Getting baby Macaw (Bali) soon, question about travel cage

[tansey90]

Hi, I'm new here! We just lost our 20 year old African Grey, Sidney. We were so very sad. I thought we'd be bird-less but my husband just couldn't take it! Now we are anxiously awaiting the time when we can bring our blue and gold, Bali, home. She is still weaning with her breeder.

We already have a huge cage for inside the house and a large aviary for outside. We also have a large acrylic travel cage for car rides and two stands.

My question is this: What is the largest size bar spacing that would be safe?

We need to get a travel CAGE (not carrier) to keep on our 47' sailboat as we spend most summer weekends there and Bali will be with us. I see a "travel cage" I really like but the bar spacing is 1.75". I'm wondering if that is too wide. I know we can buy a regular dog crate and adapt it but the one I'm looking at has a grate at the bottom with a pan UNDER that just like her home cage. I think that would be better for weekend use.

Any thoughts? And yes, we have had a B&G before when our daughter was young. In fact we had another African Grey, and an Umbrella Cockatoo also. We had to find them new homes as our minor daughter at the time became very allergic and was hospitalized. Happy to say the Grey and Cockatoo are still doing well with an old acquaintance. Don't know what happened to the B&G but I know he went to a good home.

 

[SailBoat]

The selection of bar size and spacing is very important, especially for a travel cage. The first goal is the bar size (diameter), here you need to target the diameter for your Blue and Gold as if it is an Adult! After all, they grow-up fast. For our DYH Amazon, 1/8" (3 mm) is great, but for an Adult B&G it needs to be at least 3/16" (5 mm) thick.

As stated, the bar spacing is very important! The goal is that the young B&G's head can not fit between the bars. From the front and at the level of the eyes, of your B&G that is your 'not to exceed' spacing, i.e. the Parrot would need to compress its eyes to fit through.

Dog travel cages work well for MAC's. BUT! it must be Stainless Steel construction. Galvanized and Crome coatings contain heavy metals and are dangerous for Parrots.

NOTE: Target nature wood branches for perches and NOT dowels as they provide much better gripping surfaces and are just healthier for your MAC's foot pads. The diameter should be a minimum of 3" (75 mm) and with larger B&G's look at 4" (100 mm) as a better choice. Perch placement is critical!!! Always assure that your MAC has a three point holding (two feet and a Beak) to grasp on while underway.

We enjoyed Great Lakes traveling with our Amazon on our Farr 45. But today we are landlovers (kind of). FYI: Assure you have a hatch style or installed A/C unit as temperature is always an issue.


FYI: Sorry for your loss! Welcome to Parrot Forums, you will find 'boatloads' of warm caring Parrot owners here! Spend the time reading in depth, the MAC Forum and also, the Second Thread in the Amazon Forum, which is Titled: I Love Amazons - ... You will find that huge Thread very helpful as it is written to address near all Parrots. I would strongly recommend the last Segment, as it provides in detail an Emergency Aid Kit. We use it and find that we only need to add a couple of items for it to support both Parrot and Humans!

 

[tansey90]

Thanks for your reply. I have to get two "travel cages" - one to keep on our boat and one for home that I think we may be able to use for Bali to sleep in only (that way she will have a quiet place at night).

I remember with our past macaw we used a dog crate. We took it to the beach camping with us all the time in Hawaii. Never had an issue. Looking at the crates (wire type) available now, I'm afraid the bars are spaced too far apart and that they are not strong enough!

We did purchase a large travel cage from King's that was great quality but had to return it because we knew it was just too small (only 28" long).

Gotta get something that will be a good fit.

We pick Bali up from the breeder this weekend and bring her home!

 

[SailBoat]

Check-out the Big Box Pet Stores and have them pull a couple choice down and put hands on! You will be able to get one tonight that will meet the needs of a young B&G MAC for the next few months and that will buy you time to find a correct travel cage for an Adult MAC.