Tips for bird-proofing a home before a sitter comes?

I have a professional bird sitter coming to stay at my place while I'm away for a week with my two budgies. Any tips on making sure the apartment is safe and set up properly for the sitter's stay?

Cover all mirrors at beak height, remove toxic plants if any, put a note on the stove (no non-stick cooking!), and make sure all windows and doors are clearly labelled about bird being out of cage.

I put tape on windows so birds can see the glass. Also make sure ceiling fans are clearly off and labelled, and close off any rooms you don't want the birds to access.

Great question and smart to think ahead! Here's a bird-safe home checklist for your sitter:

Kitchen (most dangerous room)

• Leave a note on the stove: NO Teflon/non-stick cookware while birds are out
• Remove or secure scented candles, plug-in air fresheners, aerosol sprays
• Keep birds out of kitchen during cooking

Throughout the apartment

• Identify and remove or relocate toxic plants (avocado, philodendron, pothos if ingested)
• Cover or screen any mirrors at fly-through height
• Note ceiling fan location — OFF when birds are out, always
• Secure any small gaps behind appliances birds could fall into
• Window and door protocol: clear signage on flight risk

For the sitter

• Emergency vet info posted visibly (fridge is classic)
• Write down your budgies' normal weight range if you weigh them regularly
• Label all foods in the fridge/pantry that are bird-safe vs off-limits

Your budgies will be in good hands. The sitter knowing your routine is actually the biggest factor in a stress-free stay!

You're clearly a caring bird owner — the fact you're asking for help shows that. Your bird is lucky to have you.

I know how stressful this can be. Just know you're not alone and most of us have been through something similar.

So I had this exact problem about a year ago. Let me share what I learned. The key thing is using a stainless steel cage with proper bar spacing for the species. A lot of people also recommend reading "The Parrot Problem Solver" by Barbara Heidenreich. My avian vet in Barrie also suggested checking for a change in routine or schedule which can sometimes be an underlying factor. Good luck — feel free to DM me if you have questions!