Planning a weekend trip w/Kiwi

[Kiwibird]

So we haven’t even spent a night away in about 8 years (except when moving cross country, but that certainly was no vacation!) so we’re planning to take a weekend trip to the coast in August. Naturally, the green sir will be coming because, really, I just can’t bring myself to leave him at the vets or bird store (I wonder who has the worse attachment issues:54. I know it’s nothing super exciting or a real vacation, but I’m still super excited! I bet Kiwi is going to love spending a couple days at the beach too.

We’ve only stayed in hotels with Kiwi when we moved and only brought the barest essentials for that. He’ll be in his POB, obviously we’ll have dry food too, but I’m wondering what else we should bring? Maybe his portable perch (for in the hotel room)? I don’t want to be dragging half our house along but just a few things that would be good to have while on this kind of trip with a bird who enjoys car travel and day trips?

 

[Scott]

Bon voyage, April and Joe! Any getaway is meaningful and need not be exotic. Most importantly the family will remain intact and you'll have a blast at the beach.

Portable perch for sure! You'll find the ideal location in hotel room and can protect the area from debris with newspaper or similar.

 

[SailBoat]

Kiwi's brother by a different mother is a travel hound! Loves it, even the overnight stuff!

Scott really nailed it with the portable perch! Most rooms have a table, which we clear of the normal stuff and cover it with newspaper and place the perch on the table. Ours have a 12 x 14" metal base and the perch is about 12" above the top of the table.

We find that a cloth grocery bag is near perfect to carry all dry goods listed below in for a 2 - 3 day trip.
1. Baby Wipes (tons of uses for all) Mrs. Boats' cleans all surfaces with them prior to placing anything on those surfaces.
2. First Aid Kit (upgraded to support Humans as well)
3. Couple of towel sets (tons of uses for all)
4. Mid-size Peanut Butter jar for dry food. (more than enough for a weekend trip)
5. Newspaper (for keeping the Amazon style decorations under-control, plus quick clean-up)
6. Bottled water (especially if you use your home water!) Depends on size but we carry the 12 oz. size 3/4+ full and frozen to keep stuff in the Cooler cold, commonly 4 - 6, for Kiwi and a few extra for the Humans.
7. Misting Bottle (tons of uses for all)
8. Cooler! Size varies depending on time of year and how hot it is! As stated above, we use Water Bottles with frozen water in them. This makes the issue of melting ice just go away and a dry cooler is much easier to travel with!!! If you are planning to not eating out, look at taking two Coolers! This allows you to think of each for different foods and the bigger they get the more difficult they get for moving between the car and room, etc...
9. If you will be housing Kiwi in a separate sleeping cage. Place it near the top of the stuff in back as it helps to have it set-up prior to the runs between the car and the room.

Think head regarding the side of the car that the Sun will be on during travels to and from the beach. The Sun side will heat-up and the Cooler and Kiwi will not be good choices for that side. NOTE: locate the muffler under the car! The pipes and muffler will heat the floor above them so, keep the Cooler away from them.

Mrs. Boats always travels with mini laundry soap, etc. just in case!

Basic documentation for Kiwi. Locate an Avian Professional near the area that you are staying, just in case!

I know that you already know this, but for those who may be reading this: Assure that the motel /hotel allows 'Pets' and that you're pre-approved by the Manager! FYI: If they charge extra for Pets to stay, I always ask for a refund of some percent if not all of the up-charge since both you and Mrs. Boats will leave the room in better condition that when we arrived.

 

[Kiwibird]

So were going over to Seaside at the beginning of August, which is only 90 miles from out front door. Going to keep things simple- POB, perch, food and a first aid kit. Oh and I brought out the wicked nylon strapping avian torture device this morning (i.e. his feather tether). We normally just allow Kiwi out of his POB but I got to thinking those wind gusts down at the beach are so strong, he probably should be on the harness. Plan to shove his butt in it a few times a week over this upcoming month to “reacquaint” him with his old nemesis. He shan’t be pleased but I’m sure he’ll get over it when he isn’t stuck in his POB the entire trip.