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| A stress-free trip takes planning. Plan the
basics, like food and water, and there will
be less for you to think about and more
time to enjoy travel with your bird. |
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- Carry a portable water filter. Water filters can get rid of heavy metals and other elements.
- Boil water from home and store in air-tight bottles.
- Use commercial bottled water (remember to get your bird used to the taste of commercial waters before your trip).
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 Summer is the time of year many bird
owners travel with their birds.
Feeding your
bird properly is one of the easiest and
most important stress relievers you can
provide on a road trip. It can make the
difference between a pleasant trip and a
panicked vacation.
 While some species, such as
canaries and finches, may be stressed
by traveling, others, like those in the
parrot family, are more likely to enjoy it.
Of course, there are always exceptions.
Before going on a long trip, take small
trips first to acclimate your bird to the
car and see if it will be enjoyable. For
many birds, travel is interesting. It keeps their active minds entertained. Best
of all, travel lets them be with their
favorite person all day.
Don't be lax and feed your bird the
wrong foods just because you're "on
vacation." Remember, foods full of fats
and sugars - such as fast foods - are
unhealthy for your avian friend. Proper
nutrition is also important for managing
travel stress.
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Use a cooler with plenty
of ice for fresh foods.
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Store foods in nonbreakable
plastic containers
or tight closing plastic bags.
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While traveling, take
advantage of the fresh-from-the-garden
vegetables of the season. Vegetables contain
essential vitamins and
minerals as well as fiber. Make sure to rinse well before feeding.
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Just before the car ride, avoid overfeeding your bird. For entertainment
and for a low-fat treat, secure
spray millet, such as Golden Sunburst
Millet, in holders. If this is a
new treat for your bird, be sure to offer
it to your bird several days prior to the
trip to get his digestive system used to
it. As
always, your bird needs his regular
daily food to be the main portion
of his diet. In addition,
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Food cups should be deep and
secured to the cage or crate.
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Have one dish for pellets
or seeds and one for fresh
vegetables or fruits.
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To hydrate your bird, attach a Bird Water Bottle for
less mess. Make sure your bird
knows how to use a water bottle
before starting on your trip.
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For nutrition and hydration,
offer your bird bits of juicy, fresh fruits.
- Use a Seed Guard, or
similar item to reduce seed mess
from the cage onto the car floor.
Remember that birds crave
routine, even on the go. The closer
you can stick to your usual feeding
schedule, the better. Many birds will not
eat inside a moving vehicle, and
are more apt to eat when they are
settled and not stressed.
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