Do you plan on traveling with a bird? Whether you're moving or simply want to take your bird on vacation with you, you'll need to plan careful and take extra precautions to protect the health and well being of your pet. Some birds adjust to travel by car better than others. If your bird has never taken a car trip, you may want to consider acclimating him to his new surroundings by taking him on a few short trips through your neighborhood. By doing this, you'll be able to see how your bird reacts to the movement of the car.
When traveling with a bird, you need comfortable travel quarters. For your test runs as well as for your trip, your bird will need a small pet carrier. It should be spacious enough for your bird to move around comfortably and allow for wing flapping. A regular cage won't work as your bird may injure his feet on the wire bars of the cage during your trip.
You'll want your bird to familiarize himself with his pet carrier before the trip begins so he will feel comfortable in his surroundings. When taking the neighborhood test run with your bird, be sure to carry him in the same pet carrier you'll be using on your trip.
What should you include in the pet carrier for traveling with a bird? If you're only planning a short trip (less than two hours), it may not be necessary to include a food dish for a larger bird, although a water dish should be placed in the same location you keep your bird's water dish in his cage at home. Smaller birds should be given a food dish for even a shorter trip. Bring along a familiar toy but be sure it's one that won't injure your pet during travel. The pet carrier should be well secured with a harness or seat belt to avoid the cage pitching forward in the event of a sudden stop. Never put a pet carrier in the front seat if you have passenger side airbags.
It's important to take weather into consideration when traveling with a bird. If the weather is warm, you don't want to leave your bird in the car for more than a few minutes since the interior of a car can heat up quickly. Take this into consideration when you plan your lunch stops. Plan on taking frequent breaks to allow your bird to sip water since he may be reluctant to do so with the car moving. Be sure to have a list of avian veterinarians before travel with a bird. You never know when an emergency could arise and you want to be prepared for everything.
With a bit of special preparation, travel with a bird can be an enjoyable and trouble free experience. Just be sure to be prepared and take precautions to protect the health of your avian friend.
