If there was a tornado siren right now could you transport your bird to safety? What if there was a fire in your home or a wildfire racing down the hill? Do you have a hard sided carrier to help protect your parrot from blowing debris? Is the hard sided carrier stuffed in the closet? In the garage under mounds of other stuff you have stored? If you need to transport your bird to safety quickly, that carrier is worthless to you if you can't get at it quickly.


What you say? Your state never has tornadoes? I beg to differ no state is tornado proof. If you have only a rare tornado how about straight line winds? Perhaps floods? How about a out-of control car crashing into the living room? A fire? There are always natural or not so natural emergencies where your bird may need to be transported quickly.


At the very least keep a towel at the bottom of the carrier. If it is just a quick trip to the basement or room with no windows that will do nicely. If you expect to be sequestered away with your bird for a longer period of time a perch would be nice. His or her feet can handle a flat surfaced carrier for a short period of time but they will need that perch for an extended period of time. I will explain shortly how to install a perch in a hard sided carrier.


Next to my carriers are backpacks with bottled water, (I never use bottled water except for emergency storage-I use fresh filtered water) food, water and food dishes bagged in plastic Ziplocs to keep them clean, and any medication the bird or parrot may need, and a first aid kit.


It takes but a second to open the bird cage, stuff the bird in a hard sided carrier, put the backpack over my shoulder and head to safety. My family is well-rehearsed for disasters such as tornados and fires. If my grandchildren are here everyone knows what their job is. Children and pets are taken to safety. Ultimately we would like to be in the basement during a tornado. However, the top floor has a bathroom, no windows, and bathrooms have a fair amount of extra structure such as pipes to support the walls. Our house was built in 1885 - we tore out a wall once, it had to be 18 inches thick! That was an inside wall!


The basement has food, water, toys, fun snacks and other items. I can't imagine being cooped up with a child or bird for an extended period of time!


OK, the perch in the hard sided carrier. Get a wooden perch the diameter best for your bird's feed. Cut the perch to be exactly the width of the carrier so that it will fit crosswise. Get two screws that will fit into each end of the perch. Drill two holes one on each side to accept the screws, toward the bottom of the carrier. Height according to size of bird. You will also need six washers. One next to the perch, the screw goes next, one more washer, the hard-sided carrier, another washer and then the nut.


With these simple basics you are ready for most any emergency. You will also have a carrier to take the bird to the veterinarian.

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Diana Geiger Exotic Pets Editoron

Three sizes - This is the large Petmate Pet Taxi Fashion Kennel. Click picture for larger view and information



First Aid Kit for Birds
by VSI Pet Care