A few questions for Parrotlet owners

[Marlienchen]

@Gribouille Of course we will explain everything thoroughly beforehand about the birds charakter, needs etc! Otherwise I wouldn't be able to leave him if I wouldn't know that he's handled well. I doubt they won't be ok with it, though.

Another thing is, it's a 2 hour drive to his parents house. That would be fine, right? How big should a travel cage be?

 

[PacificPaulie]

I had my first experience leaving Paulie behind with my in-laws this holiday weekend...I agree it's probably more stressful for me than for him. The trip was planned to be three days but we had to cancel and come home after one day.

When I opened his cage to let him out he gave me one good bite, I'm assuming as a means of telling me what's what about my leaving, and immediately wanted scritches. So, he was mappy (mad + happy) about my return.

I know nothing about travel cages but am also curious for my own knowledge about them.

 

[Gribouille]

@Gribouille Of course we will explain everything thoroughly beforehand about the birds charakter, needs etc! Otherwise I wouldn't be able to leave him if I wouldn't know that he's handled well. I doubt they won't be ok with it, though.

Another thing is, it's a 2 hour drive to his parents house. That would be fine, right? How big should a travel cage be?

Well. When I was growing up my mother always said she wanted to have budgies, they were so beautiful, so sweet and such... but she couldn't have them because of asthma. Once faced with my parrotlet, he was biting her all the time (he was obvioulsy fascinated by wrinkles!) so I had to keep him in a separate room...
2 hour drive is quite much but he'll manage. I couldn't tell you about the travel cage since I've never travelled far with mine but you should find info in the forum

 

[laracroft]

I've driven up to my parents' cottage with Micah many times, that's two and a half to three hours, and he had absolutely no problem. Micah actually seems to like riding in the car.

 

[fashionfobie]

I've driven up to my parents' cottage with Micah many times, that's two and a half to three hours, and he had absolutely no problem. Micah actually seems to like riding in the car.

Awe Did you train with him a bit to get him comfortable with it? My boys aren't as keen so I am trying to work with them.

 

[laracroft]

Awe Did you train with him a bit to get him comfortable with it? My boys aren't as keen so I am trying to work with them.

Not really? He came to me from a breeder about half an hour drive away from my home, and he was pretty comfortable in the car from the start. On the way home from the breeder he was already looking out the windows curiously and singing (well, shouting) along with the radio. I took him on a few short drives to be sure he was really comfortable in the car before the first long one, but that was it. And to be honest, those weren't really needed, he's never had a problem with the car. I just got lucky, I guess.

 

[Marlienchen]

@laracroft How big is the travel cage you use?

 

[laracroft]

Not very big? Travel cages don't need to be. They need to be sturdy, portable, and able to be secured in the car (assuming that's how you're traveling). Mine is a vision cage, which honestly I wouldn't recommend, but some people love them. They do keep the mess down, but they don't feel very sturdy to me.

 

[fashionfobie]

Not really? He came to me from a breeder about half an hour drive away from my home, and he was pretty comfortable in the car from the start. On the way home from the breeder he was already looking out the windows curiously and singing (well, shouting) along with the radio. I took him on a few short drives to be sure he was really comfortable in the car before the first long one, but that was it. And to be honest, those weren't really needed, he's never had a problem with the car. I just got lucky, I guess.

Maybe part of it is I am a new car owner. We were walking everywhere. I will keep working with them

 

[laracroft]

Maybe part of it is I am a new car owner. We were walking everywhere. I will keep working with them

That might be it. And oh, I MISS living somewhere I could walk everywhere. Jealous! But I think regular short drives are probably the way to go to get them comfortable.

 

[Beasley]

I also do regular short drives to make sure the car does not become associated with the vet. I haven’t had any issue with my parrotlets in the car either. They’re just happy, singing, looking out the window. I’ll upload a pic of my travel cage after I clean it I also use it for when I’m doing a deep cleaning of their cage. I recommend smaller travel cages, so that if you hit any snags they’re not going to get flung around. And since you’ll be leaving him, you’d want to bring his or an appropriately sized spare cage and lots of toys to keep him busy/entertained while you’re gone. A tiny bird flying around being feisty makes nonbird people very uncomfortable (nothing is bird proofed), it’s safe to assume he would have limited out time so the room to fly around in his cage is important.

 

[Gribouille]

Not really? He came to me from a breeder about half an hour drive away from my home, and he was pretty comfortable in the car from the start. On the way home from the breeder he was already looking out the windows curiously and singing (well, shouting) along with the radio. I took him on a few short drives to be sure he was really comfortable in the car before the first long one, but that was it. And to be honest, those weren't really needed, he's never had a problem with the car. I just got lucky, I guess.

I don't think it is about luck. It's the same as kids, if you are relaxed, they feel it is an OK situation and go for it. If you are nervous they'll wonder why and get nervous too. There is nothing special with trips in a car, it is exactly the same for us or any other animal, the car is just moving faster than they would on their own, it's fun, no big deal!

 

[fashionfobie]

I don't think it is about luck. It's the same as kids, if you are relaxed, they feel it is an OK situation and go for it. If you are nervous they'll wonder why and get nervous too. There is nothing special with trips in a car, it is exactly the same for us or any other animal, the car is just moving faster than they would on their own, it's fun, no big deal!

You are probably correct that it isn't luck. I do think individual personality will play into any situation.

It is a nice idea that every creature will only respond to the owner or parents nervousness. This is just my own anecdote, but my parents were never nervous or concerned about situations they put me into. They had the out most confidence. I was naturally a shy and curious child. I was traumatised when my confident father took me on a roller-coaster. I am still not a fan of roller-coasters. I am not afraid of heights or even moving fast.. but that forced encounter when I was 6... it left a mark.

 

[Gribouille]

will only respond to the owner or parents nervousness

I never said they'd ONLY respond to the owner, I think they'll catch on anyone's nervousness but I remember my baby boy checking my reaction when he didn't know what to think of sitting in a bus or a plane for the first time, and when he saw I was OK with it he just settled.
On the other hand, his younger brother was climbing everywhere and jumping before he could even walk properly and I had to pace myself because my heart would skip at watching him but he only fell when I tried to stop him. He had full control of his body and never hurt himself, so I learned to trust him..

This is just my own anecdote, but my parents were never nervous or concerned about situations they put me into.

I had the opposite experience, with a mom always thinking the worst would happen, and me feeling she was overreacting. But of course, your father didn't consider how putting you in this situation would feel for you. You don't take a nervous 6 year old in a roller coaster without them wanting to... Was it his way to try and toughen you up?
I remember my 8 year old sister wanting to be a big girl and insisting on taking a round on those like we just had. We heard her yelling the whole round.. She never asked again

 

[Marlienchen]

Great suggestions, I'll try the regular drives when the time comes to get him used to it!

I’ll upload a pic of my travel cage after I clean it

Thanks! When I google for a parrotlet travel cage, I find many sizes. Some are very small with just one perch in it, others are like an actual cage with toys and so on:

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/A-XdoO0GNqo/maxresdefault.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/1d/08/22/1d0822f4036513fd8b1d76fb12d134ee.jpg

which one would you guys prefer for driving?

 

[fashionfobie]

If those are the only options I would pick the first one for the car and the second one to spend time in at the destination.

However there might be better in car options. I think bird bags are pretty cool @Zara has an easy one for her Sydney. If he tumbles on the ride he has a soft surface.

I also used a softer bag for my cockatoo for the car. Just to help with stops and bumps. I could never leave her in it once we arrived to the destination... because she would unzip it and do as she pleased

 

[Marlienchen]

Not the only options, this was just what I found online.
The bags sound nice, not sure if I found the one you are referring to, is it something like this? https://shop-cdn-m.shpp.ext.zooplus...nsporttasche_Free_Fly_aus_Nylon_DSC7402_4.jpg

 

[Zara]

If you go for a bag, you will need to make sure your bird isn´t chewing through the mesh while you are driving.
I have a dog travel bag (35x24x22H), there´s no perches, but I never go far with it and I have had Sydney in the car but I didn´t drive and he didn´t try eating the bag.
The bag in the link looks good, just remember what I said about the mesh

http://forums.avianavenue.com/index.php?attachments/screenshot_20190419_212652-jpg.301513/
http://forums.avianavenue.com/index.php?attachments/screenshot_20190419_213145-jpg.301516/

 

[Gribouille]

http://forums.avianavenue.com/index.php?attachments/screenshot_20190419_212652-jpg.301513/
http://forums.avianavenue.com/index.php?attachments/screenshot_20190419_213145-jpg.301516/

Looks awsome! How do you avoid the water spilling everywhere though?

 

[Marlienchen]

@Zara If I find a similar one to yours I will get it, the bag I found is very large...and Sydney is such a cutie Since I won't be the one driving I can keep an eye on the mesh!