Traveling with a macaw

[Jennd5184]

Has anyone traveled a long distance with their macaw? Our lease here in Dallas is up next March, and my husband is wanting to migrate west, to the lovely city of Las Vegas. While we have a while, we were talking about how we would move her this evening, and I'm completely lost. I've had others tell me a travel carrier, but the drive there is 19-20 hours. Isn't that a long time for them to be in a travel carrier? We'll probably stop halfway for the night, but she still wouldn't be able to be out too terribly much. How much stress does this usually cause the bird? Has anyone moved with their macaw?

 

[ParkersMom]

hey...haven't traveled with our macaw yet but back in october we took our amazon on a 15-16 hour car trip to south dakota and back from tennessee He did fine we put him in a pet carrier and just let him out when we stopped to eat or get gas... and took lots of treats and toys to keep him busy... you might try a dog crate so Tiki can see everything and that would let you easily attach a perch and maybe some soft toys...nothing hard because it could swing and hurt him/her...hope this helps...also start with short trips now so Tiki gets use to the car and other people and places

 

[WharfRat]

My Mac's love going places in the van, never gone more than 4-5 hours though. Biggest thing I noticed is keeping an eye on their water bowls. We had to keep bottled water with us to keep them replenished. On long trips in carrier, short trips here in town they sat on the headrest.

 

[ParkersMom]

Keikos spot in the car is the headrest too...how funny...sometimes she doesn't want me to get her down

 

[Kiwibird]

The longest trip we've taken Kiwi on was the 4+ hour drive home when we first got him. He pretty much just slept or played with the little toy in his travel cage the whole way. We did stop about 2 hours in to give him some water/food, but a longer drive didn't phase him at all. In fact, he LOVES the short car rides we frequently take him on now.

We personally travel with him in a small cage (about 18x18") with a single perch, 2 removable dishes and a toy rather than a carrier. He seems to like holding the bars with one foot for balance when stopping and making turns, and I would be scared he would flop around in a smooth sided carrier. He also enjoys having a toy, which you can't really hang in a carrier. A few years ago we were evacuated for a fire, and he spent 2 days in his travel cage and didn't seem to be bothered by the temporarily small accommodations. He will be spending around 4 days in it on the road when my husband and I move this summer, and I just can't see how that short of a time is going to affect him in any way (especially since we will be making stops every few hours to give him food/water and letting him out at the hotels). For parrots who are fine with car rides, I think a few day drive isn't going to leave a lasting affect. I will say, some parrots are absolutely scared poopless of driving in the car, regardless of what you transport them in. If your bird is one of the ones who is scared of car drives, I highly recommend you start now taking him for short drives around the block to get him use to the idea before you subject him to a few day long trip of terror.

 

[Doves1]

I just came back from a 12 day trip with my Scarlet Macaw. If you have room in your vehicle I fully suggest getting a bigger dog kennel, you can set up a perch in there and put in toys for your Macaw. If not get a bird suit and a pet barrier mesh and just let her have the roam of the back seat while you drive.

Some Macaw's are better traveler's then others, Phoenix loves his traveling, it's to the point that I tell him we're going on a trip and he goes into his carrier on his own.

As for stopping for the night you'll have to find a pet friendly hotel, that's the hard part. But if you get a kennel for the trip it won't hurt your macaw to sleep in there for the night.

Here's a picture of the kind of kennel I have for traveling with Phoenix
Use large dog kennel as a broody box?

 

[Alwese]

I take my Scarlet Clifford and my B&G Kayko everywhere. They are in two all steel dog crates in the back of my Chevy Blazer. I actually own 6 dog crates of different sizes and when I take the macaws to St. Augustine to entertain the tourists I use the bigger cages with a front and rear perch and bowls. I have heard some macaws get car sick, but mine love to ride and talk with us in transport. I have never tried to find a pet friendly motel, but the thought of doing that worries me.