ISO Bird-Friendly Pet Sitter

[Anonymous]

Hoping to find someone who's experienced with birds to take care of our fully-flighted Timneh (medium-sized) parrot while we're out of town. Would really prefer someone who will let him out of his cage to fly around for some exercise, beyond just changing water and offering some fresh food. Bonus points if they can groom (have gone to SEAVS, but would love to skip the trip out to Fairfax). Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Dud you ask your vet?

[Anonymous]

I don't know where you are but the parrots store in falls church on lee highway babysits birds.

[Anonymous]

We usually just get a neighborhood teenager to fee our parrot and cats twice a day. This means the parrot doesn't get out, but she does stay in her own home which we assume would be a little less stressful for her. We have thought of trying to get the teenager to let her out, but we're not really sure he'd be very good at it.

I found these places, but I haven't tried them: Gaithersburg Pet Sitting, Inc. - MD, DC. Bird Sitting and Boarding by experienced certified avian specialist - Love, Socializing, Fresh food & water, treated as family member. Consulting available. email: [e-mail] or call [phone]. Metro DC area

Grasshopper Pet Sitting - Reston, VA. Pet Care for birds and other pets. Plants and greenhouses too. Reston, Herndon, Oakton, Great Falls and Sterling, Virginia 703-476-1141 Email: [e-mail]. Reston, VA

Depending on where you live, there are other places in Howard County, Frederik, and Reston listed here: http://www.birdsnways.com/birds/services.htm

[Anonymous]

I'd ask SEAVS for suggestions. We used a regular dog sitting/walking service years ago, but they didn't let anybody out of their cages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We usually just get a neighborhood teenager to fee our parrot and cats twice a day. This means the parrot doesn't get out, but she does stay in her own home which we assume would be a little less stressful for her. We have thought of trying to get the teenager to let her out, but we're not really sure he'd be very good at it.

I found these places, but I haven't tried them: Gaithersburg Pet Sitting, Inc. - MD, DC. Bird Sitting and Boarding by experienced certified avian specialist - Love, Socializing, Fresh food & water, treated as family member. Consulting available. email: [e-mail] or call [phone]. Metro DC area

Grasshopper Pet Sitting - Reston, VA. Pet Care for birds and other pets. Plants and greenhouses too. Reston, Herndon, Oakton, Great Falls and Sterling, Virginia 703-476-1141 Email: [e-mail]. Reston, VA

Depending on where you live, there are other places in Howard County, Frederik, and Reston listed here: http://www.birdsnways.com/birds/services.htm

PS. Usually we don't go away for 1-3 nights. But for the times we went away for 2-3 weeks, we have given the bird to friends who knew about birds and let her out. Do you have any friends who could take this on?

[Anonymous]

Don't rule out kids! Assuming your grey isn't too mean-spirited, it's a great way to get kids to get into animals.

We have an Umbrella cockatoo and my DDs, turning 12 and 10, have been playing with her since they were toddlers. We are in DC temporarily so the U2 didn't come with us, but our cockatiel and parakeet did (can you tell we love animals and my DH is allergic to all but birds?) and we've had wonderful babysitters: a third grade boy and a sixth grade girl.

Now granted, there is a big difference between a cockatiel and a grey. But if you teach a kid how to handle h/her, they will spend way more time with the bird than any adult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hoping to find someone who's experienced with birds to take care of our fully-flighted Timneh (medium-sized) parrot while we're out of town. Would really prefer someone who will let him out of his cage to fly around for some exercise, beyond just changing water and offering some fresh food. Bonus points if they can groom (have gone to SEAVS, but would love to skip the trip out to Fairfax). Any suggestions?

Where do you live?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't rule out kids! Assuming your grey isn't too mean-spirited, it's a great way to get kids to get into animals.

We have an Umbrella cockatoo and my DDs, turning 12 and 10, have been playing with her since they were toddlers. We are in DC temporarily so the U2 didn't come with us, but our cockatiel and parakeet did (can you tell we love animals and my DH is allergic to all but birds?) and we've had wonderful babysitters: a third grade boy and a sixth grade girl.

Now granted, there is a big difference between a cockatiel and a grey. But if you teach a kid how to handle h/her, they will spend way more time with the bird than any adult.