upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

I didn't want to dig up a thread that was almost 2 years old for a question pertaining to winter travel. I just found out that I will have almost 4 weeks off at Christmas from school. I live 11 hours away from where I am, as well as being in Canada. So it gets really cold here, but I don't want to leave my 'tiel home alone for the 4 weeks, she would be so depressed. What is the safest way to carry a bird in a car that also will have 2 cats, 3 guinea pigs and a dog tagging along. Where is the safest place for her in the car in the winter when it could easily be -25 degree Celsius?

If I was you, I would try to find someone you know closeby to you.....maybe a home with another bird, who might be able to care for your tiel while you are away. I would never bring my bird in a car in the cold with cats for that length of time! You need to concentrate on driving or you could have an accident, and that combination in the car is bound to distract you, and having cats in such close quarters to the bird I don't think is a good idea. Either that or if you really want to take the bird, maybe see if someone can watch the cats for you.

If all the animals are in carriers, which is the safest when driving, they would be fine. I would just warm up the car ahead of time and then quickly transfer the carriers to the car.

The greatest danger of traveling with fragile creatures in bitter weather is getting stuck without heat. How reliable is your car -- especially the heater and tires? Makes me anxious thinking what a breakdown or, heaven forbid, a wreck, however minor, might mean for all of you, but particularly the little bird.

yikes..I agree with bluebird and Woody...
Wind, snow, ice and -15F temps on top of driving a long distance.....Is it possible you could board your birds at a nearby friends or petsitter?

There is no one to watch my bird here, I just live here, I only know students whom are leaving the town with me. All the animals are in carriers and there is no doubt in my mind that she will make it home safe, I just wanted some extra info on where it would be safest for her. It's a week to leaving time and we just figured out that her cage probably wont fit in the car we are taking, I am now more stressed than I've ever been because she refuses to eat inside the travel cage I have for her. I want to cry.

Lyndsay wrote:... It's a week to leaving time and we just figured out that her cage probably wont fit in the car we are taking, I am now more stressed than I've ever been because she refuses to eat inside the travel cage I have for her. I want to cry.

Gosh, in the 2 months since you posted and we responded, I thought your absence meant you'd made a good plan.

Crying would probably be a waste of your energy, but you could place her travel cage beside her regular cage right now, so she can roam from one to the other while you're there to keep her safe. Each day when she's out to explore, put food and water bowls in the travel cage. She'll likely learn it's safe there before your departure day.

Bluesbird Exotics wrote:

Lyndsay wrote:... It's a week to leaving time and we just figured out that her cage probably wont fit in the car we are taking, I am now more stressed than I've ever been because she refuses to eat inside the travel cage I have for her. I want to cry.

Gosh, in the 2 months since you posted and we responded, I thought your absence meant you'd made a good plan.

Crying would probably be a waste of your energy, but you could place her travel cage beside her regular cage right now, so she can roam from one to the other while you're there to keep her safe. Each day when she's out to explore, put food and water bowls in the travel cage. She'll likely learn it's safe there before your departure day.

I wish I had a better plan, but I live in a college town, there is nothing but students here, the town will be empty come Christmas time. I know she will make it safely home, our car is reliable, but Tatyana has a large parrot sized bird cage, that might not fit in the car we are driving home. She's spent the last 2 years almost in that large cage and she has no concept of a smaller living area. I hope we can somehow fit it into the car, getting it back here after isn't a problem because we will be traveling in an SUV.

Check www.petsit.com you might be able to find a pet sitter/boarder in that area for your bird....I beleive PSI covers Canada as well. good luck

Thanks to everyone who helped me out, Tatyana traveled perfectly in a cage covered with a double panel fleece blanket. We are returning home tomorrow, she will be able to sit on my shoulder for the whole ride this time.

Far, far safer to keep her in a sturdy carrier that's seat-belted into the rear seat.

Thanks, you're right, we kept her in a cage that was secured into place.