Riding in cars with birds

I was travelling this weekend and took the birds. They travel pretty well, too.

Well, Lucky the B&G was riding quietly, but bumps in the road would cause her to move around a bit. And although the travel cage is large enough to accomodate her tailfeathers, certain movements would cause them to rub the cage.

Anyway, against my own better judgement, I decided to see what she'd do riding up from with me while I drove (I know, somewhat risky, but she is an older bird and not given to too much craziness). I figured she'd climb around on my lap and over to my wife in the passenger seat (bench seat in truck). Well, to my surprise, she just perched on my lap for about 3 hours. Didn't get disruptive or panicky. Just sat on my lap! ...and she waited for us to stop before using the bathroom on the grass!

Anyone else brave enough to try this? This is the way to go for me now, when I need to transport the bird. She was much more relaxed after the trip and I think this is important.

I know I'll probably get some constructive criticism here and that's fine.

We take them for rides all the time and they love it!. They perch on the back of the seat or on our shoulder .... I know ... you're not suppose to put them on your shoulder .... but try telling them that :54: LOL. The macaws will tell the drivers "hi!" when stopped at the stop lights ... people really get excited seeing a large parrot in person. They know when we say "go bye-bye" it means a car ride and they get so excited. We have alot of fun.

I'm not sure car rides and African Greys go well together. Maybe it's just their conservative nature. Gandalf HATED car rides, even though I would try to calm him down with soft talk. He would walk do a nervous loop-d loop from the bottom to the top of his cage, over and over, for hours if I let him.

But it sounds like your macaws love it!! Lucky birds.

I travel a lot with my whole family of animals and we travel short and long distances 4 1/2 hours drive, we even bought a 9 seater to accommodate them all and let them be comfortable.

They are like children, unpredictable. Today they sit still and stare out the window and tomorrow they think the steering wheel turning is a toy and wants to play with it. Even the gears and swinging keys can be a too big temptation. but only sometimes.

I have found that the best is to always be prepared. Have the cage ready when those temptations get too much. Other times appreciate and capture the moment when they are interested with the things outside the car instead of inside.

Good advice! I will keep the cage handy. Most trips I'll have it anyway because I'll be staying overnight. But the out and back trips I hadn't considered.

But like I mentioned, I think the bird enjoyed the trip quite a bit more out of the cage. As long as she doesn't try to take over the wheel, she can hang out on the seat or on my lap.

nofearengineer said:

I'm not sure car rides and African Greys go well together. Maybe it's just their conservative nature. Gandalf HATED car rides, even though I would try to calm him down with soft talk. He would walk do a nervous loop-d loop from the bottom to the top of his cage, over and over, for hours if I let him.

But it sounds like your macaws love it!! Lucky birds.

Click to expand...

You are right, the macaws that I have known do love car rides. If you ever want to go on holiday with Gandalf then it would be best to travel at night. You put him to bed like always - cover the cage with a blanket, carry the sleep cage to the car and move the chairs so that the cage is firmly secured between the front and the back one. If you cant do that then pack it secure. I have found that it is the least stressful method.

I used to have Hugo on the shoulder rest behind me - I couldnt put him in his cage because I couldnt stand it upright in the car...I had a travel box with him but he used to work himself into a panic. Im just as guilty as you - lol. So glad that he travelled ok and enjoyed himself - so important

AndrewH said:

But like I mentioned, I think the bird enjoyed the trip quite a bit more out of the cage. As long as she doesn't try to take over the wheel, she can hang out on the seat or on my lap.

Click to expand...

Oh she definitely did enjoy it being free. Just imagine being on your lap and say for instance the traffic is heavy and she gets bored. The wheel keeps turning, the keys are dangling - will you be able to resist playing with those toys?

I take dusty on vacation trips with my family all the time. I find that he travels a lot better when he is out of his travel cage. He likes to sit on my lap and look out the window when we are driving. When he is in his cage he tends to scream a lot and get panicky.

Sam sits on my shoulder and Gem takes the seat belt's shoulder strap between the window and my left shoulder. They love every thing about the car and are excellent companions. That said I (in my rare sane moments ) know that driving my car with the conure equivalent of the blues brothers free to engage in whatever at bird whim is probably insane on my part.The potential for disaster ranges from shutting a parrot in a car door to an emergency stop smacking an unrestrained bird with multiplied force against a hard surface. The distraction quotient is also substantial. All that said I still do it because I like their company and they love the outings even if the trip occasionally ends at the vet's. So yes I do it and no it probably not one of my wiser moves.

Your all crazy bird brains! lol Jkjk Personally I would be too scared to let my birdie free in the car...although I am also too scared to drive myself so that probably has something to do with it

Beilana said:

Your all crazy bird brains! lol Jkjk

Click to expand...

Guilty on all counts. I also (you might want to sit down for this part) answer my hands free cell phone in car and have been known to apply lipstick at a red light. NONE of this is the Hallmark of a prudent driver yet somehow I have managed 40 years of driving without causing an accident. (I am knocking on wood---my skull---as I write this. I have to admit though ...for someone as paranoid about my birds as I readily admit to being, my taking them unrestrained in the car is pretty illogical. :54:

bogo1 said:

Beilana said:

Your all crazy bird brains! lol Jkjk

Click to expand...

Guilty on all counts. I also (you might want to sit down for this part) answer my hands free cell phone in car and have been known to apply lipstick at a red light. NONE of this is the Hallmark of a prudent driver yet somehow I have managed 40 years of driving without causing an accident. (I am knocking on wood---my skull---as I write this. I have to admit though ...for someone as paranoid about my birds as I readily admit to being, my taking them unrestrained in the car is pretty illogical. :54:

Click to expand...

LOL! You are a professional multi-tasker I can hardly talk on the phone while doing anything. And to apply lipstick I need a mirror and full on concentration hehe

I only let Dusty out of his travel cage during trips when someone other than myself is driving. Dusty is comfortable with me, so he stays put on my lap and looks out the window. If anyone else tries to hold him in the car he freaks out much like he does when he is in his travel cage. So i feel better keeping him in his travel cage where he is safer should he get spooked when i am not available to hold him.

Makes sense to me....