Transporting birds from a show/fair?

artgecko · Post by **artgecko** » Wed Aug 31, 2016 1:16 pm

Hello guys,

I will be attending my first bird fair this weekend and was wondering what I could bring with me to transport any birds I may buy. We live about 1.5 hours from the show venue. I am planning on looking for a small inexpensive cage while at the show to purchase just for transportation, but would like to be prepared with something in case I don't find one. On hand, I have some "kritter keepers" of various sizes (clear plastic boxes with ventilation at the top and a secure snap-on lid / handle). I also have a few shoe boxes laying around as well as some plastic bins with snap-on lids of various sizes.

I was planning on putting aspen bedding in the bottom of whatever container I bring, as well as bringing some seed / millet with me and either a small dish of water or some watery veggies that could be used to get water out of (when I've transported rats in the past, you just give them veggies for a water sources instead of a bowl, but I don't know if it would work the same for birds).

I was also planning on bringing a light sheet or pillow case to cover the carrying container while in the car.

Also, if I purchase more than one bird (from the same seller) should they be transported in the same container or separately?

If you have any suggestions about what might work to transport them or any tips, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for your time and help!

paul-inAZ · Post by **paul-inAZ** » Wed Aug 31, 2016 2:05 pm

You will almost surely find some small transport cages at the fair. Typically only about $5, sometimes less.
I put the cage into a cardboard box and loosely cover with a towel for the trip home. That helps keeping them from panicking.
Unless it is a very long drive all you should need is some water- if that.
More than one bird/cage is OK.

artgecko · Post by **artgecko** » Wed Aug 31, 2016 3:20 pm

Thank you for the advice!

Post by **Sally** » Wed Aug 31, 2016 6:04 pm

Agree with everything Paul said. Many vendors carry small cages that they sell inexpensively just for transport. One thing you can use for carrying the cages is one of these reusable bags from the grocery stores. You should be able to stack a couple of those small transport cages in one of those, and they help keep the birds calmer while you are walking around shopping. A small piece of spray millet is nice to have in each cage. Have fun!!

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Wed Aug 31, 2016 8:21 pm

Iuse the brick transport cages in a cat litter pan...a towel goes over the top as I walk through the show and in the car. You can hook a feed cup and little water tube on them. line the bottom with paper towel.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Wed Aug 31, 2016 8:25 pm

I have a few of these too...good also for taking a finch to the vet!!!

Stuart whiting · Post by **Stuart whiting** » Thu Sep 01, 2016 3:47 am

Sally wrote: Agree with everything Paul said. Many vendors carry small cages that they sell inexpensively just for transport. One thing you can use for carrying the cages is one of these reusable bags from the grocery stores. You should be able to stack a couple of those small transport cages in one of those, and they help keep the birds calmer while you are walking around shopping. A small piece of spray millet is nice to have in each cage. Have fun!!

Exactly what I do Sally,

I use a zebra finch show cage and place the cage into a strong super market type bag, the bags that we have are not paper but more like a tough fabric with strong fabric handles

artgecko · Post by **artgecko** » Thu Sep 01, 2016 1:25 pm

Thank you so much for the input and pics everyone! I already have some re-usable publix bags, so it will be easy to bring one with me.

If any of the vendors use cardboard boxes, should I be concerned about that? I had heard that is quite common at shows.

I may try to buy a couple transport cages from a cage vendor first, then start looking at the breeder's / broker's booths. I am likely going to be bringing home some combination of a pair of gouldians, and possibly a male canary or a pair of female canaries, so 1-2 boxes should be good enough for me.

I am going to try to buy an inexpensive small flight cage to use for quarantine as well, so I'll need good luck to find all of that for what I want to spend lol.

paul-inAZ · Post by **paul-inAZ** » Thu Sep 01, 2016 1:29 pm

If any of the vendors use cardboard boxes, should I be concerned about that?

no. they work OK for the short time involved.

A single wire transport cage should be big enough.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Thu Sep 01, 2016 1:48 pm

Come prepared most do not supply boxes

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Thu Sep 01, 2016 1:53 pm

Bit of advice, if buying from more than one vendor try to keep your birds separate. The brick wire cages can be zip tied together to form a stack, Paper towel over a the grate will prevent droppings from falling into the cage below.

If I am selling birds at a show, know my birds' health and a buyer comes by with several birds in a cage from different sellers and wants my bird added it zeros out my guarantee... or if he comes to me first but continues to buy, and adds them to the cage and I see it, it zeros the guarantee out.

Barbara · Post by **Barbara** » Thu Sep 01, 2016 3:26 pm

I am sure you will have a good time at the bird fair,I have only been to one and my only advice I can give you that I couldn't do.(Get there early)Not sure how big the one you are going to the one I attended was a not very big and most of all the birds were gone when I got there mid morning.Be sure to post us pictures

Stuart whiting · Post by **Stuart whiting** » Thu Sep 01, 2016 4:14 pm

cindy wrote: Bit of advice, if buying from more than one vendor try to keep your birds separate. The brick wire cages can be zip tied together to form a stack, Paper towel over a the grate will prevent droppings from falling into the cage below.

If I am selling birds at a show, know my birds' health and a buyer comes by with several birds in a cage from different sellers and wants my bird added it zeros out my guarantee... or if he comes to me first but continues to buy, and adds them to the cage and I see it, it zeros the guarantee out.

Absolutely, totally agree cindy

Barbara · Post by **Barbara** » Thu Sep 01, 2016 4:56 pm

artgecko--with all the great advice from cindy and paul

I'm sure your going prepared the only thing to add is have fun

artgecko · Post by **artgecko** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 8:09 am

Thanks again everyone for your advice! I will bring some of my critter keepers just in case, but will plan on buying transport cages at the show and bringing a shopping bag to put them in. I am going to be getting two species at most this time around, so I think two cages will do since I will be purchasing from 2 or fewer sellers.

Barbara- I plan to get there at opening. It works the same way with reptile shows. Many times, the best animals are gone within 30 minutes of opening. I am hoping the time it takes me to purchase travel cages will not be long, so that I can get right to the birds. I need to buy many supply items as well, but those can wait until after I look at the birds.

If I don't find any birds that I want at this show, I'll be bummed out, but there will be another show in January I think that Laraine will be at (in north ATL) so I can wait and go to that one.

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