Away from home

[ahoang25]

I've searched through this forum but could not find anything about taking care of your birds while you're away on vacation. I use to have my neighbor take care of my birds while I am away, but now they have moved far away. Also, my siblings live half an hour from my house.

Are there any bird feeding gadgets that will alleviate this problem? How about the drinking water?

Thanks,

Anthony

[AndreasLon]

I've searched through this forum but could not find anything about taking care of your birds while you're away on vacation. I use to have my neighbor take care of my birds while I am away, but now they have moved far away. Also, my siblings live half an hour from my house.

Are there any bird feeding gadgets that will alleviate this problem? How about the drinking water?

Thanks,

Anthony

[poohbear]

There are various gadgets on the market for watering plants that can be adapted. But.....I wouldn't rest not knowing that something could go wrong.Just a day without water could wipe out a whole aviary.If not leaving a bulk supply of water and seed...and if no friends or neighbours are available.I'm sure most of us could find a local dog walking service or similar pet orientated site that could take the job on for a fee.

[ac12]

If you give them seeds, you can get a seed hopper. The hopper dispensers work because in a dish, once the birds eat the seeds on top, they don't DIG down under the hulls to the seeds below. With the hoppers the hulls don't collect on top of the fresh seeds as much, and they can still get to the seeds.
One warning. If your birds are "picky" eaters, they may throw a LOT of the seeds out.
But with any of these hopper type dispensers, you have to train the birds to use them. Some quickly use them, others may refuse to go near it.

Water similarly, get a couple or more LARGE water tubes. But again, they need to be trained to use it. There are at least 2 types; one with a trough that the bird drinks out of, and another with a tube and ball that the bird pushes the ball in the tube to drink.

For both water and seeds/feed, have more than one dispenser, this takes care of the situation where there may be a "problem" with one. Example, I just had a water tube "empty." I have no idea how that happened. I have also read where birds have learned to jam open the water bottle that uses a ball in the tube, draining all the water out.

[cindy]

I used to use poulty waterers for a weekend. There are several different kinds like what is pictured on this websites:

http://www.poultrysupplies.com/index_files/page0028.htm

http://www.flemingoutdoors.com/powa.html

I used this type:

http://www.flemingoutdoors.com/plastic- ... 0-690.html

[Sally]

How long are you planning to be away? Do you have cages, flights, or aviaries, and how many? The last time I left my birds, it was for three days, and I have cages, lots of them. I use large tube waterers, so every cage got two. I also use the seed hoppers, so I filled each one and emptied the hull drawer. Then I placed spray millet in each cage, plus dishes of dry eggfood for the breeding pairs. And it was still nerve-wracking! I got home late at night, so I couldn't even check the birds till the next morning--I was up at dawn, and to my relief, all was fine!

Those poultry waterers would work very well for flights or aviaries, or even cages. The main thing is to make sure your birds will use the waterers or hoppers or whatever you use to provide food and water--this is not the time to make a big change and then leave the house. You have to break them in to new things well before leaving. And you want to have more than one source for water and for food in each cage, flight, or aviary.

[HoangQuan]

the point is how long would you leave them alone for vacation?
I used big seed hopper and a bottle hanging upside down to provide them food and water when I was out for somewhere 1-4 days. Placing some traps around the place to prevent rat or mice should show up when nobody's home.
Everything will be fine after 2-4 days, but for longer( weeks, months..)..honestly, I dont know, I never dared to go anywhere that long and leave all my birds alone
I see ppl bring their dogs or cats to the vet and pay for them to stay there and be taken care of. Can you do the same with bird? if you tend to go for a long vacation?

[ahoang25]

I have an indoor aviary that is 2.5' wide by 4' high by 9' long. There are 10 gouldian finches and 6 canaries in the aviary. My vacation usually last between 5 - 7 days. I am planning on taking a vacation sometime in the spring of 2010.

Am I the only bird lover in this forum that take a week or 2 of vacation once a year?

Anthony

[ac12]

Beyond about 5 days you really need someone to come and check on them. Unless you actually test them by loading them up and not touching them for over a week, I would not trust the bulk seed hoppers and especially the water tubes beyond that long. Having said that, you really need to test that the bulk hopper and water tubes will provide feed and water for the intended period of time. I have sometimes had the birds drink more water than I expected.

[Sally]

I find also that when the birds don't get their baths, they may try to bathe in the water tubes, by throwing water out on themselves, which means the water in the water tubes would not last as long. I think your best bet is to get someone to check on them. If you have siblings 1/2 hour from your house, that might be the best solution. They wouldn't have to come every day--if they came by two or three times while you are gone, then they could refill water tubes and feeders. It wouldn't take them long to do--maybe bribe them with a special dinner or night out once you are back! Or try to make friends with one of your neighbors that also has pets--a dog, especially. You could offer to dogsit for them when they go on vacation. If they have a cat(s), you could offer to check on it and clean the litter box .

It is difficult, when you have indoor birds, as sometimes you aren't always comfortable having others come in your house while you are gone, but 5-7 days would really be pushing it. I'm afraid you might come home to a disaster.

[cindy]

Sally is right you need to test out different water tubes and seed hoppers to see if the birds will use them or not. A few of my species will not go near the tubes or the seed hopper. About 75% of my birds use the seed hopper. Most will use the water tubes, one species my RCCBs will not use either the hopper or water tubes...or anything different in their cage. Some of the water tubes leak so test them first.

I use these:

http://www.redbirdproducts.com/seedhopper3.jpg

https://www.birdsupplynh.com/catalog/pr ... 3f24304985

I also tried this type that uses a mason jar, it works well and can be purchased at poultry feed stores. They also make ones that are more of a ballon shape so the bird can not sit ontop and foul the water.

http://incubatorwarehouse.com/index.php ... re=default

http://www.enasco.com/product/C28448N
.......................................................................................
I have tried the one pictured below...caution when using with water since they can foul and bathe in the dish. If you use it for seed I have had some species dig in it to get what they want and empty it onto the floor of the cage...not good if it is grated. At least on the floor they can still eat it.
http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=720

Also if you have a vet office nearby sometimes one of the vet techs is willing to pet sit and visit your home as you request for either a flat fee or fee per visit. If you can get someone to come in place your feeders and waters close to the front of the cage, near doors so that the person caring for them does not have to reach in so far and startle the birds.

side note...do not use a water meant for a dog or cat, the hole on the base where the water come through is to big, if the bird bathes in it and moves into the hole it will get trapped and drown. Make sure the waterer (like the ones for chickens) have a tiny hole the bird can not get stuck in.

[Ursula]

Where are you located?

I have no relatives nearby either (and thE neighbors son almost starved my birds once!) so I am using a pet sitting service. It's a reliable company and they assign somebody to the job. The lady came in before my vacation to get introduced to the birds and what I want her to do (food, water etc). I used her several times now and my birds were always fine. She comes daily but they would also come less or more frequently. (I'd rather pay the daily visit and know that somebody takes care of my birds every day. )

Look up pet sitters in your area. They usually do only cats and dogs but you might find somebody who can take care of your birds.

I left mine alone for a couple days before but I wouldn't leave them alone for longer than that. Like others pointed out, feeders and waterers can get clogged etc.

[ahoang25]

I am located in Seattle, WA. There are so many great ideas in this topic, I dont know where to begin. I guess the best solution is to get a hopper for the seeds and have someone come over every other day to clean and change the foods for the birds.


Anthony