Getting a parrot into an African Grey travel cage can be difficult to do sometimes. That is true, especially when you have not done this before, or you did it only once when your pet was sick. Luckily, I don’t have any problem with my parrot as I don’t find it hard to get the bird into a travel cage.
Whether you need to take your bird to a vet or bring it with you on a holiday break, it may likely hate going into a travel cage. This tutorial will help you learn how you should train your parrot and help it learn how to get into a travel cage.
What You Will Need to Follow This Tutorial
Aside from the travel cage itself, you should be equipped with some tools and materials for keeping the cage clean and well-maintained. Remember, hygiene never leaves for a holiday break.
Keeping the travel cage of your parrot clean throughout those days you two are not at home is very important. If your bird sometimes gets stressed at home, how more if you take it on vacation?
Also, the bird may get stressed the moment you force it to get into a travel cage. It happens as your pet needs time to get used to a travel cage.
The spot where it stays for most of the time at home – be it a cage or the long perch in your living room – serves as its comfort zone. So, taking the animal out to something where it is not familiar can be stressful for it.
To keep the travel cage clean and comfortable for the bird, you have to pack the following:
- Paper towels or cage wipes
- Cage liners
- Cleaning cloths
- Sandpaper
- Bird-friendly disinfectant
- An old toothbrush or scrub brush
In cleaning the travel cage, always keep an eye on the amount of food that your bird had eaten. Also, inspect the droppings and their color, consistency, and quantity. If you notice changes in them, then that may indicate a potential issue.
Boxes or Travel Cages – Which Should You Choose?
Many of us wonder if we should transport our parrots in their cages or boxes instead. Any of these two options may work, but the success depends on the animals themselves. The case differs for every parrot. Birds are good at balancing in the trees. However, that does not mean they will fall off their perches as the car is moving.
In most cases, leaving a parrot in a travel cage is better than using a box. It minimizes the stress of getting your pet jumpy and scared. Moreover, transporting your parrot with a travel cage allows easy access in case you need to clean up the mess and do a quick check-up of your pet.
Boxes can be made of plastic or wood. While they can be handy for taking birds for a trip, birds may get into trouble when the boxes get damaged.
Step by Step Instructions
#1. Train Your Bird as Early as Possible
Baby and juvenile parrots are often easier to train compared to mature parrots. Hence, they can easily adapt to staying in the travel cage without headaches and less drama. Mature parrots are somewhat difficult to teach how to get into a travel cage, but nothing is impossible for a determined owner.
You just need to make the bird feel safe and comfortable inside the travel cage. Use slow and step-by-step training techniques to make sure that time in a confined travel cage will be a rewarding experience for the animal. Try tempting the bird to get into the travel cage by putting treats and toys within.
#2. Make the Travel Cage a Fun Place for Your Pet
A travel cage should be a fun place for your parrot. Your pet should be excited to get into the travel cage once you open the door. In most cases, a travel cage is useful when taking your pet to a nearby park on weekends. However, if you are using one only when taking your pet to a vet, then the animal may likely associate the travel cage use with fear.
If your pet agreed to stay in the travel cage for some time, then let it know that you are happy about what it did. Praise the bird and offer treats. Be sure the bird is calm before you offer it with treats. To train your parrot to behave well when it’s inside the cage, avoid putting it into the travel cage as a type of punishment or a time-out zone.
#3. Don’t Force Your Parrot to Become Accustomed to a Travel Cage as Soon as Possible
Your bird needs time to get used to being placed in a travel cage. A parrot tends to be an explorer, and putting it into a travel cage would be a fun experience for the bird. To make it happen, buy a travel cage several weeks before your targeted travel date.
When you start training your parrot, remember that it will take time for each step. It will demand time to learn how to feel okay with being around the travel cage. Also, it will need time to feel safe when kept inside the travel cage. Moreover, it will need time to feel good when being brought into a moving vehicle while kept in the travel cage.
#4. Acclimate the Parrot to the Travel Cage
Now, it’s time to teach the parrot to get into the travel cage. Get the cage and put it on the ground near to your pet for as long as it can tolerate. When your bird reacts positively to the travel cage, try to move it nearer and nearer.
Put your pet’s favorite perch, toys, and food cup in the travel cage. This will help you encourage the bird to get into the cage. Don’t forget to praise your pet whenever it does. When the bird enters the travel cage, try to shut the door.
To help your pet get used to being in the travel cage for hours, take your pet for a short drive. Your pet also needs to learn how to behave when it’s on the travel cage, and the car is running. For this matter, use the travel cage frequently for a short or long pleasure trip on weekends.
#5. Ensure Your Pet’s Safety Inside the Travel Cage
Your pet’s standard cage can be too big for your vehicle. A travel cage is the best solution. When your pet is in the cage, fasten it securely by using the seat belt then keep it stable while the car is accelerating.
Don’t put the travel cage in the seat next to you. If the airbag inflates, that may cause harm to your pet. Motion sickness can be an issue for your pet. The best solution for it is to cover the cage. Also, don’t fill your pet’s travel cage with swinging or hard objects that can harm the animal once the car stops.
Conclusion
Did you have fun reading this tutorial? This list was important to me as I shared here what I did in teaching my parrot to get into a travel cage. So, I’m encouraging you to try this also for your parrot and see for yourself. Do you have any suggestions? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section. Don’t forget to share the article if you liked it.
