Travel cages

[ZephyrFly]

I've looked at Pak-O-Bird travel bags and although I love the idea of them, to get one is a a struggle for me. I live in the UK and I've only found 2 retailers that stock it, one of which will stop after they sell what they have after some problem with the company that make Pak-O-Bird, the other (both online shops) store only supplies the medium size bag, which I feel is too big for a travel cage for a gcc.
Pak-O-Birds are very good quality but pricey, getting one would cost me the same as my green cheek's cage, I've considered buying straight from the manufacturer but with the delivery cost overseas and import tax it's hideously expensive to get one like that.

SO, I'm looking at other options. I'm looking for anything people can tell me about any travel cages similar to Pak-O-Bird. I've looked at:
Soft Sided Bird / Parrot Travel Carrier - Other
(Doesn't really have a name)
I like the look of this but the main downside is the lack of eveyrthing inside it. It's an ok size for a travel cage, a touch bigger than the travel cage I initially bought for my gcc (said cage is small but very cumbersome, and I've slightly turned this cheap thing into a play area for my bird). If I did get it I'd find a way to hang a small toy in it and stick (safely) a bowl to the bottom of the cage to out a little food or water in.

But I am open to other options! Which I am hoping someone can give me.

Any help is welcome!

 

[ZephyrFly]

Bumping this cause I'd like at least some feedback :c

 

[Kyoto]

My alternative travel carrier is one meant for small rodents. It's plastic and doesn't have a place for food or water, but it's good for vet visits or short rides to places.

I love the pakobird and I'm really happy to have spent the money on it personally.

 

[ZephyrFly]

that's what I figured, it's just a bit of an investment

 

[TacoNTiki]

I hope I am not too late to reply but I second the pak-o-bird. We have the x-small and find it is the perfect size for either our GCC or cockatiel. They are very well made, especially if you get the stainless stell mesh one.

 

[Xraysrrad]

Hey ZephyrFly,

I have the one you are looking at and I really like it. I bought the large one, even though my guy is pretty little. I use it to go between my permanent home and vacation home which is an hour and a half drive. (I guess it would depend on how far you are going.)

I do put a couple of small tupperware containers in it for the trip.

Bodhi seems to enjoy it. We live in the country, so there are quite a few roads that are in bad shape. Being in a metal type cage and the vibrations upset him. Don't have that problem with this.

 

[ZephyrFly]

That's reassuring, I'm still looking around but I'm leaning on this still (unless I can get the Pak-o-bird somewhere for a more reasonable price).
A couple questions for xraysrrad.
Do you fix the bowls down or just sit them in the bottom of the travel bag?
Also is there any loop or something that you can hang a small toy from or do you find your bird doesn't care?

 

[Xraysrrad]

I just put the small tupperware at the bottom, so it is flat.

There isn't a loop for toys although my husband and I have discussed adding one. I don't think it would be that difficult.However, typically, he doesn't seem to play with any toys when traveling, as a general rule.

 

[ZephyrFly]

I just put the small tupperware at the bottom, so it is flat.

There isn't a loop for toys although my husband and I have discussed adding one. I don't think it would be that difficult.However, typically, he doesn't seem to play with any toys when traveling, as a general rule.

As you guys talked about it, did you know how you'd add a loop (stitching on some rope or something?)?

I dont think my gcc pays much heed to the toy in his travel cage but I like it in there. I May get the smaller size but to be seen to be honest.

 

[ZephyrFly]

I know this is a bit of an old thread now but Xraysrrad, you got the large size bag, what was the perch size like?
I'm thinking about using this bag as a way to bring pazu with me to my mum's for Christmas (and the 20min drive to the vet when it happens) so he's not left alone most of the day. It's only about a 30min drive or so and he'd have out time at my mum's but the bag would be where he stays while we eat dinner and things.
The large is also easily bigger than his current travel cage but the small (recommend) size is almost exactly the same size.

 

[Xraysrrad]

Hi ZephyrFly,

The large has 2 perch heights.

Attaching pictures. Hope this helps.

Robin

 

[ZephyrFly]

Thankyou very very much! I'm conviced then, large it shall be.

 

[SoCalWendy]

I use a small animal carrier by Katee. it has a plastic bottom and a wire top. and it opens from the top. Comes with a small perch (optional use) so if you have a bird its great. you can use those small ss cups with it and bolt on, for some food and water. I love it.

 

[ZephyrFly]

That sounds cool, I would just like something a little bigger and easier to put my bird into. I currently have to train my gcc to go into his travel cage days before hand because the door to the cage is so small. If he decided he didn't want to go in and I tried to by hand put him in, he wouldn't. Part of wanting this travel bag is lightweight, my gcc hasn't been able to damage fabric (he's tried) and the big door, it seems more welcoming.

Plus I'm thinking of punching some eyeletts into it so I can hang a toy and a bowl in it.

 

[DexMom]

I'm also interested in a travel cage because my family takes short 2-3 days trips a few times a year. The pak-o-bird seems really neat for the actual travel from place to place part, but can the bird be housed in it for a few days? We typically stay at a hotel, so our ekkie needs to be contained in his cage while we are out during the day and the pak-o-bird looks a little claustrophobic for hanging out in.

I have one of these [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Products-Travel-1305-20-Inch/dp/B003VVP0KU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437270426&sr=8-1&keywords=travel+cage]Amazon.com : Prevue Pet Products Travel Bird Cage 1305 White, 20-Inch by 12-1/2-Inch by 15-1/2-Inch : Pet Supplies[/ame] which the breeder recommended for day trips, but Dexter was NOT happy in it, so much so that once he was out getting him back in was a huge struggle - and he was a grump for days after we returned home.

 

[ZephyrFly]

For an ekkie as a simple travel cage that seems just OK (I've no practical experience with ekkie's), but as a travel and resting cage that seems a bit small to me. Although we don't want travel cages too big for the actual travel.

To be honest, a Pak-o-bird would be ok for you but for what you want I think you just want something bigger that what you have. What you have is probably fine in the car but you definitely want something a bit bigger in he's in a hotel room for a day. Do you give him some time out with you when youre at hotels or just keep him caged?

 

[Ripstied]

I've looked at Pak-O-Bird travel bags and although I love the idea of them, to get one is a a struggle for me. I live in the UK and I've only found 2 retailers that stock it, one of which will stop after they sell what they have after some problem with the company that make Pak-O-Bird, the other (both online shops) store only supplies the medium size bag, which I feel is too big for a travel cage for a gcc.
Pak-O-Birds are very good quality but pricey, getting one would cost me the same as my green cheek's cage, I've considered buying straight from the manufacturer but with the delivery cost overseas and import tax it's hideously expensive to get one like that.

SO, I'm looking at other options. I'm looking for anything people can tell me about any travel cages similar to Pak-O-Bird. I've looked at:
Soft Sided Bird / Parrot Travel Carrier - Other
(Doesn't really have a name)
I like the look of this but the main downside is the lack of eveyrthing inside it. It's an ok size for a travel cage, a touch bigger than the travel cage I initially bought for my gcc (said cage is small but very cumbersome, and I've slightly turned this cheap thing into a play area for my bird). If I did get it I'd find a way to hang a small toy in it and stick (safely) a bowl to the bottom of the cage to out a little food or water in.

But I am open to other options! Which I am hoping someone can give me.

Any help is welcome!

I bought a large Wingabago for my cockatoo (they sell smaller version). It's awesome and I think a lot safer than your soft cases. It's made out of type of acrylic so they can see everything going on around them, 2 stateless steel bowls attached to door, comes with a perch, and a hanger from ceiling for a small toy or snack. I strap mine into the car seat belt and go. If you get the optional stateless steel door it's also an approved carrier for airplanes. Don't know if they ship to UK, but you can call the company owner. She's super sweet and helpful. In fact, if you call her and if she has a carrier with a scratch or cosmetic blemish she'll sell it to you for $25 off the online price. PlayfulParrot.com
http://www.playfulparrot.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/wingabago2.png

 

[DexMom]

For an ekkie as a simple travel cage that seems just OK (I've no practical experience with ekkie's), but as a travel and resting cage that seems a bit small to me. Although we don't want travel cages too big for the actual travel.

To be honest, a Pak-o-bird would be ok for you but for what you want I think you just want something bigger that what you have. What you have is probably fine in the car but you definitely want something a bit bigger in he's in a hotel room for a day. Do you give him some time out with you when youre at hotels or just keep him caged?

He's out as much time as possible when we're at the hotel. But, one of the days of this past trip we were gone from 8:00am until 5:00pm (unavoidable, my DD was in a figure skating competition). When we got back we let him out for the rest of the day/evening until bedtime, but he clearly did NOT want to go back in that cage. The next day we were only gone for a couple of hours and he was out and about the hotel suite for most of the day, it was still a struggle getting him back into the cage when we needed to. He was standing on top of the cage and when I approached (slowly, I knew he was upset) he charged me and gave me the worst bite yet. It killed me putting him inside because I knew he hated it, but I had no choice.

I looked at the Wingabagos in Ripstied's post and they look interesting, but I'm concerned about two things. Airflow and fresh air for a long stay and no bars for my Dex to climb. He loves to climb around inside his cage.

 

[ZephyrFly]

My green cheek is so stunned by being outside and new people he doesn't really chew anything in his new travel cage but I see the appeal in those wingabagos.
But like dexter my Pazu likes to climb, and Im in the motions of doing up the travel bag I got. I'm going to drill some holes in it then put in some eyelets and go from there (I'll be able to hang toys, loop in some leather for climbing and attach bowls). currently though I found I had some cut up apple branches that were the perfect size for the cage and attached a bowl to that for now (i like the branch but not the bowl as it is). So I'll look into wingabago but I'm quite happy at the moment