Finch Sitting?

[Celeris]

Hey guys!

I don't do much travelling (in part due to my critters), but I've got a trip coming up in late October that's got me wondering who's gonna take care of my babies. My whole finch obsession started by petsitting a friend's finches (who are now my finches.) I, however, have a much larger cage for the guys than she did and five finches, so I don't particularly want to try to catch them all and transport them and the cage in the name of a weekend trip, if I can avoid it.

What do you guys generally do for finch sitters? Do you have finch loving friends that help you out or do you find that non-finch folks do okay? Worried that my guys are a bit "high maintenance" for your average teenaged pet sitter, if that makes sense?

Thanks!

[Shannylee]

Celeris, I wonder about the same thing! I just took on 46 birds. Some are in the aviary and some are in cages. We don't have anything planned until October (2 nights) but I'm already wondering what I'm going to do when a longer trip comes up. Too bad we don't live closer to each other!!

[Celeris]

Shannylee

No kidding! That would definitely solve both of our problems.

Hopefully I'll be able to find someone for this short trip coming up, but I also worry about being gone for a long period of time. I have a friend whose finches died while he was out of town due to insufficient care--they're so fragile! Would be heartbroken to come home and discover that my pet sitter didn't understand the importance of plentiful water and food.

[jimenezl]

I've left my finches for a few days with a vacation feeder and plenty of water tubes - no problem. My seed feeders hold about 10 days or more of seed, and the same for the water.

[Sally]

I just returned from a four-day trip out of town. I have many, many cages of finches, no aviary. I set up each cage with two drinkers, in case one fell off or started leaking. I put Morning Bird's Sparkle in the water. When I returned, each cage still had plenty of water, and there was no slimey feel to any of the waterers.

I use the vacation gravity feeders, and I made sure that each one was full and working before I left. In addition, I put spray millet in each cage. The birds have eaten the spray millet almost exclusively, I think, and there was plenty of seed left in each cage.

I left dry kibble for both my dog and my cats, along with plenty of water in those big gravity-type waterers, plus litter boxes (dog has a doggie door). I am very fortunate in that my dog actually mopes when I am gone and doesn't eat very much, unlike so many dogs that will eat all their food the first day and then get sick. Cats, of course, are always good about only eating when hungry. I returned to plenty of kibble left, plenty of water still, and dog and cats just fine, other than being happy to see me.

I also have a pet sitter that can come when I am gone longer periods of time. Check around for a pet sitter that is bonded and can give references, mine was recommended to me. You want to make sure it is someone you can trust not only with your precious pets, but this is someone who will have access to your home, so you need to feel comfortable with them.

I do not have this, but my brother and nephew have motion-activated cameras in their houses, which they can check from the internet, so they can take a look and make sure all looks well.

[Stuart whiting]

I just returned from a four-day trip out of town. I have many, many cages of finches, no aviary. I set up each cage with two drinkers, in case one fell off or started leaking. I put Morning Bird's Sparkle in the water. When I returned, each cage still had plenty of water, and there was no slimey feel to any of the waterers.

I use the vacation gravity feeders, and I made sure that each one was full and working before I left. In addition, I put spray millet in each cage. The birds have eaten the spray millet almost exclusively, I think, and there was plenty of seed left in each cage.

I left dry kibble for both my dog and my cats, along with plenty of water in those big gravity-type waterers, plus litter boxes (dog has a doggie door). I am very fortunate in that my dog actually mopes when I am gone and doesn't eat very much, unlike so many dogs that will eat all their food the first day and then get sick. Cats, of course, are always good about only eating when hungry. I returned to plenty of kibble left, plenty of water still, and dog and cats just fine, other than being happy to see me.

I also have a pet sitter that can come when I am gone longer periods of time. Check around for a pet sitter that is bonded and can give references, mine was recommended to me. You want to make sure it is someone you can trust not only with your precious pets, but this is someone who will have access to your home, so you need to feel comfortable with them.

I do not have this, but my brother and nephew have motion-activated cameras in their houses, which they can check from the internet, so they can take a look and make sure all looks well.

Like your way of thinking and tactics Sally,

I would actually do the same myself as regards to the birds being left for a few days ,

As you rightly say just give extra feeders and drinkers, job done

[w.l.]

One thing to do is to try and prevent breeding taking place while you are away.
Adult birds might do fine on dry seeds and water for days, but chicks in nest might well die without fresh sprouted seeds, eggfood and/or livefood provided daily.
Remove any nesting places well in advance of your trip.

Otherwise you need a birdsitter, and one you can trust with taking the trouble of buying and preparing the more complicated fresh food daily.
Finding someone like that is not easy!

[Stuart whiting]

One thing to do is to try and prevent breeding taking place while you are away.
Adult birds might do fine on dry seeds and water for days, but chicks in nest might well die without fresh sprouted seeds, eggfood and/or livefood provided daily.
Remove any nesting places well in advance of your trip.

Otherwise you need a birdsitter, and one you can trust with taking the trouble of buying and preparing the more complicated fresh food daily.
Finding someone like that is not easy!

Yep very much agree Laszlo, I like yer way of thinking on a lot of recent posts

[Celeris]

Sally

Thanks for the tips! I'll have to look into the gravity feeders and waterers. I think I've got someone willing to check in on the guys, but there's plenty of time yet--things might fall through! The dog has no access to the outdoors without escort by a human, but I've said several times if it was just one or the other (dog or birds), my life would be easier. So, perhaps, if I can give the birds gravity feeders and waterers, then I can take the dog to a kennel or something. (Again, this is last ditch. She's a fourteen year old dog, so I hate to take her from home if I don't have to.)

Appreciate everyone's two cents!

[Shannylee]

Celeris, check in your area to see if there is anyone who will come to your home a couple of times a day to let the dog out and feed her. We have tons of them in central FL. They charge around $10/visit and will go to your house as many times a day as you would like. They may even be able to check on your birds too.

[Randomusername]

I own a pet care service. I'm licensed and insured, fully legit. I take care of ALL animals, including birds. Actually the market for bird sitting as surprised me! Call around to a couple local pet sitting services, I'm sure you can find someone who sits for birds. And it shouldn't cost terribly much. I charge per visit and I imagine most birds are perfectly fine with one visit per day, with the industry average cost being $10-25 per day depending on what part of the country you live in.

[Sally]

One thing to do is to try and prevent breeding taking place while you are away.
Adult birds might do fine on dry seeds and water for days, but chicks in nest might well die without fresh sprouted seeds, eggfood and/or livefood provided daily.
Remove any nesting places well in advance of your trip.

Otherwise you need a birdsitter, and one you can trust with taking the trouble of buying and preparing the more complicated fresh food daily.
Finding someone like that is not easy!

You are so right, Laszlo, babies can't be left with plain seed. When I had babies in the nest, or even fledglings/new weanlings, I had to have a pet sitter. I would put egg food portioned out in daily feedings in the freezer, and my pet sitter knew to give egg food to the marked cages each day, and also to take one day's portion out of the freezer and thaw in the fridge so it was ready for the next day. I never lost a baby while she was taking care of my birds for me.