Traveling Parrot

[Carl_Power]

Hi guys hope your all well.

My life has took a huge turn lately and I'm spending more time at my girlfriends house, maybe 3 nights a week. She's really lovely and a huge animal lover, loves Xander almost as much as I do and is really supportive of the fact that I come with 11 inches of fluffy green baggage lol

So my plan is to take Xander with me and everywhere I go now, be it my parents visiting or holidays, away for the weekend, all of that stuff. He has got so social the last few weeks, he's so comfy around my friends and family and just everyone new he meets, adults or children. He really loves showing off around new people, riding on them, stealing glasses lol, I'm so proud of him and want him to be with me as much as possible and experience everything I do.

I guess I need some advice on how to proceed with this. I want to get him a travel cage he can have his toys in and everything and sleep in a few nights a week and be happy in but obviously he wont be stuck in it all the time as I always have him out so mainly just for sleeping. What would be a good size for a Quaker Parrot?

Also I need a new carrier for him, for the vets or if I leave his other cage somewhere. The maximum distance I ever travel is 20-30 minutes at most. I have heard people using the cat carriers and adding perches and toys into them, food and water bowls, any advice?

Any advice I would greatly appreciate as I want my boy with me but I don't really know the pros and cons of him being away from home a couple nights a week but I do know I'm gonna make it as fun as possible for him and a really great experience and ease him into this at his pace just like I have with everything but I'm sure he will be fine. He's always been used to me making things or moving him around sometimes, he even stays on his cage when I clean it all the time, he's a really hardy bird, nothing really scares him now or bothers him too much, thank you x

 

[Jottlebot]

Hi, it seems like you've got it all well thought out.

I don't use a cat carrier, although I think for a frightened bird the extra barrier between them and the outside world could be helpful. I don't just because my Alexandrine wouldn't be able to stand without squashing his tail. Sounds like your Quaker would probably enjoy more of a view too? I just use a small cage that you might house little birds in. I've managed to find one with good, sturdy bars. I add extra cable ties around the bottom for security because it's one of those where the base clips onto the cage.

I don't think there's any need to spend 100s on a proper travel cage, although no doubt they're easier to handle than the cage I use.

Can't advise on size specifically, but if it's just for travel I would get the smallest your bird will be comfortable in and one that fits wherever it needs to be e.g. back seat.

Probably the more consistent you can be with the cage when he's at these places the better, so if he's having a bad day he can know he is safe and secure.

Sounds like you have exciting plans for your little guy!

 

[Jottlebot]

Just to add, I would be careful about putting toys in while travelling. Toys that are safe in a stationary cage can be dangerous when in a moving vehicle etc. They could hit you bird or get tangled.

 

[Carl_Power]

Thank you.

The cage is just for him to be in a couple nights a week and in the day when I work for those days I'm away but it will mainly be weekends so I will have him out a lot so just whatever he will be happy in and he will only be in his carrier 1 hour per week at most so maybe just a perch and a little snack bowl would be good?

Maybe I wont need a food bowl? ill give him some treats so he knows good things happen when he is in his carrier and make it like a training thing do you think?

I do seem to have it thought out lol as I have had many things but Xander is the first to let me know that I haven't haha but that's part of why we love them isn't it x

 

[LordTriggs]

I'd personally go for one of those Cockatiel cages, bit like this

enough room to have a wiggle around and generally hang out but not so big you can't carry it, removing the point of it being for Travel

 

[bigfellasdad]

For a 20-30 minute ride even a cat box would suffice, or even better a ruck sack one with the clear front so the fid can look out of the front window of the car to avoid travel sickness. Make sure you disable the passenger air bag and the air vents are not pointing at him. Make sure you keep a little food and water whilst travelling. IVe heard of people taking ice cubes in a bowl to allow the bird a cold drink as they melt.

 

[bigfellasdad]

Ive bought one of these, its quite large though just for travelling in.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N6GHHSJ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Flboy]

I'd personally go for one of those Cockatiel cages, bit like this

enough room to have a wiggle around and generally hang out but not so big you can't carry it, removing the point of it being for Travel

This would make a great second cage, also a sleep cage. Replace the dowels with a couple branches and add tyewraps to the bottom, corners, and top! These cages are known to collapse and fall apart at the worst possible time!
The food and main door are also an issue, Quakers are known escape artists!

OT, have you ever given your guy a pile of coffee stirrers? He may build a castle!

 

[Carl_Power]

Thanks guys, these cages look great. I'm gonna go for the cockatiel one, he is used to the cage opening at the top and I can get 3-4 toys in and a few preferred perches and he can still move about a lot.

Something like this would do for traveling possibly

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scarletts-...D=511D6%2BXIRnL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

What do you think? ill be holding him when we travel as I don't drive yet but working on it and then ill get him a more secure cage style one like you shown me when I am driving next year x

 

[LordTriggs]

I was actually looking at getting one of those! https://www.scarlettsparrotessentials.co.uk/parrot-travel-bag-large Scarletts direct website so a bit cheaper. from the same person. Scarlett's is really good. Got most of my stuff from them.

As for the time being I would be wary of just holding him. We all know how well they can wiggle out of our hands. I'd say until a travel cage arrives it may be best to hold off on his days out.

Other idea as well. Pets at home do some pretty good cages dirt cheap which would be good for a travel/sleep cage.

Or of course if you really want to splash out you can get a pak o bird

 

[Carl_Power]

Awsome thanks.

I meant hold him in the travel bag/cage when I'm a passenger lol and Scarlett's is a great place to get Parrot stuff your right, I get a lot from there x

 

[LordTriggs]

yeah, she was the first person to really teach me about birds. put me on the right track with the Cage for Rio and a couple toys and perches for him. All doing this at 11PM! I'll never stop singing her praises, and her feathered helpers of course!

 

[bill_e]

I take my bird everywhere and I decided to invest in the Midwest Avian Hotel and the Celltei small backpack.

The cage is very well made and looks nice...a bit heavy at 22 lbs but it can fold down. The Celltei small Pak o Bird is just great and should last a lifetime. it too can fold flat for storage. She pretty much goes everywhere in the Pak-o-bird which has stainless steel mesh screens and protection for all the stitching so the bird cant get at it. It also has covers for all the screens so you can protect her form draft and weather. Took her to the Vet in it this morning at 22°F.

They are both a bit more expensive then other recommendations you've received so far.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MidWest-Av...F8&qid=1511290453&sr=1-1&keywords=avian+hotel

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Celltei-Pa...11290626&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=celltei+travel

 

[wrench13]

Another vote for Pak-O-Bird

 

[Inger]

I take my bird everywhere and I decided to invest in the Midwest Avian Hotel and the Celltei small backpack.

The cage is very well made and looks nice...a bit heavy at 22 lbs but it can fold down. The Celltei small Pak o Bird is just great and should last a lifetime. it too can fold flat for storage. She pretty much goes everywhere in the Pak-o-bird which has stainless steel mesh screens and protection for all the stitching so the bird cant get at it. It also has covers for all the screens so you can protect her form draft and weather. Took her to the Vet in it this morning at 22°F.

They are both a bit more expensive then other recommendations you've received so far.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MidWest-Av...F8&qid=1511290453&sr=1-1&keywords=avian+hotel

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Celltei-Pa...11290626&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=celltei+travel

Do you think small pak-o-bird would fit “under the seat in front of” on an airplane?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bill_e]

Celltei makes super high quality Pak-o-bird and airline carriers.

I dont think any of the Pak-o-bird will fit standing up and the only one I know for sure by dimensions which will fit without scrunching under a seat is the XS (8" tall when laying down) if you lay it down. What I would call the depth of the pack is the middle number in their dimensions which would then become the height of the pack when laying it down.

My small *may* fit laying it down on some of the larger planes but most underseat spaces are only 8-9" high so my 10" deep, laying down that would be 10" high, may fit with some scrunching.

Celltei now makes an airline carrier which looks to be of similar construction to the Pak. it is 10" tall but should be easily scrunched.

Usually on airlines the carrier only has to be under the seat for takeoffs and landing, the rest of the time it can be upright between your legs or on your lap.

One of the great things about Celltei is that you can call them and they can adjust the size of your carrier to your specifications.

Too bad you cant put a "Service Bird" logo on the Pak and sit at the bulkhead with it on the floor

 

[jugoya]

Have you thought of investing in a carrier that can double as a sleep/ travel cage?
That would make your life hecka easy!

 

[Inger]

Celltei makes super high quality Pak-o-bird and airline carriers.



I dont think any of the Pak-o-bird will fit standing up and the only one I know for sure by dimensions which will fit without scrunching under a seat is the XS (8" tall when laying down) if you lay it down. What I would call the depth of the pack is the middle number in their dimensions which would then become the height of the pack when laying it down.



My small *may* fit laying it down on some of the larger planes but most underseat spaces are only 8-9" high so my 10" deep, laying down that would be 10" high, may fit with some scrunching.



Celltei now makes an airline carrier which looks to be of similar construction to the Pak. it is 10" tall but should be easily scrunched.



Usually on airlines the carrier only has to be under the seat for takeoffs and landing, the rest of the time it can be upright between your legs or on your lap.



One of the great things about Celltei is that you can call them and they can adjust the size of your carrier to your specifications.



Too bad you cant put a "Service Bird" logo on the Pak and sit at the bulkhead with it on the floor

Yeah, too honest for that. And that Celltei airline carrier is even more $$$$$$$ than the Pak-o-Bird. [emoji33][emoji33]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[WakaWaka]

It looks like the traveling part has been well discussed.
The only thing that I would like to add is that where ever you are staying, make sure that people in the household are aware of the dangers of things like, scented candles, cleaning product odors, cooking with Teflon pans, cats / dogs etc.

Enjoy the socialization with your buddy and hope he continues to do well with all the friends that he meets.

Thanks
Kelly, Karl, and Arika

 

[Carl_Power]

Hi guys.

So i got a travel bag for Xander, its secure and spacious and he was so well behaved in it i couldnt believe it and he held no grudge against me for putting him in there either which i was really worried about after reading some posts. He has been in a few times now and really enjoys seing the outside world. Nothing bothers him at all it seems.

My lovely girlfriend let me get him a big cage at her house too right in the living room instead of a smaller one bless her, he just loves it so much being part of everything rarther than in my bedroom and ive never seen him so happy. He dived straight in his new cage to play with his new toys, everythings just gone perfectly and so stress free for Xander, i guess ive just got lucky with him because another Parrot or personality it could of been problematic, he is just having the best time and has adapted to everything so smoothely



Here is his new cage x