FAQ: Carriers & Crates for birds

A cold bird fluffs up its feathers, crouches on both feet, tucks its head under its wing or shivers. If you see these signs, warm the carrier up as quickly as possible, and if the bird stays lethargic and fluffed up, contact a vet.

Going from a warm room into the cold outdoors, or from a hot car into a cool clinic, the bird's body has to adjust quickly, which tires and weakens it. So keep the carrier covered and the trips between buildings and the car as short as possible.

Yes, if warm air blows straight onto the carrier, the bird can overheat and the air becomes very dry. Point the vents away from the carrier and keep a temperature comfortable for a person rather than hot.

Yes, for a sick bird putting off the visit because of the weather is often more dangerous than the trip, because birds hide signs of illness until the last moment. A well-insulated, covered carrier and a warmed-up car make it possible to get the bird there safely even on a cold day.

Travel at the coolest time of day, cool the car down in advance, keep the carrier in the shade and do not cover it heavily. Add pieces of juicy vegetables or fruit so the bird gets fluids, and watch whether it starts breathing with its beak open.

An overheated bird pants with its beak open, holds its wings away from its body, sleeks its feathers down and becomes lethargic or unsteady. Move such a bird to a cooler place immediately, offer water and contact a vet as soon as possible.

No, in the sun a carrier, especially a plastic or acrylic one, heats up very quickly and the bird cannot move into the shade. In the car or outdoors place the carrier in the shade and shield it from the sun with a light-coloured, breathable cloth.

Air conditioning helps prevent overheating, but the cold airflow should not blow directly onto the carrier. Set a moderate temperature, point the vents to the side and avoid a big temperature gap before carrying the bird out into the heat.

On a warm day a light mist of room-temperature water can help, but only if the bird is used to it and the carrier is well ventilated. Do not use ice-cold water, and do not carry a damp bird through cold or draughts.

A cool pack can be placed behind a side wall or under the floor, wrapped in a towel, so it gently cools the air. The bird must not be able to reach or chew it, and it should not cover the whole floor, so the bird can choose a warmer spot.

An enclosed plastic box lets little air through, so on a hot day the temperature inside rises above the surroundings. In summer a carrier with large ventilation openings or wire sides suits better, and the trip should be planned for a cool time of day.

A short time outdoors can be beneficial, but only under supervision, with part of the carrier in the shade and water available. Protect the carrier from cats, birds of prey and wild birds' droppings, which can carry disease.

On hot days it is worth booking the visit for early morning or evening, when it is cooler. If the bird needs urgent help, go straight away, just cool the car down and keep the carrier out of the sun.

Yes, a constant draught chills a bird and dries out its airways, which can encourage a cold. Place the carrier away from open windows and air vents, and outdoors cover it on the windward side.

Signs of stress include flapping and crashing into the walls, constant screaming or, on the contrary, freezing completely, pinned pupils, rapid breathing and feathers pressed tight to the body. Once the carrier is covered and the surroundings calmed, most birds settle within a few minutes.

Partly cover the carrier, talk to the bird in a calm voice, drive smoothly and turn off loud sounds. Some birds are helped by a favourite treat, a familiar piece of cloth in the carrier or being able to see their owner.

Do not give a bird sedatives yourself, because they can dangerously affect its breathing and balance. If the bird copes very badly with travel, talk to an avian vet, and most often gradual carrier training helps the most.

Screaming often means fear or wanting to see its owner, so try covering the carrier or, on the contrary, uncovering the side facing you and talking to the bird. If it screams for a long time and breathes fast, stop and check whether it is too hot or uncomfortable.

Cover the carrier to reduce visible movement and, if possible, stop somewhere safe so the bird can settle. If it happens on every trip, the carrier may be too large or too bright, so a smaller, more enclosed one is worth considering.

On a short trip many birds do not eat because of stress, and that is normal. But if a bird neither eats nor drinks through a whole long travel day, or keeps refusing food once settled at home, contact a vet, because going without food quickly becomes dangerous for small birds.