Travelling Parrot?

My only other bird companion was a crow. He went everywhere with me. Traveling between two houses. Camping out. Sleeping on the boat. Never left my side no matter where I went.

I had different cages in each house and a smaller travel cage for in the car. However a crow can be tethered so usually he just sat on my shoulder when outside or in the car.

I'm considering a parrot now and wondering if one can cope with this lifestyle well. Do they object to changes, especially having two houses and two cages. Do parrots like driving? Can they handle freezing temperatures? (Just a short while between the house and the vehicle)

I assume they can't spend time outdoors in the winter, but what about spring and fall when the temp is in the 40s?

Aandeg the crow didn't really like changes but the biggest result was more clinginess, he stuck close to me until he got used to a new environment.

Can I expect similar behavior from a parrot? I'm looking at a small to medium sized bird like a conure. Are there species that are more compatable to traveling? Or species that I should avoid who prefer to stay home?

Aandeg said:

My only other bird companion was a crow. He went everywhere with me. Traveling between two houses. Camping out. Sleeping on the boat. Never left my side no matter where I went. My birds have all travelled here since I got them, some almost 1,800 miles at a time, but all go on shopping trips with me, so yes, mine like to travel, however I'm not a big camping fan any more, having gotten spoiled to the amenities offered by hotels with soft beds, showers & clean sheets, but there are members here who are avid campers, even sleeping on the ground in tents.....

I had different cages in each house and a smaller travel cage for in the car. However a crow can be tethered so usually he just sat on my shoulder when outside or in the car. Except on overnight trips or if they will be in the vehicle longer than an hour, I usually don't take cages with me.....

I'm considering a parrot now and wondering if one can cope with this lifestyle well. Do they object to changes, especially having two houses and two cages. Do parrots like driving? Can they handle freezing temperatures? (Just a short while between the house and the vehicle) You're the only person who can answer about your abilities to cope with the changes necessary to being owned by a parrot and yes, there will be changes you'll have to endure.....

As a rule, no, most species of parrots cannot handle freezing temperatures well...however short distances inside your coat or in a well covered cage between house and vehicle works for my birds.....but this is not true with all species.....it depends on the individual bird.....

I assume they can't spend time outdoors in the winter, but what about spring and fall when the temp is in the 40s? If the 40s are Farenheit, yes, they can become used to those temperatures, but 40 degrees celsius would be too hot.....

Aandeg the crow didn't really like changes but the biggest result was more clinginess, he stuck close to me until he got used to a new environment. Parrots are adaptable, but like Andeg, prefer routine.....

Can I expect similar behavior from a parrot? I'm looking at a small to medium sized bird like a conure. Are there species that are more compatable to traveling? Or species that I should avoid who prefer to stay home?

Click to expand...

The best way to get a bird used to travelling is to take it on short trips, to the market & similar and while in the vehicle, if it is to be in a cage, have the cage positioned so that the bird can see all around and not covered.....I have had various conures, cockatiels and parrotlets, with all having travelled with no problems.....


Good luck.....

That depends on the individual bird! My amazon is a very adventurous bird, has been since we adopted him. He loves being in the car, he loves riding the train, he loves going to the park, into shops, (small) outdoor festivals... If I'm grabbing the keys, he's hanging off the side of his cage wanting to get into his bird backpack to come with lol. In comparison, my mom has 2 amazons who are BOTH petrified of leaving the house. They panic in the car, and besides necessary vet trips or sitting on the patio in the summer, she doesn't take them out of the house. It would be cruel to do so, as they are very frightened of new environments.

While there aren't any guarantees on how a bird will be, I would probably look into a baby who could most likely learn from a young age to love being out with you. I've seen plenty of people with conures out and about in public, so they would probably be a good species to look at. I've never owned one, but they seem like (for the most part) friendly little birds who aren't afraid of too much once they've learned to trust you. I STRONGLY suggest any bird who will be out a lot to be on a harness (hopefully the harness-trained bird owners can chime in with the best brands) or in a backpack (this is the brand we use to carry our zon around and it was worth every penny! Very high quality and protects him while out and about. They make sizes for conures too! Celltei Pak-o-Bird - the high quality light-weight carrier for your birds and parrots)

In general, parrots should not be exposed to cold temperatures unless absolutely necessary. It's even worse when they go from a warm environment to a cold one (such as walking outside or from a car to a building). That makes them very susceptible to illness. The 60's is about as cold as you would want to bring your bird out in unless it was some kind of emergency. I know some people acclimate their parrots to cold weather, but I've only seen it with the larger birds (like macaws) and personally think it's a risky move. Parrots are tropical creatures and not designed for cold weather!

Thanks for the replies. They kind of reinforce what I already guessed. I figured a tropical bird wouldn't do well outdoors in the winter. If it's cold I'd cover him/her and go straight to a pre-warmed vehicle. Or out to the office.

Kiwibird, do you think the deference between your bird and your mom's is because of how they were treated when young? Will a young bird exposed to different environs like being out and about more, or is it more up to the individuals' temperament? I'd hate to have a bird like your mom's and try to force him out. That's my biggest fear in this situation.

I'd definitely try to halter train a parrot. I hear that can be difficult. Aandeg took a while to warm up to attaching tethers. Eventually he got used to wearing them but never much liked when I was actually attaching them. He could be a pretty stubborn bird too.

He was much easier to train outside in a new area. He concentrated on me much better if away from familiar surroundings. Does a parrot react the same way. Is it a good idea to have a seperate training room?

This is Aandeg in my little truck.




oops, he's sideways

Kiwi was locked in a one of those plastic cat carriers (like you'd take a cat or small dog to a vet in) for many years before we adopted him because the prior owner feared him. From the moment we put him in the car to drive him home, he took right to it. I personally think he was just really happy not to be in a cat crate anymore and made an instant positive association with the car and the wider world. It took years before he could come out into public where there were lots of strange people around, but he's been going to family gatherings, on drives where we didn't get out of the car, and outside in the yard pretty much since we got him. My moms birds have always been in a loving home, she's had them their entire lives. She just never took them out unless they needed to see a vet, so I think a big part is they never learned positive associations with the car. They have always been indoor pets and are quite happy as such. They have a large cage outside on the covered patio they sit in during the summer, but that's the extent of their exploration of the world.

I think if you were to get a young bird, and it learned from a young age to make positive associations with going out, being on a harness, riding in the car ext... most likely the bird would learn that as it's "normal". And no, winter weather and parrots are simply not conducive. They may be able to grow a little extra down in during the cold months, but not to the extent birds native to cold climates can.

Edit: If harness training doesn't work out (some birds just don't like it), don't discount a backpack. They are really convenient and make the bird feel secure and also prevent rude idiots who try to touch the bird before asking from getting bit and suing you (that is my biggest fear, bird are prey animals and can inflict bad bites if they feel threatened, though a conure is much smaller than a zon). This was Kiwi hanging out at a water feature in downtown Portland this summer. He enjoyed his lunch and watching al the kids splash in the water

Kiwibird, what's to prevent him from hopping out of there and flying into the trees? Especially if he's frightened by a child or dog or something? The backpack looks great for transporting but not so safe for restraining. Am I missing something?

Right now i just have a budgie. The backpack might be overkill for him. But I'm researching for a larger bird and that pack will definitely be on my shopping list. Thanks.

Kiwi can't fly and not much phases him anyways. Probably not recommended to open it if your bird is flighted, I probably should have specified that. The backpack zips up for flighted birds and the mesh is totally see through for them