An alternative to the Pak-o-Bird?

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I found this bird backpack carrier on Amazon for $100:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0714KS7LP/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_z1kpCb19XJYQH

It looks very similar to the Pak-o-Bird except that the front is clear instead of mesh. This carrier is half the price of the Pak-o-Bird. What do you think?

 

[clark_conure]

Honestly in a Warm environment it looks like a heat deathtrap. In a cold environment it looks like just the thing for safe parrot travels.

 

[charmedbyekkie]

I wouldn't go hiking with it, but I think for transport in and out of aircon places, it'd be a great alternative!

My main concern is the plastic front - in hot weather, that might get a bit too hot or even slightly softer. Not sure if the side mesh is enough for ventilation or just general airflow.

 

[YSGC]

These sound like useful products for many people.

It's not something Pico and I need however as he travels well on my shoulder.
He crawls into my shirt if cold or when we're in a place I'm not supposed to have a bird, like a restaurant.

When in my shirt he'll stop trying to crawl out of my collar if I prevent it by holding my arn against my chest.
Initially that would get him to struggle, but he quickly learned to just chill and take a nap.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

These sound like useful products for many people.

It's not something Pico and I need however as he travels well on my shoulder.
He crawls into my shirt if cold or when we're in a place I'm not supposed to have a bird, like a restaurant.

When in my shirt he'll stop trying to crawl out of my collar if I prevent it by holding my arn against my chest.
Initially that would get him to struggle, but he quickly learned to just chill and take a nap.

I am working on harness training Kermit so he can go outside without a carrier, but I don’t think Ducky would be willing to wear a harness. The carrier would be used mainly for Ducky but could also be used for Kermit until he’s harness trained (if he isn’t harness trained by the time the weather warms up) or to take any of the birds to the vet. I have metal travel cages but they’re a bit too heavy to walk around with for extended periods of time. Is Pico harness trained? He sounds adorable

 

[bill_e]

There is no alternative to a Pak-o-Bird, there are just other carriers It does look like they copied some of the Celltei features but for me not having the stainless steel mesh would be a deal breaker. Pak-o-Bird also has lots of anti-chew features which I'd have to look at this pack to see how it was made.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

There is no alternative to a Pak-o-Bird, there are just other carriers It does look like they copied some of the Celltei features but for me not having the stainless steel mesh would be a deal breaker. Pak-o-Bird also has lots of anti-chew features which I'd have to look at this pack to see how it was made.

Ducky is not a big chewer and I honestly don’t think she’d be interested at all in chewing the mesh and the sides. One concern I have about the Pak-o-Bird is the amount of light that gets in, and the clear plastic on this carrier seems like it would let more light through and be easier to see out of. I tried one of those soft carriers with small mesh windows and Ducky hated it. She felt constantly trapped inside because it was so dark and enclosed. I’m going to need a bit more convincing before I purchase a Pak-o-Bird. What makes the stainless steel mesh really worth the price?

 

[bill_e]

So it's not only the mesh, it's the whole package quality including all materials, fit and finish, and manufacturing features that protect all stitching and zippers from beaks.

I did some testing and found that the Pak-o-Bird stayed pretty cool, as in had a slow temperature rise when in the sun, and I attribute that to the mesh which is on the front and sides. That carrier with the plastic is going to bake the bird if the sun hits it directly.

I'm not trying to sell you anything, I'm just saying the PB is a quality product and is more likely to keep your bird from escaping than other cloth carriers. Only you can determine the value of that.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I didn’t think you were trying to sell me anything, I just wanted to know some of the pros and cons of the Pak-o-Bird before I make the decision to buy it

If there’s that much of a difference in quality I will definitely end up going for the Pak-o-Bird over that carrier with the plastic. I wouldn’t buy that carrier if there was a danger of my bird possibly overheating and baking in the sun. If I ever got it I wouldn’t use it in hot weather or put it in direct sunlight.

I guess it just looked too good to be true. I got excited that there was a similar carrier available for half the price of the Pak-o-Bird, but unfortunately the safety of the bird is compromised. The PoB is the way to go, even if it’s expensive. The safety of our fids should always be put first.

 

[YSGC]

These sound like useful products for many people.

It's not something Pico and I need however as he travels well on my shoulder.
He crawls into my shirt if cold or when we're in a place I'm not supposed to have a bird, like a restaurant.

When in my shirt he'll stop trying to crawl out of my collar if I prevent it by holding my arn against my chest.
Initially that would get him to struggle, but he quickly learned to just chill and take a nap.

I am working on harness training Kermit so he can go outside without a carrier, but I don’t think Ducky would be willing to wear a harness. The carrier would be used mainly for Ducky but could also be used for Kermit until he’s harness trained (if he isn’t harness trained by the time the weather warms up) or to take any of the birds to the vet. I have metal travel cages but they’re a bit too heavy to walk around with for extended periods of time. Is Pico harness trained? He sounds adorable

Thanks.
No, Pico (my sweetheart) doesn't use a harness.
He doesn't need one.
He's been an on-my-shoulder-outside-go-everywhere bird for 4 years now.
Never a problem.

I keep his wings clipped enough so he can't fly away, even in an adrenaline-fueled panic.
I leave enough primary wing feather(s) so he can gently land safely.

 

[bill_e]

FlyBirdiesFly,
There are certainly other soft sided carriers that you can use to safely take your bird out and those may suit your needs and situation better but I personally would not carry a bird on my back where I couldn't see him and watch what was going on in anything other than a PoB at this time.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

What do you think of the Birdie Gogo? It’s a little bit cheaper than the PoB and it looks like it has more mesh for the bird to see out of. Since it’s made by Celltei I’d assume it will have the same quality materials.

https://www.celltei.com/products/birdie-gogo-small-size.html

 

[charmedbyekkie]

I actually have the Birdie GoGo. Haven't seen the inside of a Pak-o-Bird, so I can't compare. But it's very good in terms of air flow - we live in a hot and humid tropical country, and Cairo doesn't over heat. I love that I can hang a shredding toy inside for him to play with during long car rides and that I can adjust the height of his perch. I can also put in his chop (when we're outside, he typically takes his meals inside his Birdie GoGo), so he sometimes snacks when we're out and about. It's easier enough to cover - I just run a scarf through the handle and spread it across to cover.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

The Birdie Gogo sounds great!! I’ll definitely consider it. I won’t be buying it now since it’s winter and it’s obviously too cold to take my birds outside when the ground is covered in snow.

 

[wrench13]

I have visited the P-o-B factory and watched while they made mine. Un parralleled quality of materials, superior design features and constant searhing for newer and better products makes the P-o-B a worthwhile investment for any parrot owner, Example - the P-o-B unzips and un-velcros so that the whole unit can be laid flat for really thorough, easy cleaning. Removeable hard plastic floor. We love ours , so does Salty.

 

[charmedbyekkie]

Just a note: the Birdie GoGo also unzips/unvelcros to lie flat as well, and it has a removable base. It's incredibly easy to clean.

For me, the Birdie GoGo was a lighter and cheaper option than the Pak-o-Bird. Sure, it doesn't have extra bells and whistles of a Pak-o-Bird, like water bottle holders, curtains, and whatnot. But we carry around his birdie bag (baby bag essentially) with his water and toys and tissues anyway, so it never mattered to us.

I find it quite convenient. It's so fast to quickly unzip a little bit of the front to pop Cairo if we're rushing around, and he likes it being curved, so he can balance his beak against the curve of it.

 

[bill_e]

The pack on Amazon stores flat as well...it seems they copied a lot of the PoB.

I never store mine, I keep it ready all year long for a quick exit in case I need one....had to use it like that once.

 

[charmedbyekkie]

I just realised there aren't any Birdie GoGo videos, so let me know if you want me to make one for you to see before you make a decision. There's a lot of Pak-o-Bird videos you can compare, then decide which one is best for you after viewing.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I would love a video! I think I’m leaning towards a Birdie Gogo because I don’t really need all the extra features. The Gogo is lighter and less bulky and the bird has a wider range of view. Thank you everyone for your input

 

[Tami2]

I found this bird backpack carrier on Amazon for $100:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0714KS7LP/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_z1kpCb19XJYQH

It looks very similar to the Pak-o-Bird except that the front is clear instead of mesh. This carrier is half the price of the Pak-o-Bird. What do you think?

OOOO, I like that and the price. Levi has done a demolition job on his POB. I've already put an extra $45 into it to repair it once & it's almost time again to get it to the seamstress. I think I'm going to purchase this one as a back up when his POB is in the shop for repair.

Thanks for sharing

PS) Let me know if anyone buys this, as I'm curious about sizing. Maybe I missed it, but it looks like a 1 size fits all?