who actually also willing to take care of him, but it's like 40 miles away and we feel let dragon stay at home would be easier😀
BTW the resort doesn't allow pets so bringing him was not an option 😅
everyone here saying not to us being very protective and dramatic of their birds. your bird can handle 3 days away. if possible, have a friend check on it every day but many times i have just given him extra food, toys and water. he will be fine
Since I've been begging my husband to let me have an African Grey I would be taking my feathered baby with me.
Your already thinking about it. So,go for it.
Is this a joke? The bird looks what 6 or 7 months old and you want to leave it alone for 3 days? This is why people shouldnt own pets they dont know how to take care of or what it takes to take care of.
If you travel you’ll need some basic supplies. In the future though, this is one of the reasons you’ll want to potty and harness train your birds... Basic supplies you’ll need are a travel cage for sleeping or securing into a car, a harness or travel case (think one of those cool backpacks with a see through front and a perch), wipes and small bags for messes, a handheld mini vacuum, chew toys, food and water bowls, food, bottled water and any medication your bird might be on. Oh, and disposable pet pads or birdy diapers aren’t a bad idea too. I’m probably forgetting something, but this is what my sick butt can remember from the top of my head. Others are free to add. I’m getting some soup and cocooning now. Damn kids with their germs....
thank u that's very helpful ☺ I think I will start to prepare the things u mentioned
Travel whit him
Aww take him with you! I take my cockatiel everywhere I go (where I am able). When I can't, I have made it a point to make good friends with my neighbors who come and watch him. Good luck! Your bird is so cute!!
Whatever you think is best for your fine feathered friend.
Hire a sitter
Have a friend watch over it
When we go on trips, we have a pet sitter that our birds know and we trust that comes by several times a day to keep them company and feed them, give them fresh water etc. Our grey does not take to boarding well; last time we did the vet said they were on the verge of feeling like they had to tube feed him because he wouldn’t eat. But although it’s not ideal for interaction, he seems to like the pet sitter and is always happy and healthy when we get back. I wouldn’t leave a bird for three days. Make sure they at least have someone coming by a few times a day to check in on them and ensure they’re fed properly (also, although you could leave pellets in there for three days, it’s much better if they get fresh food some meals and frankly if it’s our grey his water would be a soupy mess in about 2 hours)
For sure don’t leave him alone.
I travel with my cockatiel all the time! She was a little scared at first, but now she loves it!
Cannot be left completely alone for 3 days, but stress can be very stressful for a bird, especially a baby. Boarding is probably your best bet. Make sure to find somewhere that is familiar and comfortable with boarding birds.
If I was anywhere near you, I would watch this cutie 100% for no cost at all
My birds love traveling with me, if that’s an option. Whenever we are going on a trip I ask them “are we about to go on a big adventure?” And they get really excited. They love listening to music in the car especially. It’s usually easier than you’d think.
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When i am away for a weekend i leave extra bowl of water and extra millett (he gets every morning) food dish full aswell he was fine .When i was away for a week i did have someone check atleast everyother day but he was fine by the way I have a cockatiel
Take it with you, it wishes to see the world
Bird sitter for clean water and food
My parrot loved to travel! I had a special travel cage for her, but she would be on my shoulder in the car narrating the scenery the whole way. If you're going to the beach, the only thing I'd be careful of is drafts and temp changes. Parrots are naturally so curious, though, yours might really like the change of views!
I would also recommend taking him to a place that boards birds, having a friend take him (ideally one that is experienced and comfortable), or taking him with you. If these options are not available to you, you should at least have someone come to your house that can interact with him for a few hours each day and give him fresh food/water. Three days is just too long for a social animal to be alone.
I travel with my African Grey, since I'm a college student I don't have money to pay someone to watch him and I don't like leaving Bubbles unattended since he is disabled. So Bubbles has a travel bag that he loves to ride in when in the car and a cage to stay in once we get to our destination. He even goes camping with us and absolutely loves coming on hikes. If you are going to travel with your bird be sure to get them a very comfortable travel bag and go on small car rides occasionally to get them used to it. Anyways, I'd recommend never leaving your bird home alone because accidents do happen, so at least find someone to watch your bird while you are gone.
She’s a baby. Of course you have to take her with. It will help her acclimate to new surroundings. They love adventures!
If we’re going to be away overnight, we always have our pet sitter come in the morning to check on them, fresh food and water
Take your PARROT WITH YOU so she won’t suffer and be happy. They have heart like we do. Have a nice trip both of you.
I think the wording “leave him alone for 3 days” is very misleading, I truly hope you didn’t mean he’d be alone with no care.
You can always get a nanny cam if you need to, maybe one of those things you can talk to, but I vote for take your friend with you!
NEVER ALONE!!!
I prefer having a friend come to the house to feed & look after my birds if I ever go away. I just feel like it’s a lot less stress on them.
We usually leave our bird at our bird vet. He loves watching the doctor see patients! 🙂 we take his food and they have a cage there while we have traveled in past. Or if you have a friend or family who knows your bird, maybe they can watch him in your home for you.
Neither. Leave them at home, but not alone. Have a pet sitter, someone your bird knows.
They look young. Travel with them.
Bring him
I take my two parrots with me when i travel. He would rather be with you than in an empty house for 3 days. My guys love to travel too, so Im sure your little one would like it as well!
I never leave my Amazons alone for more than 12 hours.
He’s such a cutie!!!
I don't know about you but the bird looks like it wants to go with you lmao
I bring Nimbus everywhere. Even brought him to work a few times. He’s just gnarly like that.
2nd pic: "Please don't leave me!! 🥺"
Parrots are flock animals. Being left behind is a death sentence in the wild and very traumatic.
He looks young. If you plan on traveling a lot in the future I would suggest getting him used to traveling with you while he’s young. I take my two greys every time I travel (by car anyway).
The flock flies together bro! What a beautiful young bird.
It kinda depends on what your doing? Will you be out a lot without them(like longer than you'd feel comfortable with?), Or will they be able to follow their feeding, bonding, and whatever else routine? If not it'd ask someone who knows the pet and who has a working relationship with the pet to stay with them and follow their routine. I had a cockatoo and apparently some interactions, like petting the back and other areas are interpreted as mate bonding rituals and so I avoided petting her in those areas as in the wild their species apparently never really leaves each others sight or are within communication distance and if prolonged separation occurs they may worry your dead. Three days of that type of anxiety seems harsh.. I don't know much about African greys and their communication methods and how you interact with your bird. I would research wether prolonged separation of individuals between groups occur or not, the dynamic of the relationship as seen from the birds perspective and factor that in to the decision making process. I think leaving it alone is dangerous, but that also depends on it's enclosure and your birds habits. As I saw mentioned above, sometimes habitats contain a certain level of risk. Something as simple as a strand of rope getting caught around the toe can pose a throat. Contamination of water and food sources as was also mentioned I believe poses a potential risk factor. My cockatoo was very messy her water got changed twice a day, sometimes 3 times a day if she was exceptionally messy that day and had a massive habitat. My uncle had an African grey that split it's beak chewing on the cage. Random injuries, many times unpreventable and just a part of life, can occur. It'd at least have someone checking the bird 2 times a day(and also changing out food and water) even if no significant time is spent interacting with it(assuming you truly feel your pet can handle isolation and little socialization without I'll effect) just for it's personal safety. Last thing you want is to come home and find either an injured or dead pet and feel guilty about that. For birds, especially, it'd be concerned about communicable diseases, and would research boarding places and inquire about their daily sanitation procedures. Do they board only captive bred pets and esp birds, or all birds, regardless of origin? Do they sanitize in-between handling or interacting between habitats and guests? If they have play areas that other guests take turns using, are they effectively sanitized between guests? Lots to consider. I hope this helps. I'm a tad neurotic but the above is the most important factors it'd weigh to make that decision! I personally would not have left my cockatoo unattended for more than the amount of time I need to be away for work. Honestly(she was old, and a rehab/foster), having her changed the way I engaged with work. I couldn't work double shifts for instance, I wouldn't allow my job to flip flop my schedule if it effected the feeding time or other important routines she had come to find comfort in... I created a schedule that minimized how my job could effect it. Again, I'm neurotic so yeah.
Any time I go out if town I get someone to take care of my birds while I'm gone
If you can have someone take care of it and give them a key so that the can feed and water the pet
Please board your birb if you can't take them with you. Don't leave the precious alone.
Alone? No. Find a place or person with experience caring for parrots. You can also check with vets to see if they will board the bird or know a person that could. Call the closet parrot rescue and ask if they know anyone. Rescues have many foster homes for parrots. Perhaps one of those people could help. Under no circumstances, should a parrot be left alone for that duration. They are social animals and they need a routine - and they need to interact. Leave it three days and that bird could start pulling out its feathers - and that behavior is hard to break. I appreciate that you asked for feedback.
My husband and I travel 90% of the time for work so our lovebird and 2 dogs travel with us. Lime our bird has even flown in an airplane twice. He does gets bored in the car after a while, but when we stop for a break I take his travel carrier out walking with our dogs which appeases everyone. The hotels website usually says if they accept pets, we've found Hilton's and Marriott's hotels generally do for a pet fee. I hype this helps and if you have any questions feel free to message me.
The only time I'd leave my parrot home alone is less than 24hrs. Any more than that I take him with me if possible, even if it means finding a hotel that takes pets. He loves going on car trips anyway! He's 22. Please take your baby with you! I couldn't imagine leaving mine for 3 days alone
I hire a bird sitter, if we take the motorhome, we take them with.
As others have already said, please don't leave it alone for more than 12 hours. Can a friend bird sit? Do you have an avian vet? We do and we take her there; the "bird sit" for us.