Air travel with cockatoo

[Kiwibird]

@getwozzy it would be great if you could send me more photos of the carrier, including the interior. I am going to look into using Delta, but there's one thing I'm concerned about. Their website says that I need documentation proving that both birds were captive born/bred in the U.S.... I don't have proof of that. These guys changed hands so many times before my grandparents even got them that I can't trace their lineage. Mango (the sun conure) has a band, but that doesn't necessarily prove anything. Any thoughts? Is this going to be a problem?

I would contact Delta and explain you inherited these birds, and have no idea about their lineage but "they have been in your family a very long time". Tell them you would be happy to get a vet certificate certifying their health though.

And that policy makes very little sense. What about the many older birds who were LEGALLY imported back in the day? I'm thinking it has more to do with breeders/baby birds being shipped to make sure people aren't smuggling them in illegally.

 

[getwozzy]

Here are more pictures for you...

The front: you can see the metal mesh was cut to fit the door and zip tied in several locations


Door opening- where I marked "zip tie" you can see holes that were drilled-- these were from the zip ties that "locked" the door shut and I had to clip them to get the door open...you can also see the corner is zip tied--this is on each corner


The sides--use stainless steel bolts, nuts, and washers


Inside-- you can see the bolt heads

 

[flapflapglide]

Thanks so much @getwozzy! And thank you to everyone who answered this thread.

I called Delta, and got everything sorted out with them. So much less hassle, they'll accept a regular pet carrier, which I'll reinforce from the outside like how @getwozzy showed, and they don't require a health certificate for birds traveling domestic within the U.S. (so one less time I'll have to squeeze these guys into their carriers). And the customer service representative was SUPER nice and patiently answered all of my 4.5 million (give or take) questions.

Thanks again, all

 

[flapflapglide]

OH, and one more question @getwozzy... if it's not too much trouble, could you give me the dimensions of your carrier? I'm just curious about length and height. Thank you so much!

 

[getwozzy]

Glad to hear you got answers from Delta!

Here are the measurements of the crate:
10"wide x 12"tall x 19"long

Make sure the metal mesh is stainless steel- you don't want to use galvanized...

 

[flapflapglide]

Thanks so much! You're awesome!

 

[getwozzy]

You're welcome! You'll have to let us know how the trip went!!

Good luck!

 

[Mishcka]

I do know with united airs pet safe program you can pay extra . I'm not sure how much for birds but I had to have my puppy shipped to me from Texas and I didn't want her in the cargo hold so I payed the ticket price for a human and got her carrier person. That took her on and off the air line and right to me at the air port. That's what I would do if I had to ship my bird. It is very pricy but we'll worth it. My puppy even sat in first class lol I don't even do that !

 

[MonicaMc]

Actually, if you have a bird species that chews, it would make better sense to secure the inside with wire mesh rather than the outside. Otherwise, you might end up with a scene like this!

(source)

I actually took photos from when Jayde arrived. She required a health certificate leaving Ohio, flew from Ohio to Texas, got stuck in Texas overnight, then arrived in Nevada - 24 hrs late, but no worse for wear. The only reinforcement her carrier had was on the door - which was probably a good thing! (not likely to chew through the carrier, but likely to bite! --- I think the airport in Texas actually had to open her cage to give her more food, hence the zip ties on the door were cut)