How to Road Trip with Pet Birds
Dog and cat owners may envy bird owners in regards to the road trip. Their pets already have cages and birds do not need pit stops, but they do not know the other things bird owners have to plan for. You can road trip with birds, but you need to be prepared.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
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1
Make sure your cage or carrier fits in the car. Some birds have huge cages. In those cases, you will need to make sure you have a carrier or a smaller cage for the trip. Make sure you can easily get the cage in and out of the car and that it fits in the seat. You do not want to tilt or angle the cage to make it fit.
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2
Buckle the cage into the seat using the seat belt. Some cages will fit into the front passenger seat and the shoulder harness works. Other cages are too big for this. If you have the special child seat buckles, those might help secure the cage. Keep your birds safe. Remember anything not belted down will fly in an accident. Seat belts might just save their lives too.
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3
Do shorter trial trips. If your birds have not traveled before, do smaller trial trips to see their reactions. Some birds love road trips. Other birds are completely stressed out by the car. Know how your bird will react, and be prepared to deal with it. If your bird does not react well, you may want to take a blanket or a cage cover to cover the carrier. You do not want to overly stress the bird.
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4
Do not leave them in the car. This might seem like a no brainer, but just like with any pet, do not leave them in the car. That means if you stop to eat get it to go or fast food, do not sit down for a three course meal. Be aware of other people. Travelers see dogs and cats all the time. Birds in the car are a novelty. People may come up to your car and look in the windows or try to open the doors. This could really stress your bird out.
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Be prepared. Make sure you have everything you will need for the trip. Keep the bird food, treats, first aid items and bottled water on hand. Make sure the emergency items are easily accessible. You never know when the water bottle will spill or someone will injure themselves. It is best to be ready for the worse case scenario.
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