Questions!!

[bird_luver24]

Hey Everyone,
Im not sure if I have asked these questions before on here but, if I have then sorry for the repeat!
It seems as the time gets closer Im a little bit nervous about bringing my new baby home and making ALL THE RIGHT Impresions on him!!!
Im hoping to do everything right lol and not Scare him to death!
Here is my Questions:
-We have around a 2 1/2 hour car ride back home with him and was wondering when he is in the car should I bother him at all??...I know not to get him out of his carrier but, should I just talk to him softly??

-When he gets home should I Immediately bring him in and place him in his cage?
I plan to have everything set up around the bottom Just in case he is clumsy little guy lol..Obvioulsy perches set high enough to where he isnt going to fall to far.

-Now this is my main question but, Im thinking I already have it answered. I know some ppl say to get your baby out Immediately and play with him while some say well just let him be for a day or two and talk to him through the cage pet him etc....I was wondering what all have u guys did when bringing home your babies? Im guessing it all depends on how scared they are???

As you can tell I am a very Scared Birdie mom lol I am just wanting to bring him here as comfortable as possible!!
Any other useful info for bringing him home would be great to!!
Im sure nothing is going to be as bad as Im making it out to be lol

[Doyle'sMommy]

We only had about a 5 minute car ride home but we talked to Doyle the whole way there because I knew he was scared and maybe our voices would be soothing. When we got home we held him and then put him on top of his cage to play. He was scared at first and would fly (or rather jump) to us. This went on for a few weeks before he settled down enough to stay by himself without freaking out.

I would just talk calmly to your bird on the way home. Let it get used to your voice so that if he/she is scared when he/she gets home at least your voice will be a little familar. Good luck, I hope all goes well! Tiffany

[dawnkyung]

Hi there!

I'm just going to post with what i did, which keep in mind i have no idea if it's the "correct" way to do anything, since this is my first conure...but Swaps is alive and kicking, so i'm assuming i didn't screw him up too badly so far!

-We have around a 2 1/2 hour car ride back home with him and was wondering when he is in the car should I bother him at all??...I know not to get him out of his carrier but, should I just talk to him softly??

I draped a cloth over the carrier (i didn't use a cage to transport Swaps, it was like a cat carrier, but made for birds that i used) and talked to him most of the way home. The drive was about 2 hours, i'd say. He didn't seem scared at all, he was hanging upside down from the top of the carrier. What a clown!

-When he gets home should I Immediately bring him in and place him in his cage?
I plan to have everything set up around the bottom Just in case he is clumsy little guy lol..Obvioulsy perches set high enough to where he isnt going to fall to far.

I took Swaps out of the carrier right away and plopped him on a perch in his cage. He looked around, fluffed, and went right for the food.

-Now this is my main question but, Im thinking I already have it answered. I know some ppl say to get your baby out Immediately and play with him while some say well just let him be for a day or two and talk to him through the cage pet him etc....I was wondering what all have u guys did when bringing home your babies? Im guessing it all depends on how scared they are???

I probably acted too quickly on this. The morning after he arrived (i aquired Swaps at around 7pm) i tried to see how receptive he would be to stepping up. He was receptive, but it probably would have been alot easier on him had i waited a bit longer to let him get settled. He just looked a bit frazzled afterward, is all. I was worried i had scarred him permanently from contact with me and i wished i had waited longer before trying to make him love me, lol.

Swaps really impressed (impresses) me with his bravery. He's not nearly as timid/flighty as Vegeta. If you even sneeze around my tiel, he'll FREAK. You could suddenly burst out in drum rythmn on an assortment of pots and pans around Swaps, and he wouldn't bat an eyelash...but he'd probably scream along with the noise!

Good luck! I'm excited for you!

[Doyle'sMommy]

I forgot to say that I would handle him right away. Don't overdue it with attention though, just give him as much attention and time as he will be getting on a regular basis.

[Vega]

I had a 3+ hour drive back with Harvey the day I picked him up. I was able to spend about an hour at the house holding him and talking to him before we left. He really didn't want me holding him, he wanted his "mom".

On the way home I kept a towel over the carrier, but did talk to him. If I recall correctly I left part of the towel up so he could see me as I drove.

Once we got him I set up his cage while he was in the carrier and made sure he could see everything. The transition was a bit easier as I got his cage and a few toys from his previous owners. Along with some birdie bread--just something familiar for him. I made sure to arrange his cage as close as I could to what it was before we left.

To be honest I can't recall if I took him out that night. I'm thinking not, I'm not used to driving 7 hours in a day...so I was pretty worn out myself.

I do know he settled in much faster than my ekkie did. Although, I was his 3rd or 4th parront and he was only 9 months old.

Play it by ear. I would definately let him settle in his cage for a bit, so he can eat and drink, get a feel of the surroundings. After a couple hours open the cage door and see if he wants to come out or not...if he fights it, don't force him to, just leave the door open for him to come out when he's ready.

[Abby]

I'd just talk to the bub on the way home. Gets to know your voice during that time.
The day that Dharma came home I had a very sick rescue lorikeet on my hands that I was handfeeding.Unfortunately had to get the lorikeet euthansed that night. I talked to Dharma but couldn't take her out as I was a blithering mess over the lorikeet. Spent time with her the following day. Dharma is an absolute sweetheart. I think it depends on each bird as to what to do. I had her cage all set up for when she got home and it gave her time to investigate.

[Monica]

With Charlie, there was at least a 4 hour drive one way. Being that he didn't have his own carrier and his small cage was too big, he was on my shoulder (for the most part) during the whole trip. At first, he wasn't out too much cause he had to get used to his new place, and I didn't want to reward him for his constant screaming. It's certainly gotten better since then! Well, minus the fact that he has become overly bonded to me, and even if I try to keep him socialized, he wants nothin to do with anybody else! Of course, then again I can clearly see *WHY* he became overly bonded to me.

When I travel with Noel and Casey in a car, they are out of a cage/carrier. *knock on wood* I haven't had any issues yet. While traveling, if your not driving and the baby is being receptive, you might be able to get away with letting the little one out. Do talk to him/her though on the ride home. He/she might also be interested in some foot toys, too! Also, be sure to have a bit of food in the carrier in case the little one gets hungary. If your baby sun is willing to come out and interact immediately, bring the little one out! If he/she seems a bit scared, let the little one have a few hours to settle in first, then try bribing with treats and just seeing how well the little one will do.

[bird_luver24]

Thanks for ALL the helpful Replies!!! I appreciate it!!
I am so excited about bringing my new baby home...The toys I ordered are suppost to be here wednesday YAY!! I got the tracking number last night...FosterSmiths prices are a little steep on some things but, their service and Fast Shipping is Amazing! I always use Ground Shipping since its cheap but, I would be amazed to see their overnight shipping..lol...Lots of places I have overnighted things still take 2-3days!!...So I might as well as shipped ground!!

Ill be getting the cage set up when the toys get here(Wed)...I have to go tomorrow and pick up some more perches and maybe if I see anymore toys there for him I might pick those up to. Id like to get some more Ropey type toys for him..Something he can preen...I also forgot to order a Happy Hut!!..argh!!
But, I can order that here soon...
I guess I am just going to play it by how he does with everything...Ill probably do the same thing as you Vega and go to sleep when I get home since it will be a 4 1/2 - 5hour drive for me and my Boyfriend. Of course Ill be to excited and will probably be talking to him and such but, I tihnk I am going to let him have his time and space for atleast a little while to check out his new cage get some food & water...etc...
Ill be sure to get pics ASAP! though...Im glad I am getting a younger baby it will make things alot easier then getting an adult already stuck in their ways! lol

This Board is Awesome!! I get lots of helpful Info here!!! THANKS!!

[Tiki]

I once drove a baby Quaker from Miami to Pensacola in a very long 12 hour trip last year in Nov. I had her on the passenger seat next to me and talked to her all the time, I had the radio on too. She seemed to want contact with me, everytime I put my fingers in the cage she would come over and nuzzle them. I stopped halfway in Sarasota at Lynda's house to feed her and have lunch, then had to make a rest stop south of Tallahassee from exhaustion. I was exhausted, the Quaker was fine.