Extended Trip: Entertainment suggestions

[Nevermore]

So....due to work reasons, I am going to be AWOL for 20 days a month for the entire summer, and some of the fall. My parents will be watching my GCC, and keeping him entertained.

They know the basics, and Jack is familiar with them. And they always check with me before feeding him anything new. And they will be able to reach me periodically by e-mail...but no instantaneous replies.

I'm planning on ordering him some new toys, and leaving instructions for them to exchange one in his cage for a new one every week. And I'm planning to leave a list of 'Do's and Don'ts' as well as emergency contact numbers...

does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this easier for Jack?

[kaylayuh]

My budgies didn't even notice I was gone for a week last November, and I'm sure that was a special case of them hating me and being happy that I wasn't bothering them. Anyway..

When I left, I gave very detailed instructions to the pet sitter. I gave a feeding schedule, a complete list of okay foods, money for extra food/treats if needed, and I left a recording of my voice on the computer for her to play to them. I also packed their cage with a bunch of new toys and their particular favorite things to play with.

[Kathleen]

Good toys would be important...but would they have any interest in taking him out and training him something?

[Nevermore]

Oh, they would take him out and play with him. They do that while I'm at work during the day.

My niece is also fascinated with him. She keeps him entertained by stuffing his, and her own face with raisins.

I'll have to start writing up lists and schedules and walking them through things soon, I think.

He is going to HATE me after this....he gets desperate when I'm gone for a weekend.

[CheekyandMalolo]

How long is it till summer/when you leave? I'd start getting your parents to do his feeding/watering/training etc, and try to go away a little more often. I'd be prepared to have him think he's got new owners when you come home to visit.

[Michael]

Oh, they would take him out and play with him. They do that while I'm at work during the day.

My niece is also fascinated with him. She keeps him entertained by stuffing his, and her own face with raisins.

Sounds like he'll be in good hands. I don't suggest doing anything different than what is normally done (unless of course he will be stuck in his cage more than he's accustomed to). So if he normally gets a new toy per week, keep going with that. I think the bird will feel more relaxed about the situation if things continue to go the same way and the only difference is that you are gone rather than changing up the routine and everything at once.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

If it's you disappearing out of a normal routine instead of a whole new routine, I expect he'll do fine. My GCC gets angry at me when we are gone for more than overnight, but he's much less likely to be mad if I went and my husband stayed home. I also seem to have the only bird on the planet that acts that way.

[Nevermore]

Thats a good idea...have my parents start changing his food bowls in the mornings and such. It will get him use to it, and help me weed out any mistakes they're doing.

This trip is out of the ordinary. I've never been away from him for longer than a weekend.