Hi this is my first post. I own a male pearl/pied cockatiel named Bennie. I do not own a parrot, but my good friends own an African Grey.
I do have a question: what do you do with your birds when you go on vacation? With Bennie, I just take him in his cage to a trusted friend and bird owner. But the parrot's cage is very large. My friends went on vacation for 2 weeks and left "Pepper" alone! They have someone coming in to feed him. To me, that is cruel! I would never do that to Bennie! But I didn't know what to suggest to them. I would gladly have taken him to my place, but I don't think his cage would fit. (I live in a very small efficiency apartment.) So I asked if it would be okay if I went ans visited Pepper.

Cockatiels are Parrots

But in terms of a medium/large sized bird I would do exactly what your friend did, to be honest. As long as the Parrot has lots of toys and foraging and fresh food/water they would be fine just having someone come every day to feed/water them and talk to the bird for a bit. Yes they wouldn't get out of cage time but that's not torture... would just make them even happier when you got home!

Another option is to board your parrot at a boarding facility. A local bird supply shop near me boards birds where they have the cages and you just bring your bird.

Hi and welcome, you actually DO have a parrot! Cockatiels are parrots! When I go away my son looks after my birds... He lives with me. They do not get as much time as normal spent with them but they have each other for company. I agree leaving an African grey alone for 2 weeks is not ideal. But sometimes moving them to a different location can be traumatic for them as well. Greys are very sensitive emotionally. That's very sweet of you to go visit him!

Hey, I have a crested gecko, too!

Actually, Pepper doesn't get out of cage time anyway. I felt so bad to think he'd be alone, but if that's okay, well, it makes me feel less bad for him.
But I wanted to share what happened yesterday when I went to visit. I came in and Pepper was sitting on the back of the couch! Yikes! I mean, Pepper knows me, but he has never really warmed up to me much. I approached him and spoke to him, but was afraid to actually offer him my arm or hand to step up on. He has tried to bite me while he was in his cage, but I thought since he wasn't in his "territory", it might be okay. Still I was hesitant. So I got a dusting wand and got him to step up on the handle. He hasn't been handled and was not too keen about that, but I did manage to get him back into his cage without trauma to either of us. I checked his cage and saw the access door to his water dish hadn't been closed securely. It is now!
Yes, I do know cockatiels are parrots, I just mean I don't have a large parrot. Maybe someday!

Oh really? Cresties are awesome, feel free to post photos in the "other pets" section!

And that's worrying, did he get in to anything while he was out? It's sad that he doesn't get out of cage time anyways. Are his owners afraid of him?

Welcome to the site! I would suggest all that has already been said haha. You don't really have many options but those would be the best .

Welcome to the forum, I'm fairly new to this forum too and ts been very welcoming.

When I go on vacation, my birds go with me. We just find pet friendly hotels and ask to be on the end so we dont bother as many people. My birds are all small (two budgies, one parrotlet and one conure). I'm pretty sure my parrotlet would read me the riot act if I didn't take him with me.

Welcome to the forum!

As I have so many birds I always have to have somebody home with them. When I had my indoor flock a good friend of mine would live in for the time that I was away so they'd at least have some routine and somebody to keep feeding them their fresh foods and keep them clean. My aviary birds are easier and just need checking up on. I have large drop down feeders that usually last for a good week My birds of prey have to be checked on daily and fed daily too

Pepper had chewed up part of an afghan. It looked like it was just shredded; I don't think he actually ate any. And he can't fly at all, I guess probably from always being in his cage. When he tried, he just fluttered to the ground.
I have been told they "used to" take him out...I don't know how long ago that was.

That's really sad, do you know why they don't anymore? Sounds like he needs a new home :\

How sad for Pepper!! Parrots are such social creatures... having him confined to his cage all the time is really heartbreaking. I agree with Kayla... maybe time for Pepper to find a new home where he would enjoy more freedom!
Gizmo (my senegal) would be just as ticked off if I left her at home while I went on holiday, Parrotletzoo!! She already ignores me for an hour or so if I leave her with my husband when I have to go on a 2 day business trip!