Pak-O-Bird

[SailBoat]

I have a 1990, MB 300 CE, Touring Series with the S series drive train. Also wrench myself on her. Just got her Michigan Historical Plate (26 years old).

Aaaah and yes, my DYH Amazon loves riding with me when we take her out for a day trip. That should at least keep this Post somewhat connected to the OP's Thread.

 

[wrench13]

Nice, 'boats, nice.

Bill, does Nike try to slice thru the stitching? I have a mammal carrier that lasted all of 3 trips to the vet before Salty sliced the stitches by the screens. I think I got the same temp cage as you.

sorry for the thread steal

 

[PetoftheDay]

Looks perfect, and from the cooing, she thinks so, too!

 

[Kiwibird]

So glad she enjoyed her first trip out! They are a great idea whoever first thought of it. Kiwi loves his. When he sees me take it off the shelf he goes nuts. He even enjoys napping in it at home sometimes. The only downside- they draw attention.

 

[bill_e]

Nice, 'boats, nice.

Bill, does Nike try to slice thru the stitching? I have a mammal carrier that lasted all of 3 trips to the vet before Salty sliced the stitches by the screens. I think I got the same temp cage as you.

sorry for the thread steal

Wrench13, Nike has not as yet exhibited much in the way of destructive chewing but that being said, at least in the small Pak the stainless steel screens are bonded on so there are no threads to play with. The Pak is one piece and the sides and top zip into place and from what I can see none of the zippers are visible from the inside. It even includes some flexible plastic which serves both as a form and to protect the front zipper from the bird. That probably wont deter a determined forager from digging in and finding something to chew. The Pak includes plenty of D-Rings to hang toys, both ceiling and floor which can aid in distraction and which might be a reason for getting a slightly larger size to be able to hang those toys.

Here's a pretty good Youtube of a guy assembling his medium Pak-O-Bird. My small sized one was in one piece and it took all of 1 minute to zip the sides up and have it all assembled.

By the way, because of the angle at which he recorded this video the medium looks small which is why I originally ordered that size. After creating a cardboard mockup of the medium I felt it was a bit bulky for my petite Nike but I think it would be perfect for a normal sized Amazon.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWYLwbuPm38"]Pak-O-Bird assembly - YouTube[/ame]

 

[bill_e]

Great package! Well done!

One small recommendation: Consider adding a beak grab bar that would be at normal beak level placed very close to either the front (human side) or back (open view side) that would allow a parrot something to grab onto if it got a little bouncy. An 1/8 dia bar/tube or like would be more than enough.

Always love seeing your Hawk Head!

So I thought about it and came up with this. I was actually intending to use some 1/8" aluminum bar stock but I couldn't find any locally. My intent was the same design as below with the flat bar except I would bend the round bar like a paper clip in order to attach it. I may still if I run across some 1/8" bar.

This is the completed beak grab from the top and the side. Everything is smooth. I cut the material with tin snips and then smoothed the cut edges. Bending was easy, a vise, pliers and a plastic hammer.

Here's how it attaches, you just slip in on the plastic frame like a paper clip.

Obviously the overall length is larger than the opening so you have to put it in at an angle and then slide it up or down to the desired height. It will work on the front or the back. It stays where you put it.

Here's an example of the material I used.

Lowes Aluminum Flat

I haven't tried it with Nike yet though on two walks she has stayed planted on the perch.

For her I intend on sliding it up as far as I can and then putting her in the Pak and moving it into position.

Comments?

Thanks
Bill

 

[wrench13]

Bill that is so well thought out and engineered, don't be surprised if Pak o birds doesn't 'grab' the idea, ha ha.
Or you could market them... call it the Bill-E-Bar.

 

[flyingron]

Bacca travels in hers pretty well. We call it her "car seat." (In fact she's most happy if I'm travelling without my wife as she gets to ride on the front seat where she can see me). She took to flying in the pak-o-bird in our small plane pretty nicely. Even in pretty turbulent weather she seems to hold on pretty well. I may add the beak bar. We joke after such flights that her feet have to be real tired.

 

[bill_e]

Bill that is so well thought out and engineered, don't be surprised if Pak o birds doesn't 'grab' the idea, ha ha.
Or you could market them... call it the Bill-E-Bar.

Thanks. I had a couple of other designs but I wanted something that was DIY for all skill levels.

I'd prefer the look of a round bar but can't find one to date...flat bar will work fine for grabbing though


Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[plumsmum2005]

Great package! Well done!

One small recommendation: Consider adding a beak grab bar that would be at normal beak level placed very close to either the front (human side) or back (open view side) that would allow a parrot something to grab onto if it got a little bouncy. An 1/8 dia bar/tube or like would be more than enough.

Always love seeing your Hawk Head!

So I thought about it and came up with this. I was actually intending to use some 1/8" aluminum bar stock but I couldn't find any locally. My intent was the same design as below with the flat bar except I would bend the round bar like a paper clip in order to attach it. I may still if I run across some 1/8" bar.

This is the completed beak grab from the top and the side. Everything is smooth. I cut the material with tin snips and then smoothed the cut edges. Bending was easy, a vise, pliers and a plastic hammer.

Here's how it attaches, you just slip in on the plastic frame like a paper clip.

Obviously the overall length is larger than the opening so you have to put it in at an angle and then slide it up or down to the desired height. It will work on the front or the back. It stays where you put it.

Here's an example of the material I used.

Lowes Aluminum Flat

I haven't tried it with Nike yet though on two walks she has stayed planted on the perch.

For her I intend on sliding it up as far as I can and then putting her in the Pak and moving it into position.

Comments?

Thanks
Bill

It takes a while for your bird to get used to the movement whilst being in the back pack but they usually adopt a technique of their own eventually. Plum did fall off a few times but has adapted well now. His technique is to stick his bum and tail in the air, facing out, so he can see plenty. If its very rocky he will hang on to a food cup, I only ever put one in the back pack BTW. Hope you get to love your as much as I love mine?

TIP: to those who have one the manufacturer recommends that for longish periods not in use it is dismantled.

 

[bill_e]

TIP: to those who have one the manufacturer recommends that for longish periods not in use it is dismantled.

Makes sense...plus it's smaller

 

[bill_e]

OK, here's a video of a short walk with Nike...sorry the camera isn't aligned straight up. I used a cheapo ($8) endoscope that I use to check by gun barrels and just duct taped it to the Pak-O-Bied. I am going to make a bracket so I can easily align it properly and be able to view Nike when I'm walking by connecting it to my phone.

The whistling is me, was trying to see if she would relax more and talk....maybe on a longer walk. From her sound's though I don't think that she was stressed.

She never used the beak grab and I think she wedges her tail between the perch and back of the Pak. Once I make the bracket I'll try to get a more complete video.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPDKuIi22ZY&feature=youtu.be"]Pak-O-Bird - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Christinenc2000]

It looks like he was enjoying it. At least not freaking. Can't wait for you to get a good video. Makes me want one

 

[wrench13]

Very cool, Bill. Watching hang her head bobbing up and down in time with your steps is fun to watch. Hey, how about marketing that set up with the borescope? Other owners might like being able to keep an eye on their parrots while they are hiking, who don't have the technical abilities to just set that up ( like me ). Bill-E-Scope ? Bill-E-Vision ?

 

[plumsmum2005]

@ bill_e looks like Nike enjoying herself. She's taking it all in, great stuff.

You will Christine!

 

[bill_e]

OK, here's another video..a bit better.

I made a small bracket out of the same material as the grab bar so that I could securely stick the borescope through one of the unused grommet holes. Here's 3 pics showing the installation

And here's the video. While walking outside I couldn't really tell how she was sitting but looking at the video it's clear that she has squatted down and pushed her backside up against the back of the Pak which seems to provide her some pretty good support.
5.5mm Android Borescope, different lengths available.

And the video

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ7ZMad-HjA"]YouTube[/ame]

 

[Christinenc2000]

I can't see the video but you are amazing setting that up . OOPS you have it set to private

 

[bill_e]

I can't see the video but you are amazing setting that up . OOPS you have it set to private

odd, shouldn't be. I just signed out and tried it and it worked for me.

 

[eddieparrot5]

Awesome!
Maybe the bar is too far from her, but then again it wont leave too much freedom i think, also, can you roll over a bit more the sides? She might get more view , imho
Beautiful Nike!

 

[Christinenc2000]

Its working now and A LOT better video GREAT