I'm headed to Denver on the 24th for a family bash celebrating my grandparents 50th anniversary. I'm flying, so Ollie has to stay behind. Matt is going to be out of town that weekend, and obviously any family member that would typically watch her for me will also be in Denver. I'll be leaving my apartment at about 4pm on the 24th, and arriving back home on the evening of the 27th. So 3 nights, almost 3 days I'll be away from her.

A cousin of a cousin who is also in my class at school is going to check on her for me. He's very responsible, plus he's sort of family so he'll take it seriously. Ollie loves men so I'm so relieved about that aspect. However, he has at least a 30 minute drive one way, so he's only going to come in the mornings to check on her. So much about this is freaking me out, but a big thing I'm focusing on is the fact that her cage will have to remain uncovered at night. Never in her entire 3+ years of life has she not been covered at night. I'm just sick with worry over how she's going to react. Is my worry justified? Her cage is near a large window that allows her to see out, and I'll leave the blind slats open so she'll be on a day/night sleep schedule (if she even sleeps at all...). I also always turn a fan on when she's sleeping to drown out city noise. I'm thinking I should just leave it on the entire time I'm gone. I wish I could leave a radio on for her, but I don't want it playing 24 hours/day, obviously.

He'll fill up her pellets, give her her daily avicake and nutriberries, and clean her water each day. He's never interacted with her before and he's coming next week for a run through so we'll see how they get along. If they do well then hopefully he'll feel okay with letting her out to stretch her wings for at least half an hour every morning. I'm also worried because I think I've enforced a not-so-desireable behavior. We have a bedtime ritual where about 30 minutes before bedtime I put her in her cage and tell her to "eat for momma." She'll amble on over to her bowl and proceed to stuff her face for anywhere from 20-40 minutes while I play on the computer next to her. From past experiences of getting home late after somebody else has put her to bed for me (where she'll hear me and wake up, then quietly go to her bowl and start eating) I don't think she eats unless I sit with her. What if she won't eat while I'm gone? Eventually she'll get hungry enough and eat, right?

I'll have her book with all information and important numbers updated and ready for him.

If anybody has made it through this really long and rambling post, can you think of anything else I need to consider? Any tips/advice? Matt suggested I try not covering her to see how she does, but as her cage is in my bedroom and I go to bed later than she does I just don't know if that would work.

I keep holding on to the fact that time and time again she's demonstrated how calm and accepting of change/stresses she is. I think I just need to calm down....

Maybe you could put one of those timer switches on the radio so it would come on for a while each day. Just cover a corner of her cage where she likes to sleep and that might do. I know the stress you are feeling, I am worrying about leaving Ruby for the first time next month. Ollie has such a wonderful life with you that surely 3 days of not perfectly wonderful won't hurt her a bit! ha!

Your parents are going too?

Ok I just re read and see your whole family is going. The fan thing freaks me out. It could over heat. I wish I was close I would take her.

I was going to suggest a timer for the radio too - I do that for my birds, every day the radio comes on for 3 hours in the morning, then 2 hours off for a midday nap, and on again for 3 hours in the late afternoon. You can buy inexpensive timers at any hardware store or a place like walmart. I'm sure the fan could run on a timer as well.

I think you're right in that YOU need to calm down Do you know if she eats during the day if someone else is checking on her during the day? Maybe when your friend comes next week for a dry run you can leave for the majority of the day and have him feed her and see how well she eats.

Oh duh- I didn't even think about the timer! Her f.s. light is on a timer- I could just plug the radio into that so it's on when her light is. Good thinking!

I would never have even thought about a fan overheating...does that happen?? Hmm...I guess I'll go buy another timer for the fan to be on during the night and off during the day, like normal.

Leigh- I wish I had somebody from PC close by to watch her...that would sure alleviate a lot of my worries!

Sarah- I know she eats some during the day when she's alone. But her major daily eating happens right before bedtime. At least I know she doesn't boycott food altogether when she's home alone.

god, you sound just like me the first time i left ivy for more than half a day timers are perfect for things like this. ollie will be fine. she will miss you for sure, but she will be fine

She will be fine.

I am lucky to have everyone nearby to care for my fids.
They only come over twice a day for feedings though so the birds are alone most of the time. I try to leave everything as normal as possible.
Maybe cover his cage only part way. The timer would work well, as everyone has suggested.