Need tips of moving to a different state with my parrot

[ksee425]

Hi everyone,

I am currently in Pennsylvania at my boyfriend's house with Aerial. He has lived here before and he has a cage and everything he needs here. I just took lease in a duplex out here, but have to return home to New Jersey this weekend to get some more of my belongings. Aerial's more luxurious cage is in NJ, so I will be picking it up when I am home. I have had my mom watch Aerial before for a few days for small trips but have noticed a bit of a temper when I get back. He's a bit snappy or grumpy. I completely understand his sentiments because he must've felt abandoned. Because of this, I have been traveling with him in a carrier for most trips. But, for this particular trip...I feel like it would be easier if I leave him in Pennsylvania to be taken care of for a few days by my bf and his family so I can take apart his cage and pack stuff up without worrying about where Aerial will be when I'm dismantling the cage. Does this seem reasonable? Also, what's the best way to combat the aggression following separation with your parrot? I would like some insight on this or anyone else's experiences on moving with a parrot..thanks

[Michael]

Folks, please don't wait until the day you have to move to start thinking about socializing your parrot and preparing it for being out.

http://TrainedParrot.com/Socialziation
http://TrainedParrot.com/Camping
http://trainedparrot.com/Carnival
http://trainedparrot.com/Disaster_Preparation

If you haven't been preparing your parrot for travel and visiting places all along, it's too late to help you. Just do what you gotta do and work on fixing the problems later on. But for everyone else, don't just assume your parrot will never have to go anywhere else. Start taking it out and about now so that when the day comes, it will be a non-event!

[marie83]

The op said they had already taken the bird on trips.

As for your bird being grumpy you left all you can do is give it time and re-establish your bond with plenty of training even if you need to take a few steps backwards. You will be forgiven.

[pennyandrocky]

if your bf handles him well enough and the birds already there it seams reasonable to leave him where he is rather than drag him along with you while you're going to be busy packing. i don't think there's anything you can do to avoid the attitude your bird will have when you get back. they pout when their people go away for more than a day he'll get over it.

[ksee425]

Aerial is a great traveller already. My bf built him a custom carrier with a perch drilled into it and he has snacks along the ride and water when I stop driving for rests. He's very good in the carrier and makes no fuss at all to go into it. I just ask him to step up, which he does, then he lets me put him right on the perch in the carrier.

I am asking for more advice on the behavior following trips when I can't bring him along, such as being a bit snappy with me or just overall grumpy. He always comes around after a few days of me spending our normal time together.

Pennyandrocky and marie83, you both have similar responses. I do my best at being patient, maybe backtracking a little isn't so bad. Birds do pout, but I have been forgiven so far every time (which has only been two times).

If Aerial attempts to bite me when I go to pet him and say hello upon returning, I usually just hang out in the room his cage is in and talk to him. Then I will approach him in the cage again, request "pet" which is his signal to put his head down for me to rub his head and back, and wait for his response. If he allows me to pet, I pet him then request him to step up. Sometimes we get this far, but he will still "sucker punch" me. And then I return to step one which is just hanging in the room with him to get him used to me being around again. Any suggestions on how to improve this or is it a good approach as is?

[Michael]

Training. Lots of training. Teach tricks. When you get back, instead of immediately trying to put your hands on the bird, do tricks instead. This gets the bird focused and goal oriented. The great thing about doing tricks is that they can be very hands on... but since the bird is thinking about the trick and less about the handling, it goes well.