30/07/2026
Traveling with Parrots
Have you ever wondered what it's really like to travel with parrots?
A smooth trip always starts with preparation well ahead of departing!
Making reservations and training your bird to be comfortable going into and spending time in their crate should happen weeks if not months ahead of time. If your bird is not completely comfortable with going in and out of a crate make a training plan well ahead of time to work on this behavior so your bird can be more at ease during travel. This will also allow you to relax knowing that when it is time to hit the road or the airport that your bird has the crating behavior down pat.
Pet-friendly does not always translate to parrot-friendly
Don’t leave accommodations to chance! It is important to call ahead of time and make sure that the pet-friendly hotel or airline is in fact parrot-friendly! Not all are! Also, when it comes to Air BnB’s that are NOT pet-friendly, don’t be afraid to contact the owner or management company to see if they will make an exception for your caged parrot(s). Myself and other free flight graduates have been successful with this many times! Just leave it clean when you leave so they stay open-minded to the next bird owner.
Preparing to Travel on a Plane with your Parrot
There are two ways to travel with your bird via plane (well besides chartering a private plane or flying your own) either in cabin or by cargo transport.
My preferred option is in cabin. Not all birds qualify for this option though, either because they are too big to fit under the seat in a regulation size carrier or due to individual airline restrictions.
I have traveled many times in cabin with my birds. I use a carrier that meets the regulation requirements set by the airlines and has stainless steel mesh to prevent the parrot from chewing its way out mid flight.
When your bird travels via cargo it will be important to prepare your crate ahead of time. Airlines have strict instructions that must be followed to the letter or you can be rejected from getting your bird on board. Here is a video that goes over all of this in great detail - How to Travel on Airlines With Parrots. Also, be prepared to be at the airport cargo drop off a few hours ahead of the flight departure time.
Make sure that you check with the airline for their specific requirements for both options. You must call the airline directly to reserve a spot for your parrot ahead of time. There is a limit on how many animals can be on board and it is on a first-come, first-basis.
Check with the airline for the requirements of a health certificate as well. Not all airlines require them but if they do, you won't be able to travel without it. Not every avian or exotic veterinarian are licensed to issue health certificates so be sure to check ahead of time to see if yours does.
Car travel requires advanced planning as well!
My first concern when traveling with my parrots in a car is to prevent breaking down! Parrots are sensitive to temperatures both hot and cold and the last place I want to be is stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. So car maintenance is always a part of my prep plan. Oil changes and tire checks are the most obvious but if you have not had that check engine light checked yet, now would be the time!
Always travel with blankets in the cold temperatures to cover the cages if needed and lots of water no matter the temperatures!
Making sure you have restraints for the crates or backpacks is also important. This blog post will go over recommendations for securing your parrot’s carrier in the car to assure their safety in the event of a fast stop or accident - Restraining A Bird In A Car
It's Almost Go Time!
Staying organized during packing
When packing for your trip it is important to make sure that not only do you have enough supplies for the days you plan on being away but also bring extra just in case you have an unexpected delay with your return. When in doubt - DON'T leave it out! Finding bird supplies that are of good quality can be more challenging than finding dog or cat supplies especially if you are traveling in remote areas.
Here is a list of what I pack when traveling with my birds. I keep this list in a spreadsheet that I can open each time I am packing for a trip.
Here is a list of what I pack when traveling with my birds. I keep this list in a spreadsheet that I can open each time I am packing for a trip.
Scale
SFS - Frozen (I use a plug-in ice chest to transport this)
SFS - Freeze dried (just in case my frozen chop thaws by mistake or for convenience)
Pellets
Bottled water
Paper for cages
Cleaning supplies
Toys
Perches
Folding cat cage or large dog crate (will explain this in part 2)
Spray bottles (for showering birds)
Humidifier (important if traveling to a dry climate)
Treat pouch
Target stick and clicker
Extra treats
Training stand
Extra bowls
Bowl holders
Harness for Halo (he is the only one I use a harness with)
Sweet potatoes (this comes in handy as a binder to encourage a bird to eat on the road.)
Temp gauge for RV
Printed Lost Poster for Each Bird (hopefully never needed but important to have in case your bird accidentally gets out)
Locks for your parrot(s) cage(s) and crate(s)
The Night Before
Always have the crate(s) ready to go with clean bowls, perches, toys and locks, the night before. If traveling by car put them to bed 12 hours ahead of when you are leaving if possible so they start out the trip well rested. If traveling by plane in cabin, it is actually ok with them getting a little less sleep so they are willing to nap in the dark carrier.
Double check your packing list, turn on the ice chest to cool down (if you are using one), make sure the car is filled up (or make sure you are checked in for the flight) and then try to get a good night sleep yourself.
Travel Day!
Car:
The morning of, everyone's breakfast is waiting in their crates so they have motivation to go in their crates and to keep them busy as you hit the road. If your bird gets car sick I have found that waiting to feed her for at least an hour after we are driving she does much better. What also helps is to cover the cage on the sides so your bird can only see out the front which seems to also help a ton!
Every bird handles car travel a bit differently. Most will take it in stride but issues can come up. My first piece of advice is to expect there to be vocalizations. Sometimes I play music and that works, other times my parrots settle down more with an audiobook playing and other times we drive in complete silence. Whatever seems to be working in the moment is what we do.
Hopefully your bird stays engaged with toys during travel! A busy bird tends to be a quieter bird! When choosing toys for the trip give your birds toys that are on the softer side if you are hanging them for safety purposes. I use side mounted toys to offer harder woods to the bigger beaks without the risk of them being hit with the heavier toys during travel.
When I have to stop to go to the restroom I turn on the auto start to run the A/C when I am inside and lock up the car. I find that my parrots are typically very quiet when left in the car. I think it comes from them being insecure in a strange environment without me and so instinct kicks in and they stay quiet. I was so pleased with this the first time I traveled alone with them.
If you are traveling at sunset there will be vocalizing from the time the sun starts to go down until it is completely dark, unless you cover their crates ahead of time. When travelling at night, your bird(s) might get freaked out by the headlights from oncoming traffic and will panic.
I do have a rule with most of my parrots while traveling in a car which is, I rarely make the decision to take them out of their crate. I don't want to risk a bird refusing to go back into the carrier and delaying us getting back on the road. I just want to get where we are going just as quickly as we can so they can settle in for the night and get quality sleep.
When you stop anywhere look back and check everyone is still securely in their crates before opening doors. I failed to do this once and opened the door at a petrol station on a windy day to Ricochet sitting in his crate but he had opened the door to his crate and left it wide open. Thank goodness he wasn't out on top of the crate as that could have been a disaster!
Plane:
When traveling in cabin or cargo, you will need to take your bird out of its crate for a security check so in these situations I hold back breakfast until I am putting them back into their crate at the airport. This way I know that my bird will be more motivated to take treats for the crating behavior at the airport. I typically use pellets for airline travel to make this easier and cleaner. With most other airlines that ship birds cargo you will not need to do this step so I would load them up with their breakfast ahead of time. Be sure to talk to the airline you are traveling with to get the specifics on what this will look like for you and your bird.
When you go through security with your bird you will need to take them out so make sure you have your treats on hand. You and your bird will be in a secured room while an agent runs the crate through the x-ray. One agent will stay with you and your bird. If the room is open at the top (as some are), don't be afraid to speak up and insist on a completely closed space to assure your bird can not fly out of the room into the main airport area. If there is any doubt about your bird cooperating with this process then training them to be toweled ahead of time could be helpful.
Anytime I have traveled with my parrots in cabin, after the security check I close up all the flaps on the carrier to keep them quiet while in the terminal and on the plane. Most parrots will naturally go quiet in the dark. Once I close those flaps, I don't peek! Peeking just encourages vocalizations. You can be asked to deplane if noise becomes an issue.
I will also add one more tip that can be the most important when it comes to keeping your bird quiet during the flight. Don't be social with those sitting around you, LOL! I don't know about your flock but mine like to vocalize when they hear my voice. So I always become even more of an introvert than usual to avoid conversations that could trigger my bird to scream. I figure being unsocial is better than subjecting them to a discontent parrot during their flight.
I hope this blog has helped you feel more prepared for getting ready for and traveling with your parrot! Stay tuned for part 2 which will be all about setting you and your flock up for a low stress stay away from home! I say low stress because there is always stress when traveling with parrots but the more prepared we are ahead of time the more we can minimize that stress.
To be continued...
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