OMG!!!! 'Nut got loose!!! Prevue should be sued!!!!

[Tropical]

I was forced to stay in a shelter for the past 3 days since a category 4 hurricane was hitting my area (it ended hitting directly somewhere else so it could have been a LOT worse)... but I bought this tiny cage to keep my tiels in so they could stay at the shelter with me because my condo is not safe to withstand a cat 4 hurricane (it's a long story)... I have AWFUL neighbors to blame for this who don't bother to board up their windows which puts my unit at SERIOUS risk!!!!!!

I ALWAYS use zip ties to secure these small cages because the bottom tray ALWAYS has a tendency to detach itself from the cage!!!! So I ALWAYS secure the bottom tray very SECURELY as shown in below pic... but it NEVER crossed my mind to also make sure to do this same thing with the upper portion of the cage. The upper portion of the cage SNAPPED open was I was carrying it outside in my parking lot and 'Nut got loose!!!! He flew at least 300 feet up into the air and was making flock calls like crazy. Needless to say I was hyperventilating and in complete shock... I was physically shaking.

This happens a LOT more often than you think... these companies sell these bird cages and we as bird caretakers rely on these cages to keep our birds SAFE!!!!! Yet the cages fall apart when you carry them!!!! This is not acceptable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is NOT ONLY this cage... I have experienced this with NUMEROUS cages which is why I made sure to SECURE it with zip ties... but the top panel popped open as I was carrying them in the cage!!!!!

'Nut was flying and flying around outside and he finally landed in a tree. I BEGGED and BEGGED him to come to me. I was HORRIFIED. The tree was so high and not easy to climb.

Finally this guy who heard me screaming my head off came to help me... I ended up being able to climb up the tree and reached far as I could and quickly grabbed 'Nut by the tail and his entire backside (I wanted to be sure I would still have a firm grip on him even if he "dropped" his tail) because they have the ability to "drop" their tail feathers and then I'd be left holding nothing but his tail and he'd be long gone!! Rascal has dropped his tail feathers before when I grabbed him during a night fright episode and he was left with a "duck butt". I know now to not do that again!!

Without that guys help I NEVER would have been able to catch 'Nut. I was crying hysterically... 'Nut was flying loose outside and I lost sight of him several times (TERRIFYING!!!) all I had to track him was listening to his flock calls.

My blood is boiling in DISGUST at how POORLY these bird cages are made... even my 17inch travel cage falls apart... the base detaches easily from the top portion of the cage!!!!!

I am EXTREMELY very very very THANKFUL this happened today because I now know it is ALWAYS an absolute MUST to use zip toes to SECURE all and ANY possible areas on these cages that can open!!!! Even if you THINK it looks secure it is NOT.... secure the cage with zip ties!!!!!!!

I had all doors on the cage secure with clips and I had the base secured with zip ties... who the heck knew the top panel would pop open!!!!!!!!!

It is a MIRACLE that I was able to get 'Nut back. I am still in shock as I write this.

'Nut was flying so high in the air outside I could barely see him!!!!!!! I will NEVER again dare to them outside in ANY cage without the cage being secured shut with zip ties because NO cage can ever be TRUSTED!!!!!!

I secured the base of the cage with zip ties....

The entire top panel of the cage popped open as was carrying them!!! The base was properly secured but the top of the cage was not!!!!!

 

[PrimorandMoxi]

WOW.
So glad you got him!!

 

[wrench13]

Good point. Those cages are not really 'travel' cages. I am overjoyed you got him back.

 

[Tropical]

Good point. Those cages are not really 'travel' cages. I am overjoyed you got him back.

Yes it is an outrage this even happened in the first place. I am such a WACKO cautious person when it comes to PREVENTING things like this I am very unhappy with myself that it did not even cross my mind for a second to use zip ties to secure the TOP portion of the cage...it literally POPPED right open!!!

You know what's crazy??? I used this cage because the other cage I bought literally FELL APART COMPLETELY as I was carrying it to my car!!!!!

As you know my neighbor and I recently rescued an Indian Ringeck so I lent her this cage: https://www.wayfair.com/Prevue-Hend..._14eF1rY2qtMJlB0Gfo2uGjf44FRT9-gaAms9EALw_wcB which falls apart!! The base detaches from the top portion of the cage.

This cage that almost KILLED 'Nut is only 9 inches big... I don't know anyone in their right mind who would keep a bird in a 9 inch cage other than for transportation! I will show you guys a better pic of this cage so you can see really how tiny it is... I certainly learned my lesson today though!!!

 

[Tropical]

11 inches by 8 inches is the size of this SUPER TINY cage... but regardless there is NO excuse to have such poorly designed cages when you are dealing with birds since it is a life or death matter.

I lent my neighbor the cage I normally would take with me so this is the only cage I was able to buy on the same day I had to rush to the hurricane shelter... but even the cage I lent my neighbor to keep the IRN we rescued in falls apart!

So you are right... these cages are NOT safe to transport any bird in but at the same time I wonder who the heck would kept a bird in tiny 11 inch by 8 inch cage if not for transport???? I ALWAYS see tons of poeple using these cages when I go to get their nails maintained... and when I see their cages they are using it makes me nervous. I get my birds nails filed every couple of months of so... the bigger birds they always carry in a dog crate

I need to invest in a good TRAVEL CAGE!! Lesson learned... but even that cage I would secure with zip ties!!!! I cannot even put into words how THANKFUL I am to have been able to get 'Nut back!!!!!... OMG.

 

[ParrotLover2001]

I have two cages, one is the brand You and Me (previously Petco brand) and the other is Prevue. Both are great sturdy cages, though the You and Me cage has a bit of wear and tear since I've had it for a little over 5 years.

I have had no problem with the Prevue cage.

Glad you were able to get him back,

Sent from my Galaxy s8

 

[Birdman666]

I have one of the top of the line, highest quality double macaw cages on the market. It's positively macaw proof... YEAH... my bird figured out everything in no time, including how to disassemble the latches, and the treat cups.

BIRD PROOF ISN'T!!!

 

[texsize]

OMG.
So glad you got Nut back.
I would have flipped out.

 

[Katu]

Oh no!! I'm so glad you and the birds are okay. Thanks for the warning too. Is Romeo okay as well? I've been so nervous for all our FL flocks.

 

[Scott]

Thanks for checking in, Juliet! I am so happy you, 'Nut, and Rascal are safe.

What an adventure, but don't beat yourself up over the shoddy cage. You are human and were faced with a potential Cat 4 hurricane and many fast decisions/actions to make.

Have you returned home yet, any damage to your condo?

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

WOW Juliet!! So glad its a happy ending! I can see in my mind you freaking out over this! I'd be just like that too with Beebs! And poor 'Nut...probably had no clue were he was or what he was doing!




Jim

 

[Allee]

So glad Nut's story had a happy ending. I'm also happy to hear you and your feathered babies are safe.

 

[Flboy]

Terrifying! I have a slightly larger version of exactly the same cage. I use it as an outdoor cage and to move him around in the house if I'm having issues with the cat that is here! The top came very close to coming off the first few times I used it, and now every single point has a tie wrap on it! I also have tie wraps above the food doors because I have found it is not too difficult for JoJo to try to lift the door. They act as a drag on the slides.

 

[Tropical]

I have this large Prevue cage and love it and think it's great: https://www.wayfair.com/Prevue-Hendryx-Signature-Series-Large-Bird-Cage-PVP1051.html ... but the tiny Prevue cages and other brands I have tried using when transporting my birds outside are super dangerous... the paneling and structure is very very weak and literally detaches and then you have a loose bird!

I now understand I really need to invest in a good legitimate travel cage for sure!

The cat 4 hurricane that was supposed to directly hit my area decided to hit somewhere else so my condo was spared!

The IRN is safely at my neighbor's house still in quarantine... 3 days ago before I had to rush to the hurricane shelter I made threads about the IRN in the IRN section of this forum... I'm not sure what to do as of yet with him... but I need to make decision soon

 

[clark_conure]

I read through and I'm very happy everything went well, I was just wondering why are the bars orange? Do they paint the bars? does it flake off? A lot of cages are kind of put together yourself units that come in a box and aren't expected to be used in an evacuation mine might fall apart if i hit it hard but......I think the company was looking for pretty over safety. I dunno but the orange bars...as soon as I saw them I was like wait what?

 

[smbrds]

I'm so happy that 'Nut was brought back to safety and that you both are safe!! That is truly terrifying and I would be the same mess over Baby. He also has Prevue cages, one for transport...much like the smaller one shown and a much bigger cage like shown. While I haven't had any "real" issues with the smaller one cage - other than no slide out tray and dinky placement of bowls, I'm looking to get a bigger cage for him for transport. You did all that you could and then some to bring back 'Nut to his home, not to mention in a terrible storm. I am glad that both of you are okay, and I am glad this storm has passed!

 

[LordTriggs]

wew, glad you got Nut back. Of course it had to be the crazier of the two that got out

Yes a tried an true travel cage is a must. I don't trust any of the snap on cage designs, a bump too hard or a minor manufacturing fault and no more cage. Screw in bolts or a single piece construction is a must

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I just read Hurricane Jose' COULD possibly head up the east coast My boss's name is Jose'...I couldn't deal with TWO of them!






Jim

 

[Tropical]

Yes LOL it's funny how the craziest of the two got out!! It happened so fast I did not even NOTICE or realize. I heard a bird screaming outside which sounded like a cockatiel so I looked up into the sky and saw a TINY little light colored dot flying very fast. It was so high up in the sky I could barely see it... he was VERY high in the sky!!

I then looked at my cage thinking "WTF!!!???" I didn't understand what was going on because I thought I had secured the cage... I thought maybe the clips holding the doors fell off or something... it took me a few seconds to even comprehend that 'Nut had gotten loose and when it finally hit me I was in full blown panic!!!!! It was HORRIFIC!!!!

Now this second hurricane is circling around.... I really REALLY want to get the heck out of FL but can't until I get myself together financially which will take at least 2 or 3 years!

It is CRAZY how 'Nut did not fly far from the area as high up as he was!! He was flying in circles as I was screaming his name and then he landed in a tree. I was reading about "cockatiel flew away" on google and VERY few people ever get their birds back like this. I was beyond LUCKY!!!!!

EDIT: Guess what my next thread will be about? Travel cages... legitimate travel cages!!! haha

 

[LordTriggs]

I bet he could hear you and took it as a contact call which kept him from zooming off

Clearly Nut is closely bonded to you in his own special way