Bird Carrier Recommendations

[Taw5106]

I'm looking at bird carriers to buy a good one for Buddy. I want to try to start taking him for walks with me. He's an RCA, so I think he falls into the smaller amazon category. I know he's a bit smaller than a double yellow head after seeing one up close. I live in huge Houston area, Petsmart and Petco are big here but low on bird items so I'm pretty sure I'll be ordering online. I'm interested in carriers others use, like Kiwibird shared one in which the inside was relined, beautiful job. I need to make sure I get one with plenty of ventilation and I would live a lighter color. I live in south Texas so not only does it get hot, but sticky too. I'm looking at early morning or late dusk walks. Any recommendations or advice you can share?

And for the humor factor, I found this and died laughing because it is a reality but in the grand scheme of things looking at carriers I didn't even think about this potential issue.

 

[MonicaMc]

If you want a carrier to easily use outside while walking, you'll want to purchase the backpack one (like the one that was relined). It is expensive, but so much easier than walking around with a carrier oddly at your side or in front of you!

You can use a small cage, dog or cat carrier, dog or cat kennel, or anything else he can easily fit in and you can transport. There are even bird carriers designed specifically for birds made out of acrylic sheets or one that is an "avian hotel" meant for traveling, and the handle is also a perch for the bird.

 

[Taw5106]

Thanks MonicaMC. Today I visited a couple of pet stores around me. None had a lot of variety in pet supplies, but one I visited, I had to make myself leave quickly. They had conures, one that made me a friend really quick was Rocky. Absolute sweety, swinging away on her swing. The store owner told me that's all she does all day and if the swinging stops, she'll get off the swing, pull it to the nearest bar, coordinate her footing to get on the swing while holding onto the bar to get off then push off to start swinging again. I was laughing, she was whistling and having a major conversation, swinging. So cute!

No carriers or harnesses, but it's a slow go with Buddy. I've left his cage door open all say, tried to coax him out and he's just not in the mood to come out. I have a small dog carrier I want to work with him on. It's something new, different and out of his norm. He is in such bad need of a beak and nail trim but I don't want to over stress him. I've never tried to grab him to force him out and that's why it hasn't been done. We've had him for four weeks now, he's adjusting slowly, faster in some areas, but ultimately I would love to get him so comfortable with going out for a walk with me or riding in the car with a carrier and or harness. Thanks again!

 

[MonicaMc]

Conures can be quite hilarious creatures!


Have you considered doing any target training with Buddy?

 

[Taw5106]

Thanks MonicaMC, I had to look up target training. . I found some videos and I'm going to start working with him. He finally came out of his cage today. I'm being preened right now, lol. I think this is going to be a big and slow process with him because he doesn't like coming out of his cage. I think his prior owners kept him caged a lot. I work from home so we have a routine, morning chatter and breakfast with head rubs. He's accepting new things pretty and I've been trying to work with touching him. I can touch his head, neck, belly, feet, but wings and back are still a no. It's all new to him.

 

[MonicaMc]

Honestly, you really don't want to do much touching on parrots besides their feet and head! Anywhere else could be considered "sexy time"!


Charlie will lay on his back, but I do not pet him on his back.

Sometimes I might even curl my hand into my side and he'll be sitting (more or less) in my arm-pit. I do refrain from petting his sides, though.


Touching a bird on the back could feel as if they are being attacked by a predator, while others may view it as sexual advances.



In short, you shouldn't touch/pet parrots like you would a dog or cat. If you do, you need to be very careful and not turn your bird on! It can be easier to turn a bird "on" rather than turning them "off".



I'm not sure that all the Youtube videos on training are very good.... main thing is though is that you want the bird to touch the target as if it was their idea, not yours.



Barbara Heidenreich has some good videos (as does Lara Joseph!). In the following video, you can see how the animals *choose* to touch the target instead of the target touching them. You could say that there is a right way and a wrong way of training! You want to empower the bird!


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkfQEL42c7Y"]Plastic Target Training Stick for Parrots and Small Mammals - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Taw5106]

MonicaMC thanks again! The video is excellent. Thanks for your help on this. Right now I'm the only one that can interact with him so closely. Any advice to get him to open up to others?

 

[MonicaMc]

Get other people to work with him to! Train some easy and simple behaviors for him to do (touch, turn around, 'big eagle' or something else) and then try having others request the same behaviors.


My Charlie doesn't care for strangers unless strangers take the time to earn his trust, and it can take at least 2-3 weeks of constant interaction before he warms up to them. Jayde on the other hand can instantly like strangers, particularly older excitable women (love to baby talk, and talk in high pitched voices!). Haven't found a man yet that she likes, but then men aren't like women.