Cockatoo's and vacation

[gary&chloe]

A vacation with the family? Nothing can be better. But sometimes pets can be a damper. This is especially so if the pet happens to be a cockatoo.

If you are planning on getting a cockatoo then a vacation in the first year of getting one is simply out of the question. So, if you are planning on taking a vacation with the family, make sure that your cockatoo is a year or older.

Turn the yellow pages. There are pet sitters listed in there. Talk to them or visit them. You can leave your pet cockatoo in their care. A dealer in pets could be another option. But there is always the increased possibility of the bird contacting some infection there. This option could be your last preference. It would be better if a friend or relative could care for the bird in your absence. The cockatoo can be left at their house.

The final possibility is to ask someone to come home daily, to feed the bird and spend some time socializing with it. Food and attention is what a bird needs in an owner's absence. However, many feel uncomfortable with all of these options. In such cases taking your cockatoo with you is the only answer.

For obvious reasons this option will require proper planning. And you may need to begin work on this well before the intended vacation. Call up the place where you are planning to stay. Some people may not be familiar with birds. They should be willing to house your pet. And if a hotel stay is planned, then prior permission will probably be required. Some hotels do not allow pets.

The next appointment should be with the avian vet. Let the caged bird sit in a car for sometime. Gradually take it on small joy rides. The bird will soon start to enjoy these trips. Then take it on longer journeys. Never allow a bird free in the car. Always keep it caged.

Air travel calls for a different set of preparations. Call up the airlines and find out if pets are allowed in the cabin. Making an advance booking for the pet is important. A vet's certificate of health is normally valid for only ten days. If the trip is for more than ten days then a fresh certificate will have to be taken.

Buying a travel cage before hand is important. Preparation for the journey has to begin ten days before the intended date. Fortify the birds diet with vitamins. During the journey the cockatoo should be given smaller feeds.

The final step is packing up the things you will need for the cockatoo. Make a list before hand. Items can be added to it.

This is from the book "All About Cockatoo's."

http://www.all-about-cockatoos.com/nl/newb/Nbnl15.htm

I think it is something we cockatoo owners should know. My next vacation, my Princess is going with me, I hope. I left her with the other birds and paid a person to come in twice a day and sit with them, read to them, etc. It worked good, but I missed her, so next time, I'm going to try some of the things mentioned above.

[Jean]

I have to disagree with some of this cockatoo vacation myth. We' took Elvie on his first 3,000 mile round trip vacation when he was 7 months old. He has always been a trooper and loved to travel anywhere. He looks at each trip or vacation as his special outing. He enjoys and sleeps well if it's in motel ofter motel, or friends or relatives homes.

I always carry a few large sheets to throw over the beds so he has a clean play surface once we check in. I get on there with him so we can play ball or catch together so he gets adequate exercise and play time in addition to him playing with his toys during travel time and when he is out riding on one of us. I always make sure to have thought of what your bird needs to make the trip comfortable and enjoyable. Elvie travels in and out of his travel cage his regular baby carrier with a hood where he can lay down to sleep or play in. We also take his play/travel carrier once we stop to take a break and eat. It's good to offer them a variety of choices, perch, flat surface and on you during your long trips. I always take two of his favorite toys in addition to new toys to make him feel very special when we go on a weekend trip of vacation.

Elvie has flown on airplanes on board with me many times since he was a baby. He has always been excellent and kept amused and chatting with everyone.

I do agree with much that is stated about planning your trip in advance. However, we've never encountered a problem with him being accepted in a motel once they take one look at him and know he has a cage. I always make sure there is no seeds or what not left behind for the maids to clean up.

[Shirley]

2nd paragraph... the first year is out of the question?
hmmm. We took about 7 parrots on a road trip to Ginny's 17 hrs drive to Florida from Indiana... they all did just super! Kilroy had a clutch she was still feeding, and all the larger parrots were with us, of varying ages.
Some of our birds had short trip experience, some did not have any travel experience. All did equally well.

Some had no "road experience" at all -- all did fine. We did this two years in a row. Actually, Skyler's first road trip was from Florida to Michigan when he was about 3 weeks old... his breeder picked him up in Florida and drove him home.

Also... while I won't advise others regarding this... ours were out of their cages and much happier out for several hrs at a time when we were on long stretches of Interstate highway. We caged them through the large cities if the Interstate had a series of interchanges we needed to watch for and navigate. They were caged before we opened doors at gas stations.

Skyler and Shelby took turns on Steve's shoulder, falling asleep as he drove down the highway.

Holly hung out with me.

If any of the birds had been interested in fooling with Steve's face or hands or not been content to sit and look out the window, then they would have been safely caged so as not to interfere with the driver. That was never the case, however.

With common sense, we can all handle vacations safely, just as we do with our children on long trips.

[parrotgirl]

I would love to take bucc in the car, but he has to be caged, We're not allowed to have them free in the car, when he is in his travel cage even sitting with me he will scream. I've even tried covering him, he just screams more. Guess he thinks we are going to the vets everytime we get in the car. He loves our vet, but the best part is definately the last part with the vet, when he gives Bucc a special treat, and Bucc gives him a kiss then says come on mum.

[Shirley]

I don't take anyone uncaged if I'm the only one in the car... and if I'm driving, Holly is caged, b/c "I'm her person".

[Sue]

We have found the best and by far the less stressfull way is if someone you trust comes and lives at your house, my Dad lives here while we're away so the birds aren't moved out.

[vmtwriter]

We take Bailey on vacation with us. When we go to the Keys we stay in an apartment that allows pets. If the apartment isn't available, we stay in a hotel that we tell ahead of time about our bird and our dog. We've only encountered one hotel that accepts pets that wouldn't accept birds. Trust me, they won't get our business. :-) For Christmas last year, we went to Pennsylvania from Florida.

We put Bailey in his travel cage and fill it with toys. His travel cage is a large 'tiel or budgie cage. It's big enough for him to have a few perches and a collection of toys to play with along with water and food dishes.

Bailey loves to travel in the car. He shows no sign of stress at all and enjoys looking out the windows.

I bring his cage cover so that when it's bedtime, I can cover Bailey before he gets too vocal.

Like Jean, I pick up after Bailey, so that there is no food or seed left for housekeeping to clean. I don't want them to get a bad impression of having birds stay.

FWIW, we also bring Jack with us when we go on vacation. I really wouldn't have it any other way. I much prefer bringing my pets with me than boarding them. It's less stressful for me and them.

[Shirley]

Like Vicki said... we pick up after our pets when we travel... we've had dogs and cats in motel overnights with us, and not a crumb of litter or food is left behind... and they are crated in the hotel room... not a chance for anything unexpected, and I doubt they'd do anything unexpected anyway, but Sonja is so used to sleeping in her crate... and the crate prevents the cat from accidentally walking out the door. We never leave any pet in a room when we aren't in there with them.

We drove straight through to FL with the birds, but had planned to stop along the way. It was easier, Steve decided, to just keep on driving than to unload a van-full of cages just to load up again after sleeping a few hours. Had we stopped... we would have stayed at a Motel 6 (they allow pets) and parked right at the door going to the room... no stairs, no inside hallways... cheap sleep, not "vacation-style" overnight... just a decent place to sleep where pets are allowed and parking next to the entry door to the room is available.

We've kept Sonja (pre-bird days) at nicer places, no problems. Don't know why, but she is very quiet and "whisper barks" in the motels... Keeping her from barking is our big priority... and she's amazingly cooperative with that.