Vacation with Dozy

[girlybird]

My family and I will be going on vacation in July to visit my mother in Florida. I don't have anyone that can watch my birds while we're gone. Even if I did it is a lot to ask of anyone. I would also miss them terribly so we decided to take them with us. We plan on driving from Houston to Florida (18 hours). I bought a travel cage for Dozy (nice size) and I already have one for Birdbird (cockatiel). Dozy has been in the car before but never for this long. Dozy will get motion sickness if in the car outside her cage (I know, I know she should never be outside her carrier while in the car). She is only outside the cage when we are in the neighborhood. When we go to Florida she will be in the cage except when we stop to rest. I think she will do fine. Here is a list of items that I will be taking with me:

Pellets/sprouts/water/seed/millet
First-aid
Ginger for motion sickness
red palm oil/treats
Fruit
Food bowls
Blanket/towel
Toys/Rope perches


I've also checked with the three states we will be traveling thru and our destination state and found out that a health certificate on each parrot is needed.

I'd like to hear from those who have taken vacations with their bird(s) and the bird(s) were not used to traveling. How did they do?

Thank you.

[Lisa B]

I havent vacationed with them, but I have traveled with mine....
Sampson LOVED the car...Sydney and Stirling do well. Emma gets car sick

[girlybird]

Originally Posted by Lisa B

I havent vacationed with them, but I have traveled with mine....
Sampson LOVED the car...Sydney and Stirling do well. Emma gets car sick

Hi Lisa,

The best I can tell is she gets car sick when outside the cage. I don't remember her getting car sick while inside. What happens if we get 10 hours into the drive and she gets sick while in the cage? What would I do? I'm hoping the ginger works. But if not.... what then?

P.S. Once I get to my mom's there will be no more driving until we are ready to come home.

Thanks

[Amie]

Originally Posted by girlybird

Hi Lisa,

The best I can tell is she gets car sick when outside the cage. I don't remember her getting car sick while inside. What happens if we get 10 hours into the drive and she gets sick while in the cage? What would I do? I'm hoping the ginger works. But if not.... what then?

Thanks

Ginger has always worked for my beebs. They like the kind you can get at sushi restaurants that they can tear apart at their leisure. I'm not sure if they actually eat it, or if they just enjoy ripping it to shreds.

We use organic, by the way. Just to make me worry less. I'm not sure if there is even a big worry with ginger, but one of my mom's birds got sick a long time ago from eating uncooked veggies, and ever since, we're really big sticklers for the organic.

[DarwinTheSun]

Well, Darwin is used to traveling so I dont know much about a nervous bird in the car. But I have traveled with him quite a bit and have a few ideas. One, make sure to add treats to your list! Treats help with easing anything scary or boring at the moment. Also make sure to pack a "diaper bag" with things you will need in the car (versus all the rest you will need for the trip). Things to stick in the car bag are food, treats, small toys, ginger, wipes etc. Anything that you will need on a whim so that you don't have to stop. Also, I have found that it is a good idea to pack a small tupperware with your precut veggies/fruits for the duration of the trip (unless you will be there more than a week or so). This way, you dont have to make a mess in the kitchen of the house you are staying. You can pack this, birdie bread, and anything else in a cooler for the car ride.

[girlybird]

Originally Posted by amiestgermain

Ginger has always worked for my beebs. They like the kind you can get at sushi restaurants that they can tear apart at their leisure. I'm not sure if they actually eat it, or if they just enjoy ripping it to shreds.

We use organic, by the way. Just to make me worry less. I'm not sure if there is even a big worry with ginger, but one of my mom's birds got sick a long time ago from eating uncooked veggies, and ever since, we're really big sticklers for the organic.

Hello and thanks for responding. So you just give them a whole piece of ginger? Would the kind that I can find at a health food store like Whole Foods be ok?

[girlybird]

Originally Posted by DarwinTheSun

Well, Darwin is used to traveling so I dont know much about a nervous bird in the car. But I have traveled with him quite a bit and have a few ideas. One, make sure to add treats to your list! Treats help with easing anything scary or boring at the moment. Also make sure to pack a "diaper bag" with things you will need in the car (versus all the rest you will need for the trip). Things to stick in the car bag are food, treats, small toys, ginger, wipes etc. Anything that you will need on a whim so that you don't have to stop. Also, I have found that it is a good idea to pack a small tupperware with your precut veggies/fruits for the duration of the trip (unless you will be there more than a week or so). This way, you dont have to make a mess in the kitchen of the house you are staying. You can pack this, birdie bread, and anything else in a cooler for the car ride.

Hi. Great ideas. Thanks!

[Amie]

Originally Posted by girlybird

Hello and thanks for responding. So you just give them a whole piece of ginger? Would the kind that I can find at a health food store like Whole Foods be ok?

I usually get mine from Whole Foods when we're travelling. It's a little more expensive, but I don't like taking risks with Scarlett.

I clip it to the side of the travel cage, and let her tear at it. I also sprinkle a bit of powdered ginger on her seeds and pellets, just in case. But, you can tell when she's beginning to feel ill because she'll walk over and tear a piece of ginger off, and then leave it alone for hours until she needs it again.

[Lisa B]

actually you are lucky!!! emma goes 45 minutes and then starts and continues every 25 minutes after that. i have to pull over and hold her to get her to stop.....she is soaked to her bones when we are finally where ever we need to go...so that goes to show, I dont travel with her much.

[lisark]

So the birds actually barf when they get car sick?

I am astonished. New parrot owner here. Had no idea.