Being the owner of a pet bird comes with many responsibilities. It includes situations where you may have to safely transport your feathered friend. It may for a check-up with their veterinarian, for nail-trimming, or for wing-clipping your bird. This can only be done if you have them restrained in a travel cage or a bird carrier. Here are the things to know about bird carrier backpacks and the questions that you need to answer before you decide on which one to get.
What Are You Going To Use The Bird Carrier For?
1. Hiking and Outdoor Activities
Bird owners might decide to bring their pet with them on hikes and different outdoor activities. Backpack bird carriers will be your best bet, and they are also available for different birds of different sizes. These bird carrier backpacks are also equipped with different bowls of food or water. Some also come with panels and perches to offer the bird a shade and a natural-ish view if it is required.
2. Short Trips to the Veterinarian
If you would only bring your pet bird out when it has to go to the vet, a bird carrier backpack that is simple and no-frills will be the perfect model for you. It’s a simple one that you can strap to the back seat of your car and enjoy its plain by powerful impact to ease the life and care for your bird.
3. Quick Overnight Stays
Carrier backpacks are also a good choice if you plan on taking your bird on quick getaways or overnight visits. You can also opt to get a carrier cage with a play top so that your pet can also spend time outside of their cage should they want to. Some carrier models are also designed to be the perfect one for transporting birds from one place to another, where it is expected that they will be released to their regular living arrangements. Some of these have fewer features, but it will get your bird safely to your destination.
4. Airline Travel
If you plan on flying with your bird, you must have to get an airline approved bird carrier. There are size restrictions depending on the airline that will dictate whether you can keep your bird under your seat. Be sure to research the airline you plan on using and their regulations. A more detailed guide to mailing your bird via an airline is available in different resources.
5. As An Emergency Precaution During Hurricanes & Storms
Some also purchase an airline carrier with concern against possible extreme weather conditions like hurricanes that they need to plan with the possibility that this bird carrier will serve as a temporary home for their pet bird. For this concern, owners use an adequate space to move around, ease of cleaning, and a robust set of feeding bowls are critical features of a bird carrier that are a must for evacuation purposes.
What Should You Consider For Perch Placement & Size?
If you think about it simply, the basic requirement for getting a bird carrier is ensuring that it is appropriately sized for your pet bird. You should go for a bird carrier that will be spacious enough for the bird to be able to turn around inside, at the minimum. Any kind of bird will also need a perch, and the perch placement is something that must be looked at before you pick a bird carrier.
Some carriers have adjustable perches, while in other cases, the perches are permanent and unmovable. Make sure that what you get is a perch that has the appropriate diameter that will match your bird’s feet and allow the bird to fit comfortably between the carrier’s roof and your bird’s head. The perch must also be high enough that the tail of the bird will not touch the carrier’s floor.
For smaller birds, caution must happen between smaller birds. Small birds can also become stressed in carriers that are designed for larger birds. The smaller birds might also escape through the ventilation holes. Unlike the regular cages, larger does not always equal to better for bird backpack carriers.
What Should You Consider For The Carrier’s Construction Material?
Bird owners must also take into account the possibility that the bird will try to chew their way out of the carrier, even if the bird is calm and relaxed there. Small birds like canaries and finches can be transported in a carrier that is made up of plastic and sturdy fabric.
If you have stronger birds that enjoy chewing, like macaws and cockatoos, you should take special care with birds that use their beaks to make an escape. If the carrier is a cage-type one, stick to materials like aluminum and stainless steel.
For backpack bird carriers, make sure that you acquire models with durable bird-proof materials that also have a top-quality design. The materials that you use to construct mesh panels are very critical in taking care of your avian friend.
How Much Is Your Budget For A Carrier Backpack?
Bird carriers with basic designs that will be used for quick trips to the vet usually cost about under 40 US Dollars. For high-end bird carriers, the price ranges from several hundred dollars, but they are investments that will surely last for a long time.
Additional Tips in Travelling With Your Bird & Using Their Bird Carriers
Once you have decided on a model of a bird carrier backpack, it is time to introduce this new item to your bird’s new enclosure. Before you decide on any trip, make sure that the bird was given a chance to be acclimated to its new surroundings. This might take you some time, but this is essential to reduce stress from your feathered friends.
- If it is possible, go for a bird carrier backpack that resembles the current home of your pet bird. This will lessen the time that it would take for your pet bird to accept its new environment.
- Start by placing the bird carrier backpack inside the room of your bird and let it get used to just seeing the item as a non-threatening item for a few days.
- Put some treats inside the bird carrier when your bird is free to roam around the room. It might entice your bird to peek through the carrier when its natural curiosity takes its own pace.
- Train your bird on drinking from a water bottle. This skill is important to learn when your bird is traveling.
- Before you start an interstate trip with your pet bird, ensure that you have scheduled a health exam, and your bird has obtained verification of health.
- Always securely fasten your bird’s carrier with seat belts in the back seat. Front seats can be critical and dangerous because airbags can cause injury and problems in your bird.
- Make sure that you bring your bird’s favorite treats and food to last for your entire trip. Also, bring a first aid kit with you and some grooming supplies to help you in case of emergencies.
- Never leave your bird unattended inside your vehicle even for just a short while.
