FAQ: Carriers & Crates for birds

Yes, a frightened parrot may bite fingers pushed through the bars, so keep your hands away from them when carrying the carrier. Warn clinic staff and children too not to put their fingers into the carrier.

An older child can help if the carrier is light and has a sturdy handle, but an adult should make sure it does not swing, fall or get opened. Small children are better given the job of sitting quietly nearby and talking to the bird.

Birds hide illness or not eating for a long time, and weight loss is often the first noticeable sign. Weigh the bird on kitchen scales before and after a long journey, and if you notice a clear drop, contact a vet.

If the bird escaped from its carrier, clear photos showing its colours, distinctive markings and leg ring help a lot when searching and proving it is yours. Keep the photos on your phone along with the ring or microchip number.

Yes, some birds sing, talk or whistle on the road, and it often means they feel fairly relaxed. What should worry you is not the sounds but open-beak breathing, constant screaming or freezing for a long time.

Ducks and geese suit a roomy, well-ventilated crate or cage with a non-slip, absorbent floor where the bird can stand and lie down. They drink a lot, so on longer journeys make stops and offer water.

Frightened quail jump straight up and can hurt their heads, so they suit a low crate with a soft roof, for example mesh or fabric. Line the floor with a non-slip base and do not put too many birds together.

Birds are often taken to shows in special show cages whose size and appearance may be set by the show rules. Get the bird used to such a cage in advance and check whether the show requires veterinary documents.

Yes, take the bird to a nail or beak trim in the same secure carrier as for other visits. After the procedure it may be agitated, so let it calm down in the covered carrier before heading home.

Some clinics keep the bird in their own hospital cages, while others ask you to leave its carrier so it is easy to discharge or move. Label the carrier with your name and phone number, and when collecting it check that it is clean and undamaged.

Some birds, especially cockatoos and African greys, shed a lot of feather powder that can trigger allergies or irritate the airways of sensitive people. Vacuum the car after the trip and stand the carrier on a sheet that is easy to shake out and wash.

Spending a long time in the very dry air of a car, train or plane makes a bird lose fluid faster and dries out its airways. Make sure the bird has water or juicy food, and do not point heating directly at the carrier.

A large parrot's carrier door should be wide enough to put the bird in and take it out without bending its wings and tail or causing panic. It helps if the door opens wide or the top comes off, as this shortens handling at the clinic.

Yes, if it suits your bird's size and beak strength, is undamaged and the latch works. Wash and disinfect it thoroughly before use and before returning it, so the birds do not pass diseases to each other.

Constant watching is not needed and may even unsettle the bird, but check periodically that it is sitting calmly, breathing evenly and not wet or too warm. During stops it is worth talking to the bird briefly and checking the water.

No, zoogidas.lt sells nothing: the site compares prices across Lithuanian online pet shops. Once you choose a carrier, you buy it on the shop's own website.

zoogidas.lt collects prices from Lithuanian online pet shops, so in one place you can see what the same carrier costs at different shops. Before buying also compare size and materials, as similar-looking carriers can differ a lot.

Prices are collected about daily, and each product shows when its price was last checked. Confirm the final price and availability on the shop's website before buying.

Yes, the product page on zoogidas.lt shows its price history, so you can see whether the carrier's current price is higher or lower than before. This helps you decide whether to buy now or wait if the trip is not soon.

Yes, if the rodent cannot squeeze through the bars or chew through the walls, but afterwards the carrier must be washed and disinfected thoroughly, because animals can pass diseases and parasites to each other. A rodent's smell can also frighten the bird, so for a carrier used often it is better to have a separate one.