11/05/2022
🦜🦜🦜As holiday travel is upon us ..🦜🦜🦜Although we wish we could just pack up our feathered friends and take them with us, it’s not always realistic due to enclosure needs and travel restrictions and their safety . Let’s face it , leaving a loved parrot to go on vacation is hard and often super anxiety provoking. Some of us are lucky to have family or friends comfortable with our birds but many don’t which leads to either not going or feeling uneasy your entire vacation . Trust me I have been there , and to be honest our vacations were planned and still are on the availability of someone we trust to care for them while we are away and I’m still nervous! If you have a trusted care provider to come into your home that is always the 💯 best option . Parrots like their home and familiar sounds and environment and being displaced can be very stressful for them . Common pet boarding often do not take birds and if they do your parrot often has to contend not only with people they don’t know and other animal sounds that can make them nervous and possibly a boarder that is not familiar with parrots . This is why we are here to help! Whether it would be trusting your parrot to us or someone else there are a few tips to help your parrot adjust to change that can prepare them if you have to go away for a bit and always prepare them for things we cannot anticipate that would lead to them needing someone else to care for them.
Parrots often do not like change or new people .. well adjusted parrots set up for the most success in the event they have to trust new people or temporarily relocate is when they have the easiest transition to new situations . A few things you can do to help them be as prepared as possible you can do right in your home !
🦜. Shake things up in their cage a bit , even small changes in placement of toys or perches can help them become familiar with small changes . When you clean , move things around a bit . My gray hates her home redecorated lol , but we do it in small bits and she does adjust .. every new toy is an alien in her cage and if A perch moves or is new she won’t stand it on for hours or even a few days, we reassure her and eventually she comes around!
🦜 socialize them! When you have company have them come say hi! This is probably one of the most important . They need to know people other then you exist . It’s a great way to educate people about parrots kept as pets as well! When we have company my chatty and active bird room often falls silent as a lamb when a new person walks in lol , but we are persistent on their socializing and it has helped tremendously for them to come out of their shell a little more each time!
🦜. Let them visit every room in your house ! It may seem silly , but it not only broadens their world but acclimates them to being in different environments .
🦜 Have a prepared instruction list ready at all times . You never know when the unexpected can happen , so have something ready to give a care giver in the event of your unexpected absence and have an emergency plan , even if it is someone to just help in interim until you can make more consistent arrangements.
🦜Have a safe travel carrier and practice going inside , the more familiar the less scary it will become ! Even if it is for vet visits , familiarizing in the comfort of your home versus forcing it just for a vet trip or boarding is adding another layer of stress before they arrive at yet another stressful situation.
🦜 although not really related to travel and boarding , but practicing toweling is super important. If you have hopes of a vet trip without sedation , being comfortable secured in a towel is a necessity . Vet trips for birds are scary enough but preparing for the inevitable toweling will help !
🦜last but not least make sure your bird sitter knows what to do in The event they have to take your bird to the vet . Spend some with them to find a comfortable and safe agreed upon method of handling for their and your birds safety !
Wishing everyone a fun few weeks as holiday planning starts to be under way! We are always available for a chat for a variety of questions on helping with handling , behaviors and nutrition so reach out anytime ! We are committed to supporting other parrot owners to be successful!
