The drive is the most stressful part of a boarding trip for a bird. A few small choices about the carrier, the car and the cover change how it goes.
The carrier
The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends small, secure, covered carriers for pet birds, to avoid injury. A carrier that is too large lets a bird be thrown around when the car brakes, and one with weak catches can pop open. Check the door, the perches and the floor before you go, and take off any loose toys that could swing.
Temperature in the car
The AVMA advises warming the vehicle before moving birds in cold weather and cooling it in summer, and suggests packing a plant mister for cooling birds in hot weather. In Dixon, where July afternoons average about 97 degrees at the nearest NOAA station, run the air conditioning before you load and never leave the bird in a parked car, even for a minute.
Choose the cooler drop-off window in summer. Drop-off is 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM.
Cover, quiet and calm
According to the AVMA, covering the cage may reduce stress, and birds should be kept in quiet areas and not allowed out of the cage in unfamiliar surroundings. Use a breathable cloth that lets air through and still cuts down on movement outside the window. Keep music and conversation low.
If your bird ever seems ill, the AVMA suggests lowering the perch, food dish and water bowl and calling a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Food, routine and the handoff
Keep the diet the same. The AVMA says all birds need a balanced diet, and that a diet made up only of seeds and nuts is not balanced. Pack the usual food and any supplements, label the amounts, and write down the bird's sleep schedule, medications and any habits staff should know about, such as biting or flying out of the cage.
Happy Paws welcomes birds, may ask you to provide the cage, and gives the price when you ask, so please call 707-678-6600. Read more on the bird boarding page, the bird care guide and the packing list.