Carrier? Love, or Hate?

ConureCrazy · Jan 12, 2013

How do your fids take to a carrier, and where do you take them in it? What carrier do you use? Do they enjoy being outside but not being able to fly around?

I was just wondering because it seemed nice now that the weather will be warming up soon, so I could take them on walks and the park and possibly out door eating areas...

Thanks guys!

momto3 · Jan 12, 2013

We routinely take all of our birds to our cottage and it is a 4 hour drive. They each have a modified cat carrier with a perch screwed in to the sides. I give them food, water, a favorite treat and a toy and they are fine. We do occasionally "practice" for short rides so that they don't always go for long rides. We have a Quaker, a Blue Crowned Conure and two budgies. I would say the budgies have the hardest time settling in, but after a few minutes, they are fine.

I have wanted to take my Blue Crown, Roscoe, on errands with me, but I have been hesitant to leave him in the car.

ConureCrazy · Jan 12, 2013

I've never heard of using cat carriers before! You mean, the plastic ones with metal mesh sides?

MeganMango · Jan 12, 2013

I took Mango to my aunts house for Christmas in a plastic cat-carrier with a wood perch screwed inside. He came with it, and apparently came on the plane in it when the previous owners "ordered" him from the breeder. He ignored the perch during our trip. Its about a half hour drive, and he was pretty quiet. Dave took him out at one point to let him look out the window and he sat on his shoulder. Overall the whole thing was pretty uneventful. He didnt mind the carrier or the car at all. If we have to go on vacation my aunt will be bird sitting, so I want him to get use to the house and the family. They visit regularly but thats the first time hes been in the car or to her house. He didnt seem phased by it at all. He is a red belly and not quite a year old.

NWQuakers · Jan 12, 2013

We use small cat carriers when our birds need to travel somewhere. Usually short trips, like to the vet, so no perches. They don't mind it at all.

One of my quakers likes car rides though and would rather sit on a seat back or my shoulder and watch the scenery. I used to take him to work with me in a cat carrier & had a T stand for him to hang out on. He'd go back in the carrier when it was nap time or I had something to do & couldn't watch him.

Akraya · Jan 12, 2013

I bought a small dog/cat carrier of ebay that's got soft fleece-like lining on the bottom, my conures took to it straight away. Usually use it for vet visits.

MonicaMc · Jan 13, 2013

I use cat carriers or small cages. Charlie loves any sort of small, dark space! I think he prefers it over his 32x23 cage, in fact...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87OKIVzwfxo]Bedtime Noises - YouTube[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiSy867bpik]Laughing Monster - YouTube[/ame]

A few of the cages/carriers that I've used.

wenz2712 · Jan 13, 2013

I have a Medium sized carrier for Codie which has 2 perches inside and food bowls.

I dont have any problems at all taking him anywhere in it!
In the Summer, I take him in the Garden with me in the carrier and he would, quite happily stay in there all day, just watching everything going on around him.

ConureCrazy · Jan 13, 2013

Yeah, I was think of using a small cage. I think the cat carriers would be too... confined? I guess. I'll get some in the spring and see how it turns out. I just wanted to know if birds were freaked out of the small space.

weco · Jan 13, 2013

All of my birds are great travelers & on long trips, I let them ride on seat backs (yes, I know that's a no-no to some).

When I am just running in & back out of a store, I have locked them in the vehicle & usually find them waiting on the steering wheel when I come out, but you should check your local regulations as some cities/towns have adopted regulations/laws that it is, like with children, against the law to leave pets in an unattended vehicle.

Oh, and the times I do leave a bird in the vehicle, it is 70 degrees or less outside and the windows are cracked.

mrgoogls · Jan 13, 2013

mine is pretty much a normal carrier. all metal bars, a plasic poop tray, and a handle. Cooper doesnt mind at all. he kinda likes it. we take him for rides once in a while just to get him out. in the summer we dont need to use the carrier to get him outside. his cage is close to our sliding glass door so we can roll it out.

henpecked · Jan 13, 2013

I*'m sorry that i didn't read all of the post before mine. I carry my pet with me many places. I have trained her to be in her cdarrier and she thinks of it as home. This should be your goal.Socializing your fid to all types of situations is part of having a companion parrot. If having her comfortable takes carrying he raround in her travel cage , then that's part of your responsibility as a good parront.Her limits are set by you. Don't hold her back, include her all you can.

mrgoogls · Jan 13, 2013

henpecked said:
I*'m sorry that i didn't read all of the post before mine. I carry my pet with me many places. I have trained her to be in her cdarrier and she thinks of it as home. This should be your goal.Socializing your fid to all types of situations is part of having a companion parrot. If having her comfortable takes carrying he raround in her travel cage , then that's part of your responsibility as a good parront.Her limits are set by you. Don't hold her back, include her all you can.

I agree, just by taking your fid for a short ride once in a while is good. Cooper see's his carrier as a mini home. it also helps because if you need to go on a long ride with thtem, they wont be as stressed. like when i have to take Cooper to the store for a grooming, its an hour and a half ride, and he should be fine.

sarafigal · Jan 13, 2013

I've just introduced Cyrus (GCC) to an avian harness. He was VERY dubious at first, but I just put it on him. He nibbles on it until he is distracted by the outdoors. Now we can take walks safely!

Shade · Jan 15, 2013

When we go to my parents or to the vet, I put them in a cat carrier - so light! I did modify mine by screwing in a perch.

If we go out in the summer to get some sun, they are in a smaller cage, although I'm slowly working towards getting everyone an aluminum Kings travel cage. I love how sturdy they are. I have the large for my Cape and already have two mediums for the smaller guys. Need 4 more.

wwendy104 · Jan 15, 2013

My grey has a large cat carrier and is fine with it but the Macaw hates it and its takes a small army to get her into a carrier. Last time we had to take her out we just snuggled her all the way to the vet. She didn't mind that too much!

momto3 · Jan 15, 2013

I think that our birds actually prefer the enclosed space. When we take our Quaker out in the car, she gets much more nervous looking at stuff moving by. We have taken to leaving all of the birds in their carries and just either opening the door to pet them or sticking our fingers in for a scratch. I actually think the carriers that are more open would freak out our birds, but I have only had experience withe the cat carriers, so I really can't say for sure.

Yes, our carriers are actual cat carriers and they are airline approved. We have smaller birds, so I purchased the smallest size. You do have to be careful about the opening size and finding the carrier with the correct size opening was a bit difficult. The perches drill in easily and the birds do perch on them. I like the idea of adding fleece, however. I think I will velcro some fleece to the bottoms and see how it goes. If I velcro it down, then I can switch it out for cleaning.

Alisana · Jan 15, 2013

I rather like the carrier. I'm training Pocket with his atm. He'll occasionally sleep in it too.

Mine is the Perch and Go - you can see it beside his sleep cage in the image above.

I got it online from My Parrot Shop, but it's also available at Parrot Rescue Centre

We're also working on harness training him so I can take him out of his carrier when we go travelling.

Alisana · Jan 15, 2013

momto3 said:
I think that our birds actually prefer the enclosed space. When we take our Quaker out in the car, she gets much more nervous looking at stuff moving by. We have taken to leaving all of the birds in their carries and just either opening the door to pet them or sticking our fingers in for a scratch. I actually think the carriers that are more open would freak out our birds, but I have only had experience withe the cat carriers, so I really can't say for sure.

Yes, our carriers are actual cat carriers and they are airline approved. We have smaller birds, so I purchased the smallest size. You do have to be careful about the opening size and finding the carrier with the correct size opening was a bit difficult. The perches drill in easily and the birds do perch on them. I like the idea of adding fleece, however. I think I will velcro some fleece to the bottoms and see how it goes. If I velcro it down, then I can switch it out for cleaning.

I use tightly woven pet-safe AstroTurf in mine.

It's very easy to wash down. I have about 5 of the squares and switch them out. When he's playing on the top I put a spare at the top, and have one inside as well.

I would also recommend bottle training your birds as well for the carrier. I use one of these: Quick Fill Water Bottle - 300ml - Accessories - My Parrot Shop - Parrot Toys and Parrot Supplies in Australia it saves the hassle of worrying about a water bowl tipping over while driving. Pocket learnt how to use it in under a day.

Carrier? Love, or Hate?

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