Anybody that has a pet will tell you that they are part of the family. Animals have a special place in many people’s hearts, and birds are no exception to that. It is no secret that most people aren’t the biggest fans because of the pooping and squawking, but there is also a large population that enjoys the company of their aviary friends. Anybody that has ever moved or helped someone move will tell you how big of a hassle it is, and how incredibly stressful it can be. If you have a bird and are moving to Kansas City, here are some tips for you.
First off, the most important thing to know is that when a bird is stressed it is far more susceptible to illness than a bird that is not stressed. The best thing you can do for your bird is minimize the stress it endures as much as possible. If you are moving somewhere within driving distance either getting a travel cage or putting your cage in your car will be an efficient way to move your bird. The best way to minimize stress is to keep familiar items in the bird’s cage, from the toys to the food dish, it’s a good idea to keep things consistent. One good idea is to have a bag with all of your bird essentials handy so that your bird doesn’t have to go without anything that it needs. Make sure that your bird is one of the last things to be moved, and put them in a low traffic area. If they have to sit there all day while everything is being moved in it could potentially stress them out.
If you are flying and want to bring your bird with you on the plane you are in luck. There are some airlines that allow you to treat your bird like a carry on, and you can put their travel cage under the seat in front of you. Other airlines will let you check your bird, but you cannot bring it in the cabin. There are certain rules and regulations as to the size and material of the travel cage, but it is specific to each airline.
When it comes time to move your bird there is going to be a certain amount of stress that is inevitable. The best thing you can do is try to minimize that stress as much as possible. Keeping them in a consistent environment and keeping their travel time as short as possible will play a large role in stress management.