im taking my friends cockatiel while shes on vacation...?

Question

my best friend is goign on vacation and while shes away shes having me take care of her cockatiel. i no a fair bit about them. is there anything that i should prepare for (i cant ask her b/c she dosnt exactly take care of him very well and barely lets him out except when im over and i beg her to)?

PS-will he pooop all over the room when i let him out?

Answer 1

Yes, he will poop wherever he is so therefore, put a towel or sheet on the furniture that you let him sit on. My birds aren't allowed on the couch but there are other chairs with towels that they sit on with me. When you're handling him, wear old clothes that you can throw in the washer. Bird poop doesn't stain but you wouldn't want to wear a dress you go clubbing in and handle the bird.

The links below should provide you with all of the information that you need for a short visit. Follow their advice, play with the little guy and he probably won't want to go back to a home where he is ignored.

If you have any questions, write me at [e-mail]

Good luck!

Silver2sea

Answer 2

Well make sure she leaves you enough food for the time she is away. Also, have the phone number of a local avian vet on hand as well as a number where your friend can be reached if there is any problem.

Cockatiels should be a fed a pelleted bird diet along with some seed and daily servings of fruits and vegetables. If he is not on a good diet you can't change it all at once, though. Out of cage time and interaction is really important, especially for a single bird. They should have toys available, as well.

Yes, he will likely poop wherever he is when you let him out. Keep paper towels on hand to wipe up messes as soon as they happen and they are not a big deal. In many cases, you can see that the bird is about to go and hold them over a wastebasket. Make sure he is not left unsupervised when out of the cage. He could chew stuff you'd rather he wouldn't or get into trouble.

If your friend is not taking good care of him perhaps she would be happy to be relieved of taking care of him on a permanent basis? Maybe you could offer to keep him?

Answer 3

Yes, the bird will poop while out. Try to let it dry as it will come right up with no mess or staining. As far as care goes, just be sure to feed it daily, keep fresh water in the cage and spend time with him. Be very careful to not let it get loose or injured. That's about all you can and should do. Don't try to change the bird or the birds habits as it is not yours. It can be sad sometimes to see others who have birds that take care of them differently than we think they should. However, maybe her schedule and regime works for her and her bird so you really can't and shouldn't try changing things.
If you feel she's bored with the bird and may want to look into getting rid of him. Once she returns home and you give the bird back, let her know how much you enjoyed caring for him and that you are thinking of getting one. She might look into giving you hers if she is bored with it and not spending time with him.
I always prefer to see birds and owners working things out in a proper fashion as rehoming stresses birds. But on the flip side, I'd rather one be in a proper and productive home than in a neglectful one.

Answer 4

I would not suggest you letting him out while your friend is away-unless you are very well trained in how to get him back in your cage and if his wings are clipped so that he can't get outside and fly away. That being said, if you want to take good care of him--just give him fresh food and water every day--make sure you literally scrub out his water bowl--it gets a film on it and it's bacteria that can kill birds. Secondly- you can put a bowl of water in the bottom of the cage so the bird can bathe--all birds love to bathe and prune themselves--this will please him. Find out what fresh fruits he likes and give him one every day as a treat and most importantly, make sure his cage is in a "quiet area" especially if you have any pets of your own--cockatiels suffer from night fright-which is where they get startled and start flapping around in the cage in the night--make sure his cage is well covered and in a quiet area --and he'll be just fine..........yes, ye'll poop wherever he wants, whenever he wants and even on you!

Answer 5

Oh, I have a feeling, that you are going to adopt that bird. I kept birdsitting, got attached, and have had mine now 6 years, and here he will stay. Yes, he poops everywhere, I allow him out of his cage all day long, he just goes in the cage to get a drink of water and sleep. Just keep a damp paper towel handy. I would rather clean bird poop than dog or cat hair, any day.