Leaving a bird alone for 9 days!!!

[Kim S]

I'll suggest that to my brother next time he leaves his 4 year old daughter in my care for the weekend. Why not leave her at home for the weekend with her own toys in her own home. Put a big bowl of food in the middle of the room. She'll be OK.

Seriously. I understand you breaking up over this. I would. But if you do, you lose even the little control you have over this now. Try to get a neighbour to look in on the bird. All he needs to do is walk in once a day, change food and water and talk to the bird for a couple of minutes. If he has the right kind of cage he can change food and water from the outside. He wont even have to be in contact with the bird. Still not ideal, but better than nothing.

[Michael]

Yeah, unfortunately breaking up doesn't solve the situation.

[whispernova]

I know. I am beside myself. And you are right..breaking up with him wont fix this at all. I cant imagine that kind of isolation. He has left the bird before like that for a week at a time with no one to check in on her. He leaves a few bowls of food and water..but still. I just feel so bad for her and I have no idea what to do.

[MandyG]

Call animal control. If you're planning on breaking up with him over this anyway you have nothing to lose.

[whispernova]

Yes but how would they get inside? The bird cage is in the kitchen. Should I call them once he leaves? See I am here visiting and we are leaving this Sunday for him to drive meback home. He has family in Ga where I live so he will be spending a few days with him. So we are driving from Texas to Ga and he will be back in 9 days. So should I have animal control come out before? I am scared to do that cause he will know its me and then I may not have a ride home.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I actually don't think animal control would intervene if the bird was left with adequate food and water. How would they even know the owner was really gone?

I certainly wouldn't leave my bird alone for nine days, and I'm more in the camp of worrying even if I have a sitter coming in twice a day, but... IF this is really all true and IF the bird has been treated like this before and been OK, I would think it would be better to work on the owner rather than having the bird taken away to become homeless.

Whispernova, if it were I and I felt that uncertain about someone, I think I'd be taking the Greyhound bus home.

[pchela]

Where in Texas?

[whispernova]

He lives in Lubbock Texas. I talked to him about it again today and he said we will take the bird with us. However if the bird shows signs of stress that it would be my fault. He is such a sweet talker. So now my question is this....what would be the lesser of the two evils?? She has a huge cage at home...taller than me. He plans to leave plenty of food and water for her in bowls that are dead bolted to the cage and cant be flipped over. This cage is very big and filled with lots and lots of toys and stimulation and is right next to a window in which she enjoys looking out at the birds and such during the day. Or.....take her with us. He has a much smaller travel cage. I dont like this cage at all. But at least she wouldnt be left alone for so long. Which would be better for her? Is a 17 hour drive too stressful for a bird? She will be in this cage for 9 days but at least she would have people around. Or is it better for her to stay in her cage where she feels comfortable and secure? Isnt isolation worse? I would much rather have stale water and food versus beiing left alone for so long. So what do you think? I do appreciate all your help on this. Oh..and one other thing...he has three dogs. They would be going as well..so thats added stress as well. He has traveled with the bird before when he moved out here and she was kept in the small travel cage for about 5 days. But 9 days and 5 days seem like a big difference to me.

[Michael]

So let me get this straight... He was planning to take the dogs, didn't think it's a good idea to leave them home alone for 9 days, and yet he was going to leave the parrot?? I'm not saying that taking the bird traveling like this for 9 days is a good thing. However, leaving it neglected with stale food and toxic water for that long is abysmal. If we were comparing someone coming by and feeding/cleaning daily vs. traveling we'd have a debate of which is better. However 9 days with soiled food and water, there is nothing to discuss, the bird is better off with clean water. Birds have needs much similar to ours in a pyramid hierarchy.

Safety, food, and water come first. Then comfort and social attention. Then exercise, entertainment, etc. The stress of travel isn't good but less threatening than sickness from contaminated water.

[whispernova]

Ya I am not sure why its ok to have the dogs taken care of and not the bird. Well that settles it then..the bird will come with us. I feel so bad for his bird. I want him to re home her but his pride will never ever do that. Thanks for all the answers. I appreciate it.