How to Transport a Budgie (Expert Guide)
Last Updated on August 30, 2022 by Ali Shahid
If you own a budgie, you may have to transport it at some point. It may be time to take the budgie to the veterinarian, move to a new residence, or take a long-distance trip with it. The budgie makes a great travel companion.
Some even enjoy traveling by car or airplane. Nevertheless, budgies who never leave their houses may have difficulty dealing with travel. When a cage or carrier shakes, a fragile cage bird, like a budgie or cockatiel, feels nervous, afraid, and threatened.
Since budgies fly, loud noises and sudden movements cause them to fly off their perch. Attempts to do this repeatedly can damage a budgie’s plumage physically. These unexpected things shouldn’t happen to your budgies, right?
Hence, we’ll discuss some tips for transporting your budgie safely, whether for a short trip, a vet visit, or relocating. Having a plan will ensure your budgie and you have a safe, fun trip.
How to transport a Budgie (5 Best Tips)
1. Right Means for Carrying a Budgie
Whenever the cage shakes or rattles in the car, the budgie would be frightened. In this case, the budgie could become panicked by the situation and suffer an injury.
It is therefore important to pay attention to how you transport your budgie. Budgies should not be transported in cardboard boxes or their main cages.
Travel Carrier (Best Option)
A budgie travel carrier is specially designed to keep it safe, comfortable, and accessible. These are ideal for visits to the vet regularly or one-time visits.
Cage
If a budgie is transported in its cage, it can associate it with bad experiences. It can lead to behavioral and stress issues once the budgie gets home.
Also, you may have difficulty fitting the cage inside your car if it is not properly secured. If it is allowed to shake inside the cage or bump around, it will be disturbing.
Box
It is inexpensive and simple to use a cardboard box to keep budgies, but it is not safe for them. Your budgie may start eating tape, staples, or glue on the interior of the box. The inability to see can lead to frantic flight and panic.
Taking your pet to the vet in a box can make it difficult for the veterinarian to examine them properly. For a proper examination, the vet will have to take your budgie out of the box.
2. Carrier Acclimation
Let your budgie adjust to the travel carrier several days before your appointment. Budgies should interact with the carrier as follows:
- Provide treats inside, so it associates going inside with positive experiences
- Let it smell and see the carrier
- Allow it to play with the carrier and around it
- Once the budgie is comfortable, close the cage briefly
In this way, budgies will have plenty of time to inspect their new home.
3. Handling Preparation
Handpicking is necessary when moving, transporting, or removing the budgie from its carrier cage. When they aren’t shown that the people handling them are safe, they will experience stress.
Pet, stroke, and pick up your budgie more frequently before your vet visit. This will make the vet visit less stressful.
For a thorough health checkup, your vet will need to handle your budgie. Budgies don’t like strangers handling them. Therefore, preparing them will simplify the process.
4. Secure the carrier
Budgies can’t get used to the shakes and rattles of moving cars. In addition, it cannot be completely avoided when transporting birds in a car.
Nevertheless, there are a few steps you can take to ease your budgie’s car ride. Secure the carrier cage with a seatbelt to prevent it from moving easily. Your budgie will experience less shaking and rattling this way.
5. Cover The Cage
Budgies are used to flying at high speeds, so watching out the window won’t be fun. The speed of a moving car can still cause motion sickness in budgies.
It is natural for them to control their speed and path. In situations where objects pass by while they remain still, they can feel uncomfortable. Cover the cage with a blanket to reduce disorientation.
How to Transport a Budgie in a Car
Keep the budgie carrier where they won’t fall or move too much. The best place is the lap of a car passenger. Alternatively, you can use the floor space underneath the passenger seat. If the box is large, use the seatbelt to secure it to the seat.
It is never a good idea to place the budgie carrier in the boot of your car. The bird will not only slide around but will also die from exhaust fumes there. Likewise, the top of the dashboard is not recommended.
Ideally, the bird carrier should fit snugly inside the glove box. Make sure your budgie isn’t stressed out before you take it to the vet. Noise, bright lights, or activities that are too loud should be avoided.
How to carry a budgie on an airplane?
Regulations regarding bird travel vary among airlines. Pet travel policies must be confirmed with specific airlines. Birds can be kept in pet carriers that fit under seats. Your bird should always have access to food and water.
Make sure the water is frozen several hours before departure to prevent spills during thawing. Nutritional and fluid support can also be provided through the provision of succulent fruits like oranges and grapes.
The use of tranquilizers or sedatives during travel is not recommended for birds. If you plan on staying at a hotel or motel with pets, be sure to check their pet policy ahead of time.
Can I travel out of the country with my Budgie?
Plan your trip in consultation with the country’s consulate or border authority. Entry into the country may require medical testing and health certificates.
Pet bird travel, bird imports, endangered species, and disease control laws differ from country to country. Make a note of the person’s name in case you need to get in touch with them.
Prepare yourself well in advance by obtaining this information in writing. Traveling out of the country requires a federally accredited veterinarian to examine and certify your bird.
In addition, specific documentation, such as the CITES certificate, may be required. Some countries require quarantine after a bird arrives to prevent disease spread.
If you plan to take your bird back home with you, make sure you ask about the regulations regarding your return.
Conclusion
Don’t let your budgie birds face any difficult circumstances or risks during transport. Check on the bird periodically while it is in the carrying device. In the case that nothing hurts the bird, you don’t need to worry about the bird getting stressed.
