Need Ideas for macaw travel cage

[PetFoster]

Help! I am one of two coordinators for a local bird rescue, and we recently took in a surrendered Catalina macaw. The person who surrendered him had no travel carrier, so the folks who picked him up used a plastic dog crate, which was chewed through by the time they got to the foster’s home. Unfortunately, now that we have been able to handle the bird, we can tell that he is rather thin, and has trouble gripping perches or balancing on our arm or hand, so he needs to see our vet. How to get him there is the question, because a loose bird in a car would be difficult at best. Do we need to find a crate to accommodate his tail? Is a dog crate the best idea? the trip will only take about 30 minutes each way, but we don’t want to stress him by sticking him in an unsuitable carrier. Keeping in mind we are a rescue operating on a shoestring budget… . We are willing to invest some money, but would like to keep it as economical as possible. Thoughts? Picture for thanks!

 

[April]

He's a beauty! A know a lot of macaw folks use large wire dog crates as travel cages so it can accommodate their larger tails and so they can't chew through it.
@flyzipper @Macawnutz @macawpower58 @faislaq @Greylady1966 @Shezbug is that what yall use?

 

[sunnysmom]

We use dog crates. Something like this one. You just might have to secure door to make sure he can't open it

https://www.chewy.com/midwest-icrate-fold-carry-double-door/dp/45376

You can add a perch too.

 

[flyzipper]

Plastic dog crates work well for my guys.

In unfamiliar situations, they have the added benefit that apprehensive birds can be gently dumped out on the clinic floor since there's nothing for them to hold onto inside the carrier.
... easier and safer than strangers reaching hands inside.

This style...

​

 

[Shezbug]

I use a pak-o-bird but there are much cheaper sturdier options.

If a plastic dog crate is not suitable for a short trip to the vets then there are also dog crates made from wire that I have seen some people use for macaws. I have an old one I used to have for my dogs.

 

[PetFoster]

Thank you all! This is so helpful! He seems like a different bird than the one we picked up a few weeks ago in terms of temperament and calm -- I just don't want to set us back too far. We have a really great vet who is confident and experienced with all kinds of birds, so once we get there, he should be fine.

 

[Icey]

Plastic dog crates work well for my guys.

In unfamiliar situations, they have the added benefit that apprehensive birds can be gently dumped out on the clinic floor since there's nothing for them to hold onto inside the carrier.
... easier and safer than strangers reaching hands inside.

This style...

View attachment 432272​

I've got a similar one for Frankie, but mine doesnt have wheels. I will have to get one with wheels now. They are great size wise, but I find them bulky (for myself) to carry.

 

[flyzipper]

I have long arms, so I don't actually have one with wheels

I will have to get one with wheels now. They are great size wise, but I dfid them bulky (for myself) to carry.

Another option is a furniture moving dolly -- their wheels are far more robust over various surfaces than the ones attached to the crates and it has general utility.

​

 

[Toy]

Plastic dog crates work well for my guys.

In unfamiliar situations, they have the added benefit that apprehensive birds can be gently dumped out on the clinic floor since there's nothing for them to hold onto inside the carrier.
... easier and safer than strangers reaching hands inside.

This style...

View attachment 432272​

Can you list the brand please? JaKhu chewed thru the all plastic ones & I need one with wire windows like the one you posted. Thank you .

 

[flyzipper]

This is where I sourced mine in Canada...

https://www.renspets.com/categories/dog-crates-carriers

Precision Pet Products was acquired by Petmate and their site is here.

 

[Aviphile]

A plastic crate will not contain any of my large macaws, they'll eat right through it! Heidi would pull those wire windows right out and laugh when she did it!

We use the wire dog crates because we have to. They are easy to outfit with a perch, I can lock the door and fold down for easy storage.

https://www.amazon.com/Petmate-30-Inch-Training-Retreats-50-Pound/dp/B005U6UOGY/ref=sr_1_197?keywords=dog+crate&sr=8-197

 

[Aviphile]

I've got a similar one for Frankie, but mine doesnt have wheels. I will have to get one with wheels now. They are great size wise, but I find them bulky (for myself) to carry.

You won't need a new crate just some wheels for it

https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Universal-Crate-Casters-Pack/dp/B000MCXXT6/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=dog+crate+wheels&sr=8-4

or how about this?

https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Easily-handles-Carriers-Grooming/dp/B0002AT3C4/ref=sr_1_203?keywords=dog+crate&sr=8-203

I have one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Lifetime-Appliance-Foldable-Collapsible/dp/B0BD6B5K4Y/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=flat+cart&sr=8-4

 

[Icey]

A plastic crate will not contain any of my large macaws, they'll eat right through it! Heidi would pull those wire windows right out and laugh when she did it!

We use the wire dog crates because we have to. They are easy to outfit with a perch, I can lock the door and fold down for easy storage.

https://www.amazon.com/Petmate-30-Inch-Training-Retreats-50-Pound/dp/B005U6UOGY/ref=sr_1_197?keywords=dog+crate&sr=8-197

We used ours for travel from Canada to the UK so they had to fit certain criteria. We put a metal grate over the plastic sides so they couldn't chew through it, and hubby fitted perches in them. They worked well for us.

 

[Aviphile]

We used ours for travel from Canada to the UK so they had to fit certain criteria. We put a metal grate over the plastic sides so they couldn't chew through it, and hubby fitted perches in them. They worked well for us.

For Airline travel I have a couple of these for the big birds, they are very nice.

Zinger Aluminum Deluxe Dog Crate

Strong yet lightweight, the Zinger Winger Aluminum Deluxe Series dog crates give you an incredible strength at one-third the weight of steel. Easily portable, Z

www.petcratesdirect.com

 

[Icey]

For Airline travel I have a couple of these for the big birds, they are very nice.

Zinger Aluminum Deluxe Dog Crate

Strong yet lightweight, the Zinger Winger Aluminum Deluxe Series dog crates give you an incredible strength at one-third the weight of steel. Easily portable, Z

www.petcratesdirect.com

That looks quite heavy...lol I am weak.

 

[Aviphile]

That looks quite heavy...lol I am weak.

It really isn't, its made out of aluminum. I can't fly my two big macaws in a plastic airline approved crate, they both have chewed their ways out before. Heidi and Levi have extremely powerful beaks and when they are determined they use them! I only really use the aluminum crates when we fly and sometimes when moved if it was a long ways away. They have regular wire dog crates and covers that I made for Vet visits and short trips.
Honestly I think anything that will hold a bird that is around 40" long weighing over 3 pounds is heavy once you add the perches, toys, bowls and the bird and that is why I have that cart to put them on. I put the two big crates on the bottom and the 3 crates on the top and tell my husband I need help pushing it! LOL Not really I push it.

Here is a picture of Oliver's new travel cage and the cover that I made him.

 

[Icey]

It really isn't, its made out of aluminum. I can't fly my two big macaws in a plastic airline approved crate, they both have chewed their ways out before. Heidi and Levi have extremely powerful beaks and when they are determined they use them! I only really use the aluminum crates when we fly and sometimes when moved if it was a long ways away. They have regular wire dog crates and covers that I made for Vet visits and short trips.
Honestly I think anything that will hold a bird that is around 40" long weighing over 3 pounds is heavy once you add the perches, toys, bowls and the bird and that is why I have that cart to put them on. I put the two big crates on the bottom and the 3 crates on the top and tell my husband I need help pushing it! LOL Not really I push it.

Here is a picture of Oliver's new travel cage and the cover that I made him.
View attachment 432364

You have a good set up for your babies
And yes, once you add perches and big birds they can become quite cumbersome.
I have to take mine to the vets in a taxi as I can't drive over here, or rather I have no desire to drive on the wrong side of the road with the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car. And don't even get me started about the roundabouts lol.
But yes, I need a durable one that isn't too bulky.
Dolly's is fine. It's actually a cat carrier that hubby fixed with a perch. It's not bulky at all
You must have your hands full when you have to travel with them all. Good thing you have a trolley for them.

 

[PetFoster]

For Airline travel I have a couple of these for the big birds, they are very nice.

Zinger Aluminum Deluxe Dog Crate

Strong yet lightweight, the Zinger Winger Aluminum Deluxe Series dog crates give you an incredible strength at one-third the weight of steel. Easily portable, Z

www.petcratesdirect.com

This would (will?) be a good option if I have to travel by air with my birds! I like that it is aluminum, as we know it should be safe for the chewers… thank you!

 

[BrianB]

We use dog crates. Something like this one. You just might have to secure door to make sure he can't open it

https://www.chewy.com/midwest-icrate-fold-carry-double-door/dp/45376

You can add a perch too.

These are a great option because they fold flat and can be stored for the future. They aren't that expensive and being metal they can't be chewed through. They are also easy to clean as well.