FAQ: Carriers & Crates for birds

The hold usually requires a rigid, sturdy carrier with a metal door, ventilation on several sides and food and water cups fixed to the door that can be filled without opening it. The exact requirements are set by the airline.

Get the bird used to its carrier in advance so it eats and drinks in it, and check the airline's and destination country's requirements and documents. Before the flight it is worth seeing a vet and asking whether the bird is fit to travel.

In the hold a bird faces noise, temperature swings and a long time unattended, so it is more stressful than travelling in the cabin. If possible choose a direct flight without connections and avoid flying in extreme heat or cold.

Usually at security the bird has to be taken out of its carrier or the carrier presented for inspection, so ask whether this can be done in a separate closed room. In an open airport hall a bird taken out can easily fly away.

The air on a plane is dry, and a trip including airport waiting can last many hours, so the bird must not be left without water. A drinker fixed to the door or a cup that can be filled from outside works, along with juicy pieces of fruit.

A card on the carrier with your name, phone number, the bird's species and the words ‘Live animal’ helps others handle it properly, especially at airports or when handing the bird to a sitter. For the aircraft hold such labels are often mandatory.

Requirements depend on the country: a veterinary health certificate is often needed, and for protected parrot species also CITES documents. It is worth finding out well before the trip from a vet and the relevant state authorities.

Many parrot species are protected by international agreements, so taking them across borders may require a CITES permit or proof of origin. Check with the relevant authorities which species this covers and what documents are needed.

Birds are not covered by the same pet passport as dogs and cats, but countries may require a health certificate or other documents related to avian influenza. Check the destination country's requirements and with a vet before travelling.

Yes, during an outbreak some countries or regions restrict moving birds, so follow the state veterinary service's announcements when planning a trip. While travelling keep your bird away from wild birds and their droppings.

First check whether the hotel accepts animals, as many accept only dogs and cats. In the room the bird will need a larger temporary cage than its carrier, and if you let it out to fly, windows must be shut and fans switched off.

For many birds familiar surroundings and a reliable sitter cause less stress than a long journey, especially if the bird is nervous or old. If the trip is short and the bird is used to its carrier, it can come along, but the decision should suit the individual bird.

On moving day keep the bird shut in its carrier in a quiet room away from the movers and open doors, and move it last, with you, not in the removal van. In the new home set up its cage first and only then move the bird in.

A bird must not go in the cargo area, because it lacks air, loads can fall on the cage and the temperature is not controlled. Transport the home cage empty and dismantled, and the bird in its carrier inside the car.

In the new home set up the cage as before, with the same perches, toys and dishes, and in the first days keep to the usual feeding and sleeping routine. Give the bird a quiet, draught-free corner and let it settle in before letting it fly free.

A healthy bird can manage a few hours in its carrier if it has water, its usual food and a perch and is kept somewhere quiet and draught-free. If the move takes all day, it is better to leave the bird with someone it knows or in a room already prepared in the new home.

Make sure windows and doors are shut, ceiling fans off, large windows and mirrors the bird could hit are covered or curtained, and check for open water containers, dangling cables and toxic houseplants.

Warm up the car before going out, cover the carrier with a thicker cloth or put it in an insulated bag while leaving a ventilation gap, and spend as little time outdoors as possible. Birds, especially small and tropical species, cope poorly with cold and sudden temperature changes.

Most pet birds are uncomfortable when the temperature falls well below normal room temperature, and outdoor cold and draughts can chill them within minutes. On a cold day cover the carrier and carry it straight from a warm room to a warmed-up car.

Pet heat pads or warmers placed under the floor or behind a side of the carrier work, so the bird cannot reach them and can move away if it gets too warm. Never put a hot water bottle or warmer directly inside, because the bird may get burned or overheat.