Pak o Bird in Medium Modified CAG size

[SammyAndyAlex]

I recently purchased a Celltei Pak o Bird backpack in the Medium Modified CAG size for Sammy (Jardine) and my to-be-purchased CAG.

For Jardines the Small size is recommended but because I will purchase a CAG next year, it would be stupid to buy an expensive carrier that only fits one of the birds! (Obviously, only one of them will be inside the carrier at a time) I hope you enjoy the pictures. I will upload more pictures

Here are pictures/video:
1. From inside the Pak o Bird (GoPro attached to the metal support bar - taken with voice command)


2. Pictures of Sammy in the carrier https://photos.app.goo.gl/h3NoaTUudpvMhbBT9 (too big to actually upload to website, link takes to google photos)

3. Video of Sammy during our walk:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1PBbgCHlQc&t=12s"]Sammy falls in Pak o Bird Parrot Backpack - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Scott]

Fantastic video and pics! I need to get one of these for my Goffins!

 

[SammyAndyAlex]

Fantastic video and pics! I need to get one of these for my Goffins!

I highly recommend it! They are very pricey but it shows when it comes to the quality.

In the video (at approx. 0:30) Sammy spots a piece of his favorite treat on the floor. He decided to try to reach it - and falling. As I had the backpack on I didnt see it, but he quickly got the treat and climbed back to the perch.

I plan on using it more for the CAG - as he (dont know if its going to be a he or she but will use he for convenience) will most likely not be harness trained and I want to stand desensitising him to city life as soon as possible. He will be able to see both me and Sammy and see that there is nothing to fear when being outside.

I have also purchased a diving case for the GoPro - this way the CAG wont be able to bite on the camera (Sammy is too short to bite it).

 

[ChristaNL]

Ha- I loved watching that!
and thank you for solving a dilemma -> the treat-ball is pure genious.
I have them for the cages but never though of putting it in the backpak!
(it's my brand of autism - sometimes I am not very creative, but I recognize a good thing when I see it!)


When I got my fake-o-bird the branch was wrapped in rope for better grip by the previous owner - I find the standard branch a bit too flimsy for the CAG's feet ( looks good for the Jardine though) so I agreed with that decision.

Your little guy looks wonderfull on his "moving perch".

 

[SammyAndyAlex]

Ha- I loved watching that!
and thank you for solving a dilemma -> the treat-ball is pure genious.
I have them for the cages but never though of putting it in the backpak!
(it's my brand of autism - sometimes I am not very creative, but I recognize a good thing when I see it!)


When I got my fake-o-bird the branch was wrapped in rope for better grip by the previous owner - I find the standard branch a bit too flimsy for the CAG's feet ( looks good for the Jardine though) so I agreed with that decision.

Your little guy looks wonderfull on his "moving perch".

Sammy enjoys the cage. I think the perch also will work for a CAG - remains to be seen. If not I will be able to change the perch to a thicker diameter or wrap it in sisal rope or (what i've heard is a good option) vet-wrap (aka self adhesive medical wrap to use on animal casts and slints).

Funny thing about the treat ball - it's by far his easiest foraging toy, due to the very big holes. This morning he deicded that the holes werent big enough and unscrewed the ball into two halves - I was amazed and surprised he even knew how it worked!

Tip: When attaching a heavier toy, also attach it to the floor to avoid it hitting the parrot. The Celltei Pak-o-Bird has four D-rings on top and four on the bottom of the carrier to secure the toys. If yours doesnt have this feature I would recommend doing some sort of a DIY setup (such as tying thin cotton/sisal rope around the flooring and attaching the toy with a second clip).

AND for this particular toy I had to place a third metal clip for the ball to sit on, as it otherwise would drop to the bottom - defeating it's purpose as it would be out of reach from the perch!

Out of curiosity - what brand is your fake? I originally considered getting NorthernParrots ripoff but eventually decided to go with the original due to the high number of positive reviews (and honestly, the prive difference wasnt THAT much 149GBP vs 199GBP (Medium non-CAG) and 229GBP (Medium CAG).

Sammy is very used to being outside on my shoulder in his harness so he isnt bothered by the up and down motion - although I doubt my CAG (to be purchased in approx. April next year) will be as forgiving of the motions.

 

[ChristaNL]

I got the chance of buying a secondhand Northern Parrots one - it's not in use (yet) because I am still figuring how to patch a hole in the "gauze/ fine metal mesh" - it looks like someone saw it lying flat and took a chomp.

The POB unfolds flat all the way like a fold-in box, the Northers Parrots has stiffended side pannels that completely hinge to the sides as well, but the "main" part is like a piece of tube or a cylinder (with the large door and cover attached to it of course).
There is also a detachable square bottom-part (velcro) and two cute little pouches (also velcro) that hold 2 metal cups.

All in all it makes me smile, it so resembles going camping; the small sturdy cups (so not staying place, I expect, I've seen my greys in action...) and the way the side pannels form the frame of the tent. There are 2 bands that go on the inside to protect the zippers and add extra sturdyness.

I am not sure if it is a ripp-off, when you go for a practical design...it's hard to come up with another solution.
Esp. if you go for light, sturdy and easy cleaning ...
There have been - full leather- versions going around looking a lot like these for centuries; mostly meant for ferrets; the birds of prey where on open racks/ perches on peoples backs (or even horses) -> because well, people or hygiene did not matter, so getting others covered in poo was acceptable, I gues?

The pictures of nobles with a bird on their fist may look good, but riding around with a few pounds of pissed off raptor on your arm is no fun ...that was where the assistants came in handy
Pretty much the same reason we want a pack-o-parrot: we want our birds comfortable and safe, yet near us without getting anyone else endangered.

I wanted a POB, but will try this before possibly having to sell a kidney to pay for one and only then find out my birds hate it

 

[SammyAndyAlex]

I wanted a POB, but will try this before possibly having to sell a kidney to pay for one and only then find out my birds hate it

That was the reason I was hesitant, too!

Oh and If you are planing on getting one, all of the different resellers in the EU are listed on celltei's website. I bought mine from Garden Feathers UK. They had the most affordable prices (as i still had to pay for shipping as I don't live in the UK (or a country with a reseller)).

If your birds are harness trained I doubt it will be a problem, but Greys are known for their unwillingness to change things (this is why I refer to them as the autistic parrot species (not meant to be offensive, autistic people also typically do not like change. at all.))

Depending on the size of the hole you might also be able to cover it with large washers (the round metal plates with a small hole in the middle placed on both sides of a perch) with a small bolt + nut.

Kind of like this:
https://laughingkidslearn.com/wp-co...nuts-and-bolts-and-washers-e1438088740413.jpg

but with two very large washers (approx 4cm in diameter) and a short bolt.

The composition would be: Bolt, washer, netting with hole in the middle, washer and the wingnut/nut (tightened).

 

[ChristaNL]

I am almost never offended about autism-related-remarks (unless people use it as a reason to be somehow more entitled than others)- I always joke I am at least as autistic as my greys, maybe it's a match made in heaven ... who knows.

Glad you came up with the washer-bolt construction.
I will have to try this and see how well the rest of the mesh holds up (I can poke my pinky through that hole) I was even considerering to see if I could find something mecano-pieces-like (more holes = less weight), your idea might just do a better job- less material to grip with a curious beak.

Once again: Thank you!


Appie is nuts (pardon the pun) about everything resembling a box (she demanded to play in the catcarier again today) and Japie is almost unfazed about everything.
(Not very fond of the carier though- he did not enjoy his last CAV appointment)


Great tip about the resellers, I thought I had to buy them directly form the Celtei people; I can order them from an e-shop in NL, but they only have the small and medium (and Japie is too big for the medium).

 

[SammyAndyAlex]

If the hole is about the size of a pinky, I would recon a 2 to 3 cm diameter for the washer will work. You probably have a few of them attached to your perches at home, so you might not even have to go to the hardware store.


Also here is Celltei's official list of retailers. The largest size available from Garden Feathers is Medium. I did compile a list of the resellers in the Netherlands that sell the size Medium-Large (one size up from the Medium, which is typically recommended for CAGs).

https://www.celltei.com/info-n-help/Celltei-Retailers.html

Looking though the list TWO resellers in the Netherlands sell the Medium-Large size (aka one size up from the Medium) link: https://www.avonturiashop.nl/cellte...large.html?search_query=pak-o-bird&results=27
and
https://www.papegaaien.org/4-Papegaaien-rugzak-Celltei-Medium/Large

I remember as I compared the prices and shipping costs from the different websites. If you live in the Netherlands you should get free shipping on the items, though.

 

[SammyAndyAlex]

Also: Sammy is typically fine being where ever that I place him but he was quite sceptical of the PoB for the first night. As soon as he understood that the easiest foraging toy (filled with his favorite treat) was hanging in the PoB he went into it multiple times and stayed inside of it for upwards of 30 minutes just eating his treats.

So if your Greys have a special treat, just have an "unlimited" (within reason) supply of it inside the PoB and the suspicion just melts away (at least it did for Sammy)

 

[ChristaNL]

Wow, you are a genious!

 

[ChristaNL]

The washer-bolt solution worked a treat!
Thank you again! :60: (big thank you hug)

Now I am facing another challenge: the rotating perch.

Appie was my guinee-pig and was brave enough to try to step up ... and fell over -> the ****dy thing rotates! (around its axis).
I've been looking for answers - and though I found more complaints of that nature (at the northern parrots site, not POB), nobody offered a solution.
Probably some other (wing) nuts are needed as well (or add more washers?).
(the designy ones that come with the backpack are closed at the end, so cannot seem to tighten enough)
So that is the next step.


so:
I'd highjack this thread a bit more so people are aware this can happen!

 

[SammyAndyAlex]

The washer-bolt solution worked a treat!
Thank you again! :60: (big thank you hug)

Now I am facing another challenge: the rotating perch.

Appie was my guinee-pig and was brave enough to try to step up ... and fell over -> the ****dy thing rotates! (around its axis).
I've been looking for answers - and though I found more complaints of that nature (at the northern parrots site, not POB), nobody offered a solution.
Probably some other (wing) nuts are needed as well (or add more washers?).
(the designy ones that come with the backpack are closed at the end, so cannot seem to tighten enough)
So that is the next step.


so:
I'd highjack this thread a bit more so people are aware this can happen!

One thing you could try is to simply remove the built in perch (based on the pictures ive seen of the northern parrot backpack it should be possible) and either replace the cap with washers and a (wing)nut or attach your own perch with washers and (wing)nuts.

I think that adding your own perch would be the easiest solution, but it depends on how easy/hard it is to change the red cap thingy at the end of the perch (outside of carrier) to more handy wingnuts that actually are more practical.

 

[ChristaNL]

Oh that is very easy = I think they were actually designed to be easily removable knobs.
I haven't gotten around to swapping them with winged ones (they must be here somewhere)

If this does not work I can always ad an extra 'leg' or two inside the carier to stabilize the perch that way (make a triangle base so it will not rotate anymore).