Moving 7 birds from NY to TX

I just found out that I'm going to be moving from my hometown in New York to Austin, Texas sometime this summer. All seven birds (and my cat!) will be making the trip with me and my boyfriend. We're going to be driving down, and trading off so that we won't have to stop for the night. It's about a 26 hour drive (not including rest stops) and I am very nervous about not only moving to a new place, but the actual trip down there with my flock.

I want to start preparing them (and myself) for this now and I would really appreciate some help!
I'm assembling a list of things that I need to have in the van for them, including food, water and medical supplies. I'm going to start taking them all on short car rides and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to think of what else I need to cover to make this journey as stress-free as possible for everyone.

Of course I am also worrying about making their adjustment to a new home as easy as possible. This is probably going to be very stressful on them all, so any suggestions for ways to help them de-stress after the move would be beyond amazing.

Ginger is good or nausea control (including travel sickness), and a little chamomile tea is old or calming stress.
Besides that good luck! That's a big jump.

I'd get them used to parrot travel cages, as I would not have them in their cages during the drive.

I truly think they will be fine. Bring bottled water, their regular food, some containers with chop that you could keep in an ice box, plenty of paper towels.

Hello, we have taken Plum on hols and done 6ish hour journeys with short stops.

It does seem to make him very tired and for the following day.

Make them as stable and as comfortable as possible in their travel cages. Check them frequently and be prepared and open to the fact that you may have to rest up if they need it.
Have you researched an AV at the other end ready just in case. 'Cos you have it means you prob wont need it, the other way round and you will!

Wish you luck with your journey and your new life, exciting !!

Unless you and your BF are long haul travelers, a 30 hour trip is a major undertaking. You likely have youth of your side, but it will still be wearing. If you are lucking, you will be able to make the entire trip without stopping. However, I would plan a stop, available money, etc... so that if you need too, you can. We have done the MI to FL snowbird thing and have driven several times without stopping. Other trips for any number of reasons required an overnight stay.

I am guess, that you are having your 'stuff' shipping separately. If true, really keep the Van as lightly loaded as possible. Pack the Van for what you need to 3 days maybe 4 days for everyone. Regardless of whether you make it without an overnight or life requires three nights on the road (stuff happens), you will have the supplies needed and the room to move things around. Some individuals may not like their location and you will need to have the room to move them around as needed.

Long haul trips in the summer builds heat into the tires and assuring that they are ready for this kind of trip is important (air pressure). If your tires are eight years or older (see date code on the sidewall) and/or lite on tread, buy new prior to your trip. Buy your tires from a store that also will complete a four wheel alignment included with the tire buy. Also check the spare and know where it and its support tools are located. Load your Van with the understanding that you may need to change a tire. The older the Van, the more a good mechanical review will be needed. See above regarding a longer trip than planned.

I will let others join in regarding your parrots. At present, my is demanding their time, so got to go!

Totally agree with all of the above, and please consider Sailboat's suggestions. You have precious cargo onboard, including yourselves of course!

Austin is an awesome town, one of my favorites in Texas!!

Fitted bedsheets over the car seats will cut a lot of mess, you can throw them in the laundry when you get to your destination. Make sure food cups are secured in case you have to hit the breaks hard. Buckle your parrot's cages/carriers in! Watch to see if they will eat/drink while the van is moving. Sometimes they won't, they wait until the vehicle is stopped.

Make sure one of their main perches is positioned from windshield to windshield, they will have better balance than if it's positioned side to side. Only use minimal toys in travel cage, and ones that won't hurt them if you are in an accident.

My conure has been with me across country 3 times, once east to west and twice north to south, and my pi a time or two as well. We were all in an accident due to black ice too! Buckled and safe, a little shaken up but no worse for the wear

Thank you all for the advice!

I do want to add that we will be renting a vehicle to drive down with, with our stuff going down separately. We are moving to follow my boyfriend's job down there when it moves (hopefully in July), and luckily he has been getting a ton of long distance driving in. Part of his job is to travel around the country for conventions, which almost always involves him driving the company van. He just recently drove with a coworker to Houston, and he regularly drives across NYS to his old college town to visit friends. But we will be preparing to stop (just not at a hotel for the night, as of right now at least) and I plan to pack enough food and supplies for the animals for at least three days, just in case. The boyfriend is very reasonable and we will be discussing every aspect of what the birds and my cat will be needing, or possibly needing, while on the road.

I will be looking at avian vets in the area soon, probably when I'm looking at doctors for myself there before we head down. I'm also hoping to take everyone in to our current AV shortly before we leave to make sure everyone is healthy enough for the trip. Definitely going to be strapping everyone down as securely as possible in the car, and I'm working on buying better food and water bowls for travel. Also going to upgrade the budgies' travel carrier. Anyone have any luck modifying a regular cat carrier with perches and the like for small birds?

The fitted sheet idea is GREAT. I was just going to use towels, but since it'll be a rental, the sheets are an even better idea.

Again, thank you all so much!

Lullx said:

Thank you all for the advice!

I do want to add that we will be renting a vehicle to drive down with, with our stuff going down separately. We are moving to follow my boyfriend's job down there when it moves (hopefully in July), and luckily he has been getting a ton of long distance driving in. Part of his job is to travel around the country for conventions, which almost always involves him driving the company van. He just recently drove with a coworker to Houston, and he regularly drives across NYS to his old college town to visit friends. But we will be preparing to stop (just not at a hotel for the night, as of right now at least) and I plan to pack enough food and supplies for the animals for at least three days, just in case. The boyfriend is very reasonable and we will be discussing every aspect of what the birds and my cat will be needing, or possibly needing, while on the road.

I will be looking at avian vets in the area soon, probably when I'm looking at doctors for myself there before we head down. I'm also hoping to take everyone in to our current AV shortly before we leave to make sure everyone is healthy enough for the trip. Definitely going to be strapping everyone down as securely as possible in the car, and I'm working on buying better food and water bowls for travel. Also going to upgrade the budgies' travel carrier. Anyone have any luck modifying a regular cat carrier with perches and the like for small birds?

The fitted sheet idea is GREAT. I was just going to use towels, but since it'll be a rental, the sheets are an even better idea.

Again, thank you all so much!

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No but have a small dog crate. Works fine.

Sound you've gotten some good advice. Get the travel cages and start using them now. I have made many long trips with birds and even moved 60 parrots from NC to Fla. I used to do the bird fair circuits selling birds and learned as lot about travelling with birds. I'd supply things like apple, grape, etc instead of depending on water. Sure water them when you stop. I see you have a tiel, traveling with birds like tiels and parakeets means you have to deal with "night frights" . You will need to supply some dim light at night or will arrive with a bloody mess.

I forgot about night frights! My tiel has had a few, but not recently so it completely slipped my mind. Thank you for the reminder! Should I cover their cages at night while on the road? I assume we'll be mostly traveling on the highways, so I'm not even sure if there will be a lot of light or not. Or do you think the birds would all be more comfortable if they can see at night in the car?

I drove out with five from California to Texas.

I used birdie car seats. I didn't use travel cages. Mine did fine. They love the car.

Birdman666 said:

I drove out with five from California to Texas.

I used birdie car seats. I didn't use travel cages. Mine did fine. They love the car.

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Thanks :21_irked:, you just gave me another project.

If you cover the cages at home then yes, cover them on the road at night. The tiels will need some light. I just left the dome light on and it worked great.

Lullx said:

I forgot about night frights! My tiel has had a few, but not recently so it completely slipped my mind. Thank you for the reminder! Should I cover their cages at night while on the road? I assume we'll be mostly traveling on the highways, so I'm not even sure if there will be a lot of light or not. Or do you think the birds would all be more comfortable if they can see at night in the car?

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Difficult to say really, my budgie used to get really upset about the strobing effect of street lighting in the car, covered he was OK - well until we came to a roundabout and then he'd tell us! How about test runs?