Cage Freight

[Karigan]

Any tips on how to accustom a bird to a small travel cage? I put Kito in one today to see how she would do, but she flipped out and panicked. I'd hate for her to damage her wings.

 

[upcgirl]

Did you put anything she is used to in her travel cage? I have a small fully open cage for Max. (She can see every angle) and I have similar food and water dishes in her travel carrier, as well as a couple toys. Definitely put a soft toy in Kito's carrier, just so when you travel, a toy doesn't hurt her.

I put Max in hers at least 2-3 times a week, if not every day. I use the carrier to take Max outside. Perhaps, you can try this with Kito so she can get used to her carrier and enjoy the outdoors

 

[upcgirl]

I don't know what kind of carrier you have, but this is the one I am using for Max...

Bird Travel & Outdoors: bird Travel Home Carrier at Drs. Foster & Smith

I purchased the large sized one.

 

[melinda]

Put the travel cage near her cage for a couple of days. Give her the chance to climb on it without trying to put her in it. Put a fav. toy in it. Try to make it fun for her everytime she goes in if its just getting to go outside for two mins or getting a special treat that she only gets when she goes in.

 

[Karigan]

Okay I'll try those tips, thanks!

 

[Printer bird]

We let charlie play on his and put little treats in it. He doesn't like being in there but usually doesn't freak out. Little bits of almonds do wonders with him, he is an almond addict! Try putting fave food in there, let your bird decide on their own to go in after it on their own (no matter how much time it takes) but don't close them in the cage when they do. After a few sessions, you can try closing the cage for a bit and then let them out. Lots of praise, a fave toy in there and lots of treats work wonders. And of course, our friend patience!

 

[freya]

We know we are going to have to introduce Basil to a travel cage at some point..

Our thoughts have been running along the same lines as Melinda suggests..

Letting him gradualy understand that this new thing wont bite or harm him and making it fun and not just getting it out and shoving him as we need to get him to the vet or something..
I think lots of animals (and people)just need time to adjust to new things.

 

[melinda]

When i first got Chloe my cockatoo she wouldn't get in a travel cage without being toweled i ended up driving home with her on my lap when i got her. It took her almost a month before she would go in it on her own. The only time she saw a carrier before i got her is when she got sold to a new owner or to get groomed, so she hated them. After she started going in the carrier and was ok staying in it for 10 mins i started taking her to the store with me. It is only 10 min round trip but she loves to go in and get a peanut from the girls that work there. With the vet and grooming trips thrown in every now and then she doesn't mind jumping in it. She always thinks she is going to the store lol. Just find something your bird likes to do as a reward for going in the travel cage and before you know it every time they see it they are ready to go.