About a week before your flight, go for a veterinary checkup and ask for a health certificate for your bird. It might even be a good thing to have your vet clip your bird’s wings to remove the possibility of flight or escape during travel. Follow these other tips to reduce stress during your travel.
- A non-stop and direct flight will make the trip easier for your bird. Although he is just sitting in the cage, less transfer and less travel time will make your bird happier.
- Shipping crates should be USDA-approved. This is a must so you won’t have any problems with the airline or the airport. Make sure the size is just enough so your bird can stand upright comfortably but not too large so he can go flapping with his wings, as this may injure him during flight.
- Indicate the upright position of the cargo crate using arrow stickers and write “LIVE ANIMAL.” Make sure the letters are readable and not less than 1-inch in height. Put one on the side and one on the top of the crate.
- Put hay around the crate and drop seeds around the hay. Pieces of fruit will also work. Use brown wrapping paper instead of hay for international flights. Shred them and line them on the bottom of the crate.
- When the weather is cool, place a cloth or burlap at the crate opening to reduce drafts.
- Finches and canaries should have a perch.
Don’t forget to ask your veterinarians Ellicott City, MD for your pet bird’s health records before traveling with your pet.
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