Taking macaw on holiday?? Yes or no?

[EloiseAndMonty]

Hello,

I live in the UK, with Monty my 30 year old rescue B&G. Had him about 2 months and he is amazing. He has come so far and is so happy now.

Anyway, in July/August we go to the south of France (my family own a wine donaine and loads of private land so not like a hotel or anything) and I dont know what the rules are on taking your bird on holiday?

As I have only had him 2 months I do not want him to feel abandoned. He has come so far with me, he cuddles me, steps up, plays with me, is learning tricks and he basically spends at least 5 - 8 hours a day with me and the rest of the time has full access to the house. Before this he spent 29 years trapped in a tiny cage, has never flown or stretched his wings, dark dusty kitchen no love. I'm amazed at how well he is doing. My partner wants to leave Monty behind when we go away as we drive down and it's a good 20 hour drive and you know... Macaws can be loud. We would also have the 2 dogs and a 4 year old in the car. The weather is hot in the south of France that time of year. Reaching about 45°C in the shade on some days.
Would Monty be better off staying at home with a pet sitter, in a shop or bird kennel or coming with us?

 

[noodles123]

113 F in the shade???? Are you sure? My state in the US has gotten that hot before, but it's not very common (maybe once a year). Either way, you won't want temperatures much over 80 F (26.6 C) with a bird and even then, you are looking at frequent misting etc.

Is there a house?--if so, I am guessing it would have air conditioning with temperatures like that. That is hot enough to cause heat sickness for a person...just saying...I know a lot of houses don't have it, but 113 F is way hotter than the majority of places in Europe without central air.

I'd take him with you if there is a house and if the house itself isn't that hot. A macaw isn't going to tolerate the heat very well. Especially without having been given weeks to adjust to new temperatures.
If there is a house, you are going to need to make sure that your family isn't using harsh chemicals (bleach to clean etc) OR cooking with/heating up teflon/ptfe/pfoas in any form. You'll also need a travel cage suitable for that length of time. If there is no house, those temperatures are going to be too hot for him....

A month is half of the time it took him to get this far so leaving him that long seems risky...Plus, a pet sitter won't be able to allow him out as much as he needs to be. It's a long time to leave a bird. There is a certain level of disease risk when boarding (as birds hide illness and many carry viruses). If you board him at a place that sees other birds (vet or shop) there is risk involved. It is impossible to test multiple birds accurately for things like PDD/PBFD (due to intermittent shedding and asymptomatic cases--birds can test negative bit still spread the illnesses).
Regardless of all of those considerations, it's the length of time that concerns me most. My bird gets super upset with me over short trips...

If this is something you do yearly, you might want to just buy another full-size cage and leave it at the house in France (again, if there is a house). The cost of a pet setter for one month would probably exceed the cost of another cage anyone...and even if it doesn't the bird will be happier with you.
If you can't afford another copy of the cage you have currently, there are other cheaper large cages available that you could potentially have shipped to you in France.
If there is no house, that is going to be too hot so, personally, I would look at cutting your trip a bit short (that's just me). I think 2 weeks is way too long as it is, but it would certainly be better than 1 month. AGAIN, just my opinion.

If you have to get a sitter, make sure your bird gets to know them ahead of time and see if they would be willing to stay at the house....?

 

[plumsmum2005]

You will need to check on the requirements of taking him to France from the UK. With Brexit things are a b*ggars muddle right now. You do not want to get to the port and get stuck going or coming back.

Feel free to pm me and will try to locate some info for you.

You will need to check the CITES status of your B&G and then hit the government websites in a nutshell.


I think you could be asking a lot of him whichever option tbh. You have only just had him, boarding may make him insecure? Some previous history could be helpful hun?

 

[noodles123]

You will need to check on the requirements of taking him to France from the UK. With Brexit things are a b*ggars muddle right now. You do not want to get to the port and get stuck going or coming back.

Feel free to pm me and will try to locate some info for you.

You will need to check the CITES status of your B&G and then hit the government websites in a nutshell.


I think you could be asking a lot of him whichever option tbh. You have only just had him, boarding may make him insecure? Some previous history could be helpful hun?

VERY, VERY GOOD POINT! I totally forgot that you would be leaving the country with your bird. You will want to know about exit and entry requirements etc etc--start gathering paperwork now...It can be a huge pain depending on the countries involved. It may be slightly less difficult by car, but I am guessing you will still have to cross check-points at borders. If you will be traveling through more than one country, you will need to investigate those as well. Entry vs. exit requirements are often different, so keep that in mind if you do this.

 

[itzjbean]

I would not travel with him -- 20 hour car ride and not knowing what country rules you need to follow, there are going ot be a lot of things you don't know for sure, and bringing your mac to all these new places will likely stress him out much more then leaving him at home with a trusted pet sitter. Sounds like there would also be no cage for him at the place too unless you are bringing one for him to sleep in, not to mention his food that he needs and toys to keep busy, you'll likely worry more about your bird then enjoy your trip. On top of that he could possibly have some traveling restrictions with parrots that you don't know about until you get there and then he could get taken away or something.

Just leave him at home and enjoy your trip!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Just one other point that has reared it's head this week is the availability of a trained avian vet in a foreign country, EU or not. Usually by the time we notice something in our birds it has been brewing a little while and getting to an Avian Vet is important. Driving for hours on end is not good for them or you at such a time so please do have a look and cover all the bases.

 

[Scott]

What a fantastic vacation opportunity, but the details require much thought as you suggest.

Monty has new-found freedom and love, but the logistics of travel seem daunting as does the extreme temperature. My first reaction to the drive would be to suggest you fly with him and skip the long journey. Might not be practical and unsure if local airlines permit a pet in the cabin. (I would not ship him as freight given the temperature)

Hiring a qualified sitter might be the best option provided he is allowed time outside the cage. Keeping Monty captive for the better part of 2 months might result in regression or mutilating behaviors. Parrots respond to video imaging via Skype/Face Time, one method to offset the separation.

 

[EloiseAndMonty]

113 F in the shade???? Are you sure? My state in the US has gotten that hot before, but it's not very common (maybe once a year). Either way, you won't want temperatures much over 80 F (26.6 C) with a bird and even then, you are looking at frequent misting etc.

Is there a house?--if so, I am guessing it would have air conditioning with temperatures like that. That is hot enough to cause heat sickness for a person...just saying...I know a lot of houses don't have it, but 113 F is way hotter than the majority of places in Europe without central air.

I'd take him with you if there is a house and if the house itself isn't that hot. A macaw isn't going to tolerate the heat very well. Especially without having been given weeks to adjust to new temperatures.
If there is a house, you are going to need to make sure that your family isn't using harsh chemicals (bleach to clean etc) OR cooking with/heating up teflon/ptfe/pfoas in any form. You'll also need a travel cage suitable for that length of time. If there is no house, those temperatures are going to be too hot for him....

A month is half of the time it took him to get this far so leaving him that long seems risky...Plus, a pet sitter won't be able to allow him out as much as he needs to be. It's a long time to leave a bird. There is a certain level of disease risk when boarding (as birds hide illness and many carry viruses). If you board him at a place that sees other birds (vet or shop) there is risk involved. It is impossible to test multiple birds accurately for things like PDD/PBFD (due to intermittent shedding and asymptomatic cases--birds can test negative bit still spread the illnesses).
Regardless of all of those considerations, it's the length of time that concerns me most. My bird gets super upset with me over short trips...

If this is something you do yearly, you might want to just buy another full-size cage and leave it at the house in France (again, if there is a house). The cost of a pet setter for one month would probably exceed the cost of another cage anyone...and even if it doesn't the bird will be happier with you.
If you can't afford another copy of the cage you have currently, there are other cheaper large cages available that you could potentially have shipped to you in France.
If there is no house, that is going to be too hot so, personally, I would look at cutting your trip a bit short (that's just me). I think 2 weeks is way too long as it is, but it would certainly be better than 1 month. AGAIN, just my opinion.

If you have to get a sitter, make sure your bird gets to know them ahead of time and see if they would be willing to stay at the house....?

Yes it really does get that hot. People die in the summer where we go in France. We have a home there with air con and our car has air con. The home is always nice and cool, and would be no hotter or cooler than he is used to. I would not be allowed to fly with him I have checked. Also my partner categorically REFUSES to bring him with us.
I just love Monty so much and i just want to give him the best. My partner also refuses for me to stay at home with Monty whilst the family go away.

 

[Scott]

Hmmm, that is a lot of definitive restrictions. Hard to envision a compromise other than you not spending the entire time in France. Is it possible for you to join the family a bit later, returning sooner, and perhaps making an intermediate quick trip home in the middle. Roughly two months is a long time to be separated as you feel so strongly. My suggestion would involve you flying by yourself to and from.... if that is financially and logistically possible.

My sense is your partner views Monty as "just an animal" and unaware (or dismissive) of the very deep bond.

 

[EloiseAndMonty]

Hmmm, that is a lot of definitive restrictions. Hard to envision a compromise other than you not spending the entire time in France. Is it possible for you to join the family a bit later, returning sooner, and perhaps making an intermediate quick trip home in the middle. Roughly two months is a long time to be separated as you feel so strongly. My suggestion would involve you flying by yourself to and from.... if that is financially and logistically possible.

My sense is your partner views Monty as "just an animal" and unaware (or dismissive) of the very deep bond.

It is a 2 week holiday. I would be gone for 2 weeks.

 

[noodles123]

I thought you would be gone for a month +.
2 weeks is still going to set you back in terms of your relationship, but not as badly as a whole month. Your partner doesn't sound too willing to work with you on this one...Not sure how that works, but it seems like maybe a discussion about compromise is needed.
It's a tough situation either way...I would definitely get an in-home sitter who can let him out daily and spend time with him etc. I would also Skype or Facetime the bird.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Jump on FB and join some of the UK parrot charity sites - there may be someone in the vicinity that can have him, maybe they already have a B&G?

 

[noodles123]

Jump on FB and join some of the UK parrot charity sites - there may be someone in the vicinity that can have him, maybe they already have a B&G?

Not saying you can't do this, but big risk there is all of the hidden diseases for which testing is difficult (e.g., PDD, ABV and PBFD). False negatives in a large number of asymptomatic birds makes bringing your bird around others less safe. Feather dust etc can spread these, so it's super contagious in a shared air-space if any bird is a carrier. Testing is far too expensive for most people at charity shops/rescues, so most birds will not have been tested for these viruses--especially because of the high possibility of false-negative results (and the same viruses do not show up on a CBC which is more common). It can take anywhere from a month to 10 years for a bird to test positive if it is going to, but these diseases do kill birds when the patients become symptomatic.
Not saying that people never board, but it's not the safest choice if others are available.

 

[Scott]

I was thinking your trip was closer to two months! Two weeks should be far more manageable, particularly if you are able to Face Time/Skype daily.