Ask Lafeber

taking vacation

I have 2 parakeets that live outside of the cage. I have purchased a self feeded for food and water. They sleep in extra large plants that are ceiling high. I keep the top of the cage open which they use only for feeding. Last time I visited family back in May I took them with me. At that time they couldnt fly so getting out of their cage was not a problem. Now that they can fly and no longer stay in the cage, how long can I be away from them to go out of state to visit family?

Hi,

Birds should never be left alone for more than overnight. Even leaving one for 24 hours can be a risk. It would also be risky to leave them out of the cage. The best solution is keep them in the cage and get a friend to come in twice a day to check on them, feed them and turn lights on and back off. We do not recommend birds being left out all of the time. There are so many hazards in a home, and even though it has worked so far, they may eventually get into trouble. Birds should always be supervised when out of the cage. Self feeder and water systems can have dangers. An open water dish is best because it can be cleaned daily. Any water system that stores water can get contaminated inside where water is stored or any other place that can’t be accessed and cleaned daily. Bacteria and mold can grow and make your birds sick. Soil in plants can also be a hazard, and of course many plants are poisonous to birds.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda