Traveling overseas

[donhcj]

I am moving from New York to Dominica in the Caribbean in a few years. I am wondering if anyone has had any experience traveling long distances with macaws or any recommendations to share. My goal is to make the trip as stress-free for the birds as possible. I am open to all options - whether it be plane, cargo ship, cruise ship, ferry or even private jet lol. In particular:

1) How long can macaws be in a travel cage without any danger of physical or mental harm?

2) Depending on the answer to number 1) should I plan to drive the birds to Florida (maybe in a van in their cages) to make the plane journey as short as possible?

Any suggestions or even cautionary tales would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[JerseyWendy]

OOOOH!!! Lucky you and lucky fids!!! The only advice I have for you at the moment is to check with the country's import/export laws to see if your birds are allowed to be kept there. A fellow member moved to South America and was unable to take her Quaker with her due to the laws there. (Sorry, I forgot the country she is in)

As for how to get them there? If the travel crate is big enough, they should be just fine flying.

 

[donhcj]

Thanks Wendy! I haven't heard of travel crates before - I have been using those acrylic carrying cases that I'm afraid would be unsuitable for a long trip. Where have you seen travel crates? I will google them now.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Don, here is an example for you:
http://www.pettravelcenter.com/products/detail/339/4

The birds that were shipped to me (via Delta) all arrived in something like this. You can add a perch if you like, too.

 

[Shayne]

Are their wings clipped? If not just give them a satnav and meet them there. Save you a lot of bureaucratic nonsense.

 

[kimng]

YUP check country you're going to, to see if allowed and if any quarantines and what not. Get health check at vet shortly before travel and a travel cage. My first CAG travelled to Guam, then Hawaii and then back to East Coast with us! She was a seasoned traveler!

 

[Birdman666]

Also, DOCUMENT THEIR ORIGIN HERE IN THIS COUNTRY, AND HAVE DUPLICATE PAPERWORK STASHED SOMEWHERE SAFE...

Getting OUT of the country is a lot easier than brining them back in.

COMING BACK TO THE STATES, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE SUBJECT TO USDA QUARANTINE RULES. WHICH IS NO PICNIC FOR THE BIRD.

 

[JerseyWendy]

....
COMING BACK TO THE STATES, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE SUBJECT TO USDA QUARANTINE RULES. WHICH IS NO PICNIC FOR THE BIRD.

Unless the rules have drastically changed, bringing a bird back into the US that was actually hatched in the US should be a breeze, especially if they are either close banded or chipped.

We took our cockatiel to Germany with us in 1996. She was neither banded nor chipped. Bringing her back to the US was costly, simply because she was required to be vet checked by a USDA Import/Export Vet, with whom I had to schedule an 'appointment' as soon as flight arrangements had been made (several weeks prior to actual travel time). There was no quarantine involved.

Additionally I had to have a health certificate issued by a US vet, issued no more than 10 days within allotted time of travel. For identification purposes my vet was also required to sign and seal 3 photographs of the cockatiel (only because she had no band an no chip).

Ok, I just realized this was for a cockatiel. Rules for big macs 'may' indeed be entirely different. :54:

 

[kimng]

Rules must have changed since I transported Carlos all over the place. I needed paperwork to take her out (health check) but didn't get anything else done while in Guam before going to Hawaii and from Hawaii back to the East Coast. Only cost was flight. No quarantine involved, no vet check either. And that was for a CAG!

But then things change on a daily basis for everything so always check.

 

[itchyfeet]

Are their wings clipped? If not just give them a satnav and meet them there. Save you a lot of bureaucratic nonsense.

And dollars!

:emoticonc

 

[Birdman666]

Rules must have changed since I transported Carlos all over the place. I needed paperwork to take her out (health check) but didn't get anything else done while in Guam before going to Hawaii and from Hawaii back to the East Coast. Only cost was flight. No quarantine involved, no vet check either. And that was for a CAG!

But then things change on a daily basis for everything so always check.

Really? No quarantine for Hawaii?! They're supposed to be the most strict about that stuff...

 

[Birdman666]

....
COMING BACK TO THE STATES, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE SUBJECT TO USDA QUARANTINE RULES. WHICH IS NO PICNIC FOR THE BIRD.

Unless the rules have drastically changed, bringing a bird back into the US that was actually hatched in the US should be a breeze, especially if they are either close banded or chipped.

It's not that difficult IF you have the necessary paperwork proving the bird was hatched here... WITHOUT THAT?! IT BECOMES A HEADACHE...

That's why I said, make sure you have your documentation in order before you leave, so that coming back doesn't become a nightmare!!!