Once in a while, you’ll need to leave home. I mean, everyone has to leave town for a day or two a few times a year. It may be for work, vacation, emergencies, or to spend the night with a loved one.
Lamentably, pets will complicate your travel plan, more so if you have birds. They are needy and require care and supervision, almost as much as a live child.
So, how long is it safe to leave your bird, and how do you prepare for your departure.
Well, I would not leave my bird for a period longer than three days because they are attached to me. They are used to me being around every evening for play and cuddles.
Before I leave, I like to make sure my birdie has plenty of food and water to last them a day and have a friend stop by every evening to clean out, change and refill his feeding and drinking bowls.
That said, I do not recommend leaving your bird alone if you do not have anyone to check on them at least once every day. You are better off leaving them at a shelter or pay someone to care for them while you are away.
How Long Can a Pet Bird Be Left Alone
You can be away from your birds for up to three days if you leave them plenty of food and water, though you will need to have someone check on them and change their feeding station every day.
If you have to leave them completely unattended, it can only be for a few hours a day.
See, birds are messy and needy. They need you to be there to clean up after them, play, and cuddle with them. Most will dunk in their drinking water any chance they get, fling food around, and poop all over the place.
I know toys will keep them occupied for hours on end, but most (more so parrots) will always find a way to be mischievous.
Can You Leave Your Bird for A Week
I do not think leaving your bird alone for a week is advisable. The level of care they need as pets is arguably more than most house animals, plus they are messier.
Even with a friend checking on them and doing minimal cleaning, a week is a little too long to leave your bird alone. The water will go gross, evaporate, or get emptied.
The food likewise could run out, or they might empty it outside the cage and remain with nothing to eat.
Leaving a bird used to daily interaction for more than a day or two is not recommended.
Can A Parakeet Be Left Alone for A Few Days
24 hours is almost as long as you can leave your parakeet alone with ample food and water. Music and toys will also help keep him (her) less bored.
This might not seem like too long, but it is still enough time for your birdie to experience life-changing events and even trauma.
See, when you are away, you are not in control of what happens around your bird and can’t help even if he gets into an accident.
You bird may ingest and chock on toy pieces, a thread (string) from ropes may strangle him, or even a toenail get trapped on something in the cage.
I’ve seen birds that hung for hours or longer by a toenail caught in a toy that they’ve never had any problem with before: August Abbott, Certified Avian Specialist.
If you can have a friend come over at least once a day, you may be able to squeeze in three days in your trip, but not more than that. You certainly can’t be away from your bird for a week.
A lot of pet or bird stores have budgie boarding, so you can leave your birdie in one for the period you’ll be away if you have no one to care for him.
What to Do with Your Bird (Parakeet) When Going on Vacation
The very first thing you want to do when going on vacation (leaving your bird alone) is to make sure there is ample food and water. Your birdie will certainly waste and make a mess of most of it, but at least they won’t starve.
Some birds will gorge on a large amount of food left and throw what they feel is excess out of the bowl or cage.
The second thing you need to do is leave a person, maybe a friend or colleague, to keep an eye on your birdie, plus do a little cleaning and replace or refill the water and food stations.
Make sure the person you leave in charge is available at least once a day to check on your birdie.
As I mentioned above, if you do not have a friend to take care of your pet bird while you are away, you can leave him in a bird store boarding facility for the period you are away.
Only make sure the facility does not have too many birds to care for and have ample experience caring for your bird type.
Back at home, your bird will also benefit from plenty of toys and his favorite music playing in the background while you’re away. Birds, more so parrots, are pretty intelligent. and without enough stimulation, tend to develop psychological problems.
Now, back to the food you choose to give your bird while leaving, seeds might look like the easy solution, but they have a few shortcomings.
They are more a snack item than a staple. So, avoid a seed-only diet and instead, prepare your birdie an assorted dish with all nutrients he (she) needs to survive.
Carbs, vitamins, and proteins should be present, and don’t forget mineral supplements or cuttlebone.
I’ve also noted early dehydration is an issue for birds left alone for more than a day because they’ll do all kinds of antics with the water and bowls leaving them with nothing to drink.
An automatic bird feeder and bottle drinker may help reduce your birdie’s wastefulness, but they also come with flaws. As such, even if you choose to use them, make sure you have someone come around every day to unblock and clean out the feeder and drinker.
Having said all that, it’s crucial to keep in mind that although a friend or carer will take care of your birdies need while you’re away, he is most likely only attached to you and is only comfortable interacting with you.
So, when away for a prolonged period, he (she) may become stressed and develop odd behaviors.
That’s all for this post. See you in the next one.
All the best with your feathery friend????????.
