Yes… it’s a fact some people travel with their birds. If you are one of those people who won’t go on holiday without your pets. You will likely only book a holiday that allows you to bring along your furry and feathered friends. 

Sounds like you? We would love to hear from you in the comments to this article.

For others less imaginative you too can discover the joys of travelling with your bird by following a few simple tips.

There are those birds that see traveling as a grand adventure.  There are also those birds that are happy enough, staying put in their home environment.  Your bird won’t be able to tell you if he/she likes to travel, so you will have to do a bit of detective work to find out.  You can begin by taking your bird for short rides in the car.  See how your bird reacts to this.  Is your bird displaying happiness behaviors like puffing up and wagging his/her tail and chirping happily while he watches the world go by, or does your bird cower on the floor of the cage while screaming in protest?

If you know you will be traveling with your bird….. before a purchase, began taking the bird in the car immediately.  Baby birds seem to adjust to this well. Take them on short rides and soon enough you will be amazed that when your bird spies you preparing to leave he will make sure you’re aware that he wants to come too.

If your bird doesn’t seem to want to experience the adventures of the road, you may be able to get him/her to at least tolerate car rides. We know it sounds a little cuckoo, but it has been known to work.  You can begin by bringing the bird into your car without going anywhere at first.  You can bring along favorite toys or treats, showing your bird what good things can happen in the car.  You can then add starting the car, then slowly taking short trips and increasing the time and distance you spend in the car as you see your bird is still comfortable and happy.  Remember to take it slow, our feathered friends, especially parrots, have long memories, so be sure you make the experience seem like fun for you too.

What about by air?

If you are planning to travel by air, this will require a little additional planning.  You will need to tell whoever’s booking your flight and the airline that you will be bringing your bird with you.  You will more than likely be able to travel with your bird and have him stored in an under seat pet carrier, or if it is one of the larger breeds, you may have him travel in a pressurized cargo hold.

Make sure you ask questions like, how long do you have to be there before boarding, what type of carrier is acceptable to use on the plane, and if there is any paperwork involved in order for your pet to accompany you.

Traveling with your bird takes a lot of worry off of your mind.  Your bird is like one of your children and you want to share your new and exciting experiences with your best friend, so think about taking your bird with you the next time you travel.  It isn’t as hard or as complicated as you may think.