avian vet so you can be prepared. Parrots very rarely choose an opportune time to be ill, you can guarantee it will be a Sunday evening, a bank holiday, the day before you go on holiday or late in the evening. Lou our Umbrella cockatoo chose to swallow a chunk of leather toy on New Year’s Eve when I had been in bed for two days with a particularly nasty bout of flu, I was concerned as he was sitting on the bottom of his cage and hadn’t eaten all day, he was mopey and very quiet so we decided to take him to get him checked out. I didn’t really have my head on my shoulders and was grateful that I had our vet’s number in my phone book and knew exactly where we were going. You’ll be pleased to know that the leather toy passed through naturally and Lou was restored in no time to his usual boisterous self!
TRAVELLING Whether you plan to take your parrot out and about with you or not, investing in a travel cage is a must for transporting to the vet or for use in an emergency. There are many different designs available, from the more traditional pet carriers enclosed on three sides to small dog carrier styles or the ultra light weight back pack style, which type you choose will depend on your lifestyle and personal preference. Please make sure that you have bought a travel cage when you first buy your parrot as you never know when you will need it
40 BIRD SCENE
Eventually when they are comfortable being inside the towel you can gently begin to wrap the towel’s edges around your bird. Don’t be surprised if your bird dislikes this at first, as instinct will tell them that it’s dangerous to be trapped in this way, be patient and gentle…
and you won’t be able to transport your bird safely without one. Familiarising your bird with the travel cage prior to using it will help to reduce unnecessary stress. Have the travel cage set up in the room that your bird occupies so it is not a strange or scary object. Let your bird play on top of the cage and get him used to going in and out of the cage, I always find a favourite treat helps once inside the cage. Don’t clutter the cage with toys or too many perches, one single perch is sufficient. Some of our parrots really enjoy a trip in the car, the more curious and nosey birds like to look out of the window and some shout hello as we stop at traffic lights, much to my amusement as you see people looking around trying to work out where the voice came from! But other more cautious birds might like to be covered with a blanket and the whole experience can be traumatic. Unfortunately there are times when these birds will have to be transported, just try to make it as stress free as possible.
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