Parrot cages for the RV

We have one bird, a 22-year old Double Yellowhead Amazon. We take the bird on three- to four-week trips and on the nine-week trip to Alaska this past summer. We are in a fifth-wheel, so the cage has to be small enough to be put into the rear seat of the pickup. It's a wire cage about the same size as yours.

We let Poco out of his cage as much as possible. He sits on my knee while I'm reading, and we let him play with plastic bottles on the floor or on the kitchen counter. When we are busy, he sits on top of his cage for long periods. He seems OK with the arrangement. I prefer to relax on one of the recliners, but my wife likes to stretch out on the sofa. If not for that, I would take out the sofa and install a large bird cage.

We converted small dog carriers to travel cages with wire bottoms and perches for when we are moving. The acrylic cages didn't give them a place to hold on and Gabby hurt her beak once when I had to brake hard. That's when we started to use the carriers. It's also easier moving them from the house to the RV in them. Was also handy when we had a 5th wheel. We also have two T stands for them to come out of their cages a few times a day. They don't play together so cage top isn't a good idea with them.

While we are driving our CAG Grace is in a small vari-kennel carrier, strapped onto the console of the truck. Once we are parked I've used folding dog crate for inside, along with a much bigger cage for outside. OMG we travel with three cages for one little bird :-0 We have a fifth wheel so I was able to remove one of the recliners to make room for her cage inside, so it is just a normal parrot cage.

Mess... well... I just sweep and clean a lot. When we are parked somewhere she spends much of her day in her giant outside cage so that keeps the mess inside under control. And we also plan out the menu i.e. no pomegranate inside!

(Btw - she is not a noisy bird, most people don't even know she's there).

I took out the swivel chair behind the co-pilot seat and our macaw has his 36x60 home right there.

I have a 12-yr old African Grey. I also live in AZ (Tucson); moved here about 2 yrs ago from SoCal and Fiki is also a plucker. He is not used to traveling and I have a hard time getting him into his travel cage when we do, but he always seems to enjoy the trip once we get going. He rides in the passenger seat with his cage tethered down.

I am seriously considering an RV, so I can take trips and be able to bring Fiki and also my dog. I am looking at a class c or class a, minimum 24', maximum 33'. I have looked at several and looks like removing a swivel seat would provide plenty of room for a full cage.

Any recommendations as to "ideal" cage size. At home he has a dome top cage 36" x 28" (with seed skirt) and 62" high. I expect I can scale down for the RV; may a 24 x 20 x 60? Also, can you drive with the grey in his full cage or do you always use the small travel cage when in motion?

I am hoping that an RV will free me up to take both short 3-day trips, as well as longer (maybe 1 - 3 months) and can go whenever I want without having to make special arrangements for the bird (no problem with taking my dog.)

Any recommendations or sharing your experiences will be very much appreciated.

Thanks.
Ellen

We spent many a month looking at Class A Diesel pushers, and the main consideration was "where do we put Roscoe?"
Roscoe is a 24yo Goffin's Cockatoo. His cage at home is - well- a spoiled bird's palace. He has a smaller cage that we use to put him outside, and for emergency situation such as vet and evacuations.

We searched many pet shops and online. We finally found a 17.5 X 17.5 24' cage that came with a stand.
We found an RV with a perfect floorplan. We removed a chair, and made a board to fit the bolts. On the board, we screwed in a few eye-hooks. We use bungee cords to secure stand to floor, and we rigged the cage by bolting it to the stand. That thing does not even rattle!!

The bungee cords can be removed to move the cage when needed.

Sor the mess? Well, that is what parrots do, and quite well. I ran to staples and found a roll of shipping paper. We just cut a strip, cut opening for stand, and slide under. We don't use newspaper for the ink staining the rug.

So far...all a success!!

Paulsang- Do you have any pictures to post?

Paulsang, you do have one pampered feathered kid or fid as they say. That is an ideal situation and we do have a chair to remove. Problem is we have two parrots that have to have their own space. So they are stuck in less than ideal cages and come out several times a day to play on their individual stands.

Pkunk, Your macaw has a wonderful home on the road. I'm surprised to see the cabinet still in one piece.

I will work on getting a pic posted asap.

CarNDen, the size of the cage I used will be more than sufficient for your babies. You could put cages side-by-side, and possibly put a plexi divider between them in case they get in a mood and decide to pick at the other.

Roscoe is pretty mellow for a 'too. He plays quietly on top of his cage destroying the toys we give him. His favorite is paper towel rolls! He likes biting off little pieces and putting them in his feathers. He weaves them in...the funniest thing.

I digress. My thing with the bird is the same as a 2 year old. Less is more, and we have a well-adjusted 24 yo bird!

CarNDen wrote:


Pkunk, Your macaw has a wonderful home on the road. I'm surprised to see the cabinet still in one piece.

Well, he has remodeled the lower right corner some. I don't care too much. :R I remodeled that cabinet myself to only 4" deep (it houses electric wires & TV stuff)to accommodate the cage. I build a new one if I sell the rig.