boarding question

[Flapjack]

I'm going away for a week at X-mas. The birds are going to my BIL's.
He'll be there for the first 3 days, then meeting us in CA. At that time, a good friend of his will be coming to check on all the birds 2x/day.
Greg has lots of birds. Jack & Chino will not be in the same rooms as Greg's birds, but they'll sure be able to hear them.
Question... I'm sure it's best to bring their own cages, but they're large and not easy to move. Greg has one empty cage that is the same as Chino's, and one that is the same as the bottom half of Jack's. If I bring their food and water cups, and a few of their toys, do you think they'll really freak out if they're in Greg's cages?
Also, I'm worried that they'll have some sort of adverse psychological effect from my being gone for a week. The woman who'll be watching them is very dependable, and I trust she'll keep the food fresh and water clean, but she won't be holding the birds. There are just too many, and she wouldn't feel comfortable if one got away from her.
Any thoughts would be appreciated :)

[kimsbirds]

I wouldn't worry too much, since its' only a week you're gone. I bet Jack and Chino will be VERY happy to see you home again!
The cage solution sounds good...saves you taking your huge honkin cages to your BIL's place. Would he be nice enough to give it a really good cleaning beforehand?
Familiar toys and food should be enough to make J & C comfortable for the week. They might enjoy all that birdie-company!
As long as the cage is in decent shape, I don't see a problem?
My 2 cents...

Kimmie

[Sweetpeaches]

hi...don't have any advice, but let me know how you make out. i'm going on a cruise to europe for TWO WEEKS in april and i'm not looking forward to leaving peaches and bailey. my grown son (21 yrs) will be home those two weeks so i'm hoping he will take care of them for me. but i wonder too if me being away that long will have any psychological effect on them?? ps...my son will be coming home from college 2 weeks before we leave, so it will give him an opportunity to become more familiar with the birds. he sees them on weekends now whenever he gets home. i also have a 24 yr old daughter who just graduated from college this month and lives at home...but she doesn't like birds! so i won't count on her. but she loves the dog so she'll take care of him.

[Flapjack]

My dog is going to the vet. They have a great kennel out back with heated floors, and they walk them twice a day.
I wish the birds could stay in their own home, like yours. I'm sure Jack, Chino, Peaches and Bailey will all be fine. (I had a cat named Bailey who passed away at age 15. My heart still misses her.)

[ittyandrita]

i left my guy's for a week last xmas, with someone coming to visit them twice a day. i was terrified that they would never recover from the trauma. they did just fine. my senegal was quite pissed at me (nothing unusual there...), but the others were just sort of like 'oh is that really you?!?'
personally, if they were going to stay somewhere else i would want to take their cages with them, but i suppose it would depend on the bird. I just know my senegal would freak being in a strange place in a strange cage. Just wanted to assure you that they should be fine without you for a week! believe me i was VERY worried when i left mine last year for a whole week. my dog however, has the luxury of traveling with me, perhaps its him with intense separation anxiety or maybe its me, i'm not sure... :)
he's little though so i can just stuff him under the seat in front of me on the plane. he's a smart little guy though and has learned after many flights, if he lays real still and real quiet, he can lay on my lap under a blanket and nobody will notice!

[Sweetpeaches]

i'm sorry about your cat bailey. i like that name alot..my hubbie picked it out ..wanted him to feel included with the "flock".

i went away in august for a week with the kids and hubby. left my 9 year old dog with a very dear friend who took very good care of him, however!! he was so stressed (first time he ever stayed in another home) that he broke out with this weird condition that caused bruising under his skin!! he had to go on steriods...the vet said it was his body reacting to the stress...well, needless to say, i'll never take him out of his home again.

he was verryyy happy when i came home.

peaches also stayed at their house..i took her cage..she was fine!

[Flapjack]

I picked Bailey because most all of my animals have had drink or food names.
Cupcake, Vanilla, Chocolate Oreo & Bailey were cats, Shasta & Squirt were horses, Bubbly was a fish, Miller was a dog, Flapjack & Flappuccino are birds. I've had lots of other, different kinds of animals with non-edible names, and probably more than I've said WITH edible names.