How long in Pak-O-Bird?

[Pilaf]

I have a pak-o-bird backpack for Echo, my 4 month old green cheek, and I have taken him on short trips quite a few times. He loves it. He hops in it when I hold him in front of it, and he enjoys to be in it, and to go on trips. But until now they have been short trips, like an hour max. I can't get Echo out of the Pak-o-bird once we're outside because he's not harness trained yet (I'm working on that).

But tomorrow my mom wants to take us on a longer trip, like a whole afternoon, and I would love to bring Echo with us. We're going to take a walk by the river, and the woods, and maybe a short boat trip. Now I am wondering if this might be too long for him to be in his Pak-o-bird. I mean he likes it, and he plays with his toy and eats his food etc, but a Pak-o-bird is of course not a very large space for him. But otherwise he has to stay home. I'm wondering what would be nicer for him, to be with us the whole afternoon, and enjoy nature, but from inside a small Pak-o-bird, or to be alone at home in his big cage.

What would be better to do?

 

[plumsmum2005]

My thoughts from taking Plum out in his are, make sure he

doesn't get too hot/cold (winds especially)
hungry or thirsty
gets a break from being jigged around in it, watch your bird!

You could always put a travel cage in the car for when you go back to it for return journey home?

On the whole it is good for them but they are having to maintain their balance all the time which I assume is tiring if they are not used to it.

Have a nice day out!

 

[clark_conure]

I honestly have never even heard of that, I just googled it...to be honest it's kind of cute but I would worry about the same things plumsmum mentioned. I take my bird out just on my shoulder and he drinks my water and hangs with me...the pack O bird seems like it could get a great deal hotter than ambient due to it enclosed nature... I mean I see it has vents but it's no substitute for natural wind.

All that being said "all afternoon" might be tiresome for the bird jostling around, keeping his balance on the perch. His legs would probably get sore....Better safe than sorry, spend time with your mom then go back to your best friend at home.

 

[Pilaf]

I can't take a travel cage with me because we are taking taxi, we don't have a car. And we also plan to sit a lot, like on the boat, and also at a picnic table for example by the river.

@ Clark_Conure: Do you take Clark outside on your shoulder without a harness?

 

[clark_conure]

I know everone on here is going to loose their minds just like everytime but yes I do.

1) his wings are clipped
2)there are no predators in the area, I have a large acreage.
3) yes I know a large gust of wind and he could still fly, maybe 25 feet, heck maybe 100ft or more if it was a gale but he'd be fighting to come back towards me.
4) I can't get him off me anyways, I tried to put him on a tree branch once and he was like screw that, he's a daddies boy.

I often take him outside and we drink water and do yard work and when I come in ai always thank him for all the help he did.


Now.......if your taking him to a strange park with dogs and rivers and woods with real predators and ESPECIALLY a boat trip....that I certainly would not risk, it's a little different from my front yard or back yard, with him just yelling at the wrens and robins.

 

[Pilaf]

I know everone on here is going to loose their minds just like everytime but yes I do.

1) his wings are clipped
2)there are no predators in the area, I have a large acreage.
3) yes I know a large gust of wind and he could still fly, maybe 25 feet, heck maybe 100ft or more if it was a gale but he'd be fighting to come back towards me.
4) I can't get him off me anyways, I tried to put him on a tree branch once and he was like screw that, he's a daddies boy.

I often take him outside and we drink water and do yard work and when I come in ai always thank him for all the help he did.


Now.......if your taking him to a strange park with dogs and rivers and woods with real predators and ESPECIALLY a boat trip....that I certainly would not risk, it's a little different from my front yard or back yard, with him just yelling at the wrens and robins.

I always took my lovebird Pilaf outside on my shoulder. He went everywhere with me. He was clipped, and whenever he tried to fly he didn't get high at all. He never even tried to fly, not even in the many years he wasn't clipped. He always wanted to sit with me. And I always kept a very close eye on predators etc.

With Echo it's a bit different. He's so young, his wings are clipped but he still can fly really well. When he flies, he flies to be with me though. But I find it too risky outside, with wind, and maybe sudden loud sounds that might scare him. So, if I take him it's in his Pak-O-Bird, but i might just leave him at home, because it might be too long for him.

 

[wrench13]

We hve used our pak-o-bird with Salty for over a year. His longest trip was coming back from Jims it was a tad over 4 hours. I did let him out in my car a few times when we were on the ferry, but he did alw=right. THe pak has fine metal mesh on the front and sides, so not only does breeke/air get in but they can see fine out of it.Its got zippers all over the place ( its designed to be opened up and laid flat for cleanng, so if you were open the sides up to reach in and play with him, or comfort him you can. I would take him out when your in the cab, or in and enclased area of the boat/ship. But better is to get him harness trained and then no worries.

 

[Pilaf]

We hve used our pak-o-bird with Salty for over a year. His longest trip was coming back from Jims it was a tad over 4 hours. I did let him out in my car a few times when we were on the ferry, but he did alw=right. THe pak has fine metal mesh on the front and sides, so not only does breeke/air get in but they can see fine out of it.Its got zippers all over the place ( its designed to be opened up and laid flat for cleanng, so if you were open the sides up to reach in and play with him, or comfort him you can. I would take him out when your in the cab, or in and enclased area of the boat/ship. But better is to get him harness trained and then no worries.

Thank you. I don't think the cab driver would want that, for us to take Echo out of his Pak-O-Bird. I think it might indeed be better to leave him at home, since we're not going to be somewhere inside where we can take him out.

 

[T00tsyd]

For what it's worth I am just concerned because he is so young. All afternoon on the move in one way or another would be very tiring. Doesn't he still nap at times? I can see that you really want to keep him with you but at the same time to be left alone with maybe radio or tv as background noise would be another lesson for him to learn.

 

[Pilaf]

For what it's worth I am just concerned because he is so young. All afternoon on the move in one way or another would be very tiring. Doesn't he still nap at times? I can see that you really want to keep him with you but at the same time to be left alone with maybe radio or tv as background noise would be another lesson for him to learn.

He doesn't really nap much during the day. He gets 12 hours of sleep doing the night. I'm still thinking to take him with us, but maybe adjust the trip around him. The trip shorter, and less walking, like sitting with him at a picnic table more. He could take a nap then also if he wants to. And I'm also thinking about skipping the boat. I'm not very interested in that anyway. I want to do what's best for Echo of course. It's really important to me that he has fun.

He is also alone at times, like when we go to church for example, then he's alone almost the whole morning. I find it very important for him to learn to entertain himself as well. But he gets that a few times a week already.

 

[Pilaf]

I took Echo with us. It went great. We adapted the trip around him, and didn't walk too much. I also made sure that he was very comfortable in his Pak-O-Bird, not too warm, not cold. There was a soft breeze so that was nice. We skipped the boat trip. Echo played with his toy and enjoyed his food and water and he was vey interested in the environment. If you like to see photos of our trip, have a look at my photo album: http://www.parrotforums.com/members/pilaf-albums-echo-trip-lachine.html

 

[clark_conure]

I'm glad you had fun, tht pack o bird is much roomier than it appeared on the website. I'm glad you skipped the boat trip, I love boats, I own a jetboat but parrots don't relly swim. And the not walking or jostling to much I'm sure he appreciated.

Looks like you had a beautiful time together. Me and clark went to a caseys (gas station mini mart) and got some sammiches milk and sugar free power aid. I think you win.

 

[Pilaf]

Thank you. Yeah it was a very fun day. And Echo really enjoyed being outside.

 

[LordTriggs]

sounds like Echo had fun

although I will say it would be an idea now to get him used to you being out of the house. The last thing you want is him being used to having your around 24/7 then if/when something comes up and you have to be out for a couple hours making him upset, self-entertaining is as important as socializing IMO

 

[Pilaf]

sounds like Echo had fun

although I will say it would be an idea now to get him used to you being out of the house. The last thing you want is him being used to having your around 24/7 then if/when something comes up and you have to be out for a couple hours making him upset, self-entertaining is as important as socializing IMO

Thank you. I'm not sure why you think I'm always at home. I'm out of the house on a regular basis. At least a few times a week Echo is alone the whole afternoon or the whole morning. So he's also learning to entertain himself.

 

[LordTriggs]

sounds like Echo had fun

although I will say it would be an idea now to get him used to you being out of the house. The last thing you want is him being used to having your around 24/7 then if/when something comes up and you have to be out for a couple hours making him upset, self-entertaining is as important as socializing IMO

Thank you. I'm not sure why you think I'm always at home. I'm out of the house on a regular basis. At least a few times a week Echo is alone the whole afternoon or the whole morning. So he's also learning to entertain himself.

I thought you worked from home and spent a lot of time there. Maybe I'm going crazy, could be a possibility

 

[plumsmum2005]

Link to other thread going at the moment

http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/70667-parrot-perch-backpacks.html

 

[Pilaf]

sounds like Echo had fun

although I will say it would be an idea now to get him used to you being out of the house. The last thing you want is him being used to having your around 24/7 then if/when something comes up and you have to be out for a couple hours making him upset, self-entertaining is as important as socializing IMO

Thank you. I'm not sure why you think I'm always at home. I'm out of the house on a regular basis. At least a few times a week Echo is alone the whole afternoon or the whole morning. So he's also learning to entertain himself.

I thought you worked from home and spent a lot of time there. Maybe I'm going crazy, could be a possibility

I do indeed work from home, but every now and then I have to do things outside the apartment, like buying art supplies and things like that. It's also good for me to spend some time outside of my apartment, a change in environment

 

[Pilaf]

Link to other thread going at the moment

http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/70667-parrot-perch-backpacks.html

Thank you