Parrot Travel

[notscaredtodance]

For the past few weeks I've been leaving my senegal parrot alone from Saturday morning to Tuesday afternoon. She isn't really completely alone. I live with my parents so they do check her food bowl, and I give her enough pellets that she usually doesnt need her bowl refilled. She drinks from a bottle that I make sure is full before i leave. But as far as the isolation goes, I feel bad. She is bonded to me, and tolerant of other people. I want to start bringing her with me when I'm gone, but I want to ask a few questions first.

Does anyone have any experience splitting a bird's living situation? Not just traveling with them, but having two cages in two different places that the bird will stay at back and forth long term.

I'm not keen on spending the money for a travel cage. I have a small parakeet cage that I use to take her to the vet and that I've used to take her to a few bird shows. Would that be okay for a 3 hour car ride to her destination?

I would be driving during sunlight hours. Do birds prefer being able to look around at their surroundings when driving, or do they get stressed? Should I cover her up with a light sheet?

My car's AC doesnt work so I have to drive with the windows down if its hot, but usually the weather is pretty mild. But if I did have to have the windows down part way (not all the way, too much wind for me) would the wind bother her?

The place she'll be at half a week is bird safe. She is free flighted but will probably stay in her cage most of the time since it's not my house and I don't want bird poop to show up on window sills.

Does it seem like a good arrangement?

[Michael]

Does it seem like a good arrangement?

Not really but it still beats sitting home alone for days on end. I like to put Kili's carrier on the floor in the passenger front seat. She has a window she can look up through and see me but it's a bit darker there so she mellows out. Also a safe place from window drafts. I am sure a well socialized parrot can handle going between different locations/cages. Sounds more exciting for the parrot than staying home all day.

Be very careful at both households though in terms of other people. Anything from letting the bird out to cooking with Teflon. All the normal bird-proofing matters we often have taken care of in our care are not suitable in other places. Make sure this is thought through and taken care of before bringing the bird.

[Khaiqha]

Being stuck in a cage for 3 days is not ideal, however, birds do travel well. My loves road trips and looking out the window. The first time she traveled at night kind of spooked her, but now she's comfortable traveling day or night.

I would highly suggest bird proofing a room or closet at your second location so you can let the bird out. Keeping it locked up that long and that often would just make it dread those trips.

[pennyandrocky]

my loved car rides because it meant going to the park,mall,or camping.he enjoyed staring out the window seeing new things so much that he would growl if anyone spoke to him in the car.

[Tarkus]

Lola makes very frequent road trips with me up and down the east coast. Sometimes we are in the "bird mobile" for 15 hrs.

She has a cage that is exactly like the one in Florida up in jersey and she takes to it all very well. Biggest problem is rest areas and tourist who want photos ! Lol.

She eats , drinks and sings on the road.

Be Big,
Alan

[marie83]

My conure used to split his time between mine and my boyfriends, it was a shorter journey but it would be done in the early evening and we would go home the next morning approximately every other day. He soon got used to it and slept soundly in his 2nd, smaller, cage that we kept there.
To be honest I think it only worked out because my boyfriend didn't mind him being out and understood he couldn't spray things, use teflon etc whilst my bird was here.