Winter Travel (car)

[noodles123]

Just curious about how you guys do this....It may be VERY cold here around Christmas (20 or so degrees F)...maybe colder...
I will be traveling with Noodles (as usual). She is an Umbrella Cockatoo.

I always warm the car up before putting her in and I cover her wire travel cage with a blanket to get her from my house to the driveway, but it is probably 100 some feet, plus I have to lock up the front door as I leave..Not that it takes that long, but still. She tries to peak her head out the bottom, so I know she breathes in some of the cold air...but if the blanket were any lower, I would trip on it.


I worry that going from 70 degrees F to 20-30 degrees F could be a massive shock to her system, even though it is probably no longer than 2-3 minutes.


Do I need to do this differently? Is my current method safe enough? What do you guys do?

 

[itzjbean]

I don't travel with my birds, but would she let you put on a little sweater on her? I see some birds wearing them and they look very cozy for the winter time.

 

[noodles123]

She lets me do what I want when it comes to hats and touching, but harnesses and sweaters are currently a very unlikely possibility lol

 

[Scott]

If you can open the cage a bit once inside the car, how about placing a hot-water bottle inside the cage for the transition? It may produce steam, though, once taken ouside - might be a bit disconcerting?

 

[noodles123]

That's the thing--- I know my home and car are warm enough and I know she doesn't get a full blast of 30 degree (f) air due to covering, but I don't know whether I need to start worrying about that two-three minute jaunt from my house to the car. It may be even less than that...


I think a hot water bottle would produce cold steam (?) and that she might be scared of it lol. Thank you though!

 

[SailBoat]

Julio, our DYH Amazon is a traveling hound near every weekend whether its the heat of the Summer or the Cold of the Winter. Leaving our home is not a problem with regards to wind, as the garage is attached to the house. Where we are going, no such luck. In and out is much as you are doing.

Now, the cottage can be a challenge depending on wind conditions, especially if the snow is deep. We use a cat carrier and a bath towel with a slot for the handle. It works great.

The hit of cold air will have our Amazon fluff-up and a few minutes later he is inside and his feathers are back down and he is comfortable with the World. The problem with cold and healthy Parrots becoming ill is when they are confronted with on-going blasts of cool /cold air during the day and /or night. An occasional blast of air is something that a healthy Parrot easily handles. Since the cold air hits them, they fluff-up and that action holds temperature for a short period of time.

 

[noodles123]

Sailboat, this was always my thought process, but then I started feeling guilty when a family member commented on the risk...I mean, she has made it this far, but I wanted affirmation I guess. Thanks!

 

[bill_e]

My Opinion...and I used to use a towel.

Normal cloth coverings don't do much to block the wind and the thickness of a towel or blanket doesn't provide any insulation. Now I'm not suggesting that you go out and spend a lot of money but I use my Pak-o-Bird and a windproof fleece cover specially made for it. It absolutely keeps her from feeling the shock of the cold weather on her trip from the house to the car.

So perhaps a local fabric shop has some windproof fleece that you can sew into a tight fitting cover.

 

[Laurasea]

I was going to suggest hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. But you can also microwave a towel, or heat one up in the dryer..

 

[bill_e]

Here's a thread from last year on this topic though not about taking the bird to the vet or family, but what do we do in the norther states if we have to leave the house in an emergency...no time for a hot water bottle or heating up the car.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/72728-great-weather-parrot.html

 

[SassiBird]

I have the Caitec Perch N Go. I just wrap one of my jackets around it and zip it up.

 

[noodles123]

Thanks everyone! I am sorry I didn't reply sooner!!!