Transporting your Bird

DuskyEmmitt

New member
May 5, 2014
18
0
Boerne Texas
Parrots
Dusky Conure
Hello. I am the new owner of a 7 month old Dusky Conure.

As part of the purchase agreement, I need to take him to the vet in the next day or so. I was curious how you guys transport your birds? He is not comfortable enough to ride openly yet (i dont think). Do you take their entire cage? Buy a travel cage? Put them back in that awful box they give you at the pet store?

I will also likely take him to my grandparents when we go out of town in July. They have owned birds in the past, and are really anxious to bird sit for me. I would like to let him go visit a time or two before hand. When I take him, I would likely take his entire cage set up too.

What is the best way to transport these guys?

Thanks!
 

TessieB

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Nov 3, 2013
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I transport my birds in a cat carrier. They have different models to chose from. You might like the ones that open in the front. Or the ones that open on the top. They do make transport cages for larger birds, although some folks will use a dog crate. However those giant beaks can wreck havoc on the cheap ones. I say if it can't hold a pit bull
it can't hold a Macaw! Always remember to secure the carrier with the seatbelts just incase.

Congratulations on your new pet and thanks for stopping by!
 
OP
D

DuskyEmmitt

New member
May 5, 2014
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Boerne Texas
Parrots
Dusky Conure
  • Thread Starter
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  • #3
I transport my birds in a cat carrier. They have different models to chose from. You might like the ones that open in the front. Or the ones that open on the top. They do make transport cages for larger birds, although some folks will use a dog crate. However those giant beaks can wreck havoc on the cheap ones. I say if it can't hold a pit bull
it can't hold a Macaw! Always remember to secure the carrier with the seatbelts just incase.

Congratulations on your new pet and thanks for stopping by!

Awesome! Not sure why I hadn't thought about that. We have a cat carrier in the garage.

Do you put a perch type thing in there for them, or just let them sit on the floor of the carrier? I always feel bad when they slide around everywhere with the movement of the car.
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
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College Station, Texas
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Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
The cat carriers that breeders use to ship birds in have a perch in there with some bedding. Shredded paper or flat newspaper is fine.

Cut perch width wise to fit, drill holes in carrier and ends of perch, and screw in securely.

I'd always have a bird in a carrier going to the vet. In fact, most vet offices require it. It's for safety reasons.
 

veimar

New member
Feb 5, 2014
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Chicago, IL
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gcc Parry; lovebird Coco; 3 budgies (Tesla, Franky and Cesar); cockatiel Murzik, red rump parakeet girl Onyx
What kinda box they gave you? Is it really that bad? :) I got my conure from Petsmart and they gave us a good sturdy carrier box with holes and handles - I still keep it just in case. You can just buy a carrier as other people are suggesting.
 

Kiwibird

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2012
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1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
I prefer a small cage personally, but for a one time vet visit, the cat carrier will work. Make sure to clean it well. If you won't be transporting a cat in it again, drill holes in the sides and then cut down a wood dowel to make a "perch". Be sure to purchase STAINLESS screws, as the inexpensive zinc variety are highly toxic to parrots if he were to get his beak on it. You can line it with an old towel or cut down newspaper to size.

However, for the future, you may want to buy one of those cheap budgie cages for an emergency transport cage. Since your bird won't be living in it, you can get just big enough that his tail doesn't touch the bottom, but you don't need to worry about it being spacious or roomy. The reason I prefer cages to carriers for car trips is most birds will use their foot to hang onto the bars for balance when you go around corners or stop suddenly. They have no such option in a cat carrier. Plus, they can see out of a cage, and I think most birds do better when they can see whats going on rather than hear all these scary noises and feel motion, but have no visual on whats happening around them.
 

mtdoramike

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Jan 18, 2011
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Jayyj

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Apr 28, 2013
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UK
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Alice - Galah cockatoo
I have this for Alice: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Perch-Clear-View-Carrier-Travel/dp/B002EO1OIW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399360874&sr=8-1&keywords=parrot+travel+carrier]Amazon.com : Perch and Go Clear View Bird Carrier and Travel Cage : Pet Toys : Pet Supplies[/ame]. It looks great but has a significant disadvantage over a cage in that there's very little she can grip with her beak, so I've created a complex webbing of sisal rope across the top to help her maneuver about inside. She's not crazy about it but will allow herself to be put into it, whereas the cat carrier I had previously I had to towel her to get her inside, which is not the greatest start to a traumatic vet visit. I'm trying to get her used to travelling generally rather than just vet visits, so hopefully she'll get used to it pretty quickly.
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
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DuskyEmmitt

New member
May 5, 2014
18
0
Boerne Texas
Parrots
Dusky Conure
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #10
What kinda box they gave you? Is it really that bad? :) I got my conure from Petsmart and they gave us a good sturdy carrier box with holes and handles - I still keep it just in case. You can just buy a carrier as other people are suggesting.


It is probably the same. I kept it, I just feel bad putting him in a closed up cardboard box. He was kind of freaked out when we got him home and opened it.

Thanks for all of the suggestions!
 

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