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Hi,

I have been babysitting a friends Macaw for 2 months. It will be at least another month or 2. She is now capable of visiting her baby and wants to see him. Would it be better or easier on the bird if she came here or if I took the bird to her for an hour or so?

I also have to go out of town for a few days. We are trying to decide whether to take the bird to a boarding facility or try to have her stop by once a day for an hour.

Thanks
Lee

If the macaw doesn't react negatively when the owner visits, then I say go ahead and let her come and visit her bird! I know of someone who co-parents a cockatoo... during the week she gets the too (who stays at the petstore that she owns), and during the weekend, the owner takes the too. Some birds though may not react very easily to being visited by their owner (or past owner) while in a new home (even though your babysitting).... so I'd say it should depend on the bird...

If the owner can birdsit her own bird, I'd opt for this... but if she can't, or the bird reacts negatively, a boarding facility may be a better choice.

I took in a U2 and owner would come visit- well he was naked when I took him in, started growing in new feathers, and every time she came, he would strip all feathers and about her 3rd visit, made a 50 cent piece hole in his chest- her last visit he mutilated himself and bleed to death. So this is why I would never agree to visitation, we buy out right and they come here- stay here. Its not worth the heart break.