Shipping and Handling

Shipping birds can be made to be less stressful by following some sensible advice from someone experienced in shipping and adhering to the rules and regulations of the shippers. What follows is an outline of how to avoid undue stress, accidents, loss, and/or injury to the parrots that you want to ship. This is also a useful guide when buying a parrot that needs to be shipped. You can be sure that Joe Parrots Breeder goes all the way in ensuring that shipping is hitch-free and smooth.

Transporting a bird is very safe

Transporting a single bird to a new place always seems cruel and embarrassing, but in reality I think it’s harder for us than for the birds. Thanks to my many years of transport experience, I know for sure that all birds are doing well. So if you stop and think about it, airlines are not going to mistreat birds for fear of lawsuits and customer dissatisfaction. I stick the bird seed and feeding guide on the top of the cage and put some ice water on it so that it will melt gradually for the birds and the birds will get their food as they climb.

The average flight time is about 2-5 hours.I always inquire about any delays or stopovers and I know the exact flight times and departures so I know where the bird is and can provide you with information.

The bird arrives the same day it is shipped, usually within a few hours. In the cage I have a big, soft bed of shredded newspaper for the birds to nest in, and usually a pair of pig ears to chew on (they love them) and a toy or sock with my perfume on it – to keep the bird comfortable. Secure

What about shipping in the winter

If you decide to buy a bird, I guarantee you – I have many years of experience – that it will reach you safely. Birds can be safely transported between 20 and 85 degrees, per AA regulations. All the birds fly into the plane’s cockpit where, like the passengers on board, it’s a comfortable 70 degrees and they’re the last and first on board.

Shipping is completely safe and hassle-free at this time of year, so we don’t have to worry about that.Just like someone boarding a plane to meet family and/or friends over the holidays, shipping a bird is very similar – and probably even a little easier. The only difference at this time of year is that the airlines can strictly enforce the minimum temperature everywhere (which is really good for the birds, even if the plane is still 70 degrees. I think this is mainly due to their liability and their protection

NOTICE Most carriers specializing in the transport of animals use temperature-controlled boxes, so-called electronic boxes, which allow us to ship in both winter and summer.

These types of cages are still used because they can regulate the temperature to give the birds the best journey.

What does the shipping process include?

As I’m 30 minutes from the nearest airport and like most breeders I don’t charge extra for delivery, I try to make each trip as sensible as possible by picking up several birds at the same time and sticking to specific times. So it helps me a lot if you can indicate multiple times/days that you (or someone else with ID) are available to pick up the bird. So if you are interested in having one of the birds I can reserve a bird after receiving all the money. I need the days and times you can pick up your birds at the nearest airport, as well as your home address and telephone number.

I can usually book a flight just a day in advance so they are aware of transit temperatures. Once you have booked the bird I will call and/or email you with your flight number and pick up time. All you have to do is pick up your bird at the airport, taking some identification documents with you, such as your driver’s license or insurance card, and the waybill number, which I will give you. I therefore request that you contact me as soon as possible after receiving the bird, as I am very interested in knowing more about the bird – everything went well – think – and any other questions you might have.

HOW WE PREPARE THE PARROTS

We make sure the condition of your Parrot is optimal before shipping. Babies on formula don’t need any extra supplements, but an older bird may. We fortify them all with a stress reduction preparation such as Avitec’s AviBios or Mardel’s Ornabac™. These are powdered mixes to be administered to their soft foods before shipping and afterward shipping. The lactobacillus, probiotics, and low ph. levels will help avert bacterial infections resulting from stress. The B-Complex vitamins will help with the stress level itself. We administer these freely to babies as well as adults. Mega Bird Store only sells weaned parrots and all our babies are fully weaned when shipped.

Shipping Crates, Containers, and Boxes

Usually, commercial hard plastic kennel cabs are the standard container for shipping. We only use airline approved kennels that are darkened to help eliminate stress during the flight. But we go the extra mile to construct heavy-duty wooden crates with breathing holes on all its four sides for better air circulation since all containers may have other cargo stacked around and on top of it. These provide more stability keeping the parrot from being thrown around during air turbulence. Costs for the crates are included in the initial deposit. Each kennel will have a perch, juicy fruits, vegetables, and parrot kibble.

Shipping Crates

Actually, commercial hard plastic kennel cabs are the standard container for shipping. We only use airline approved Crates that are darkened to help eliminate stress during the flight. But Pure African Grey Parrots Avian goes the extra mile to construct heavy-duty wooden crates with breathing holes on all its four sides for better air circulation since all containers may have other cargo stacked around and on top of it. These provide more stability keeping the parrot from being thrown around during air turbulence. Costs for the crates are included in the initial deposit. Each Crate will have a perch, juicy fruits, vegetables, and parrot kibble.

How we prepare the Shipping Containers

Most airlines now require that a perch be installed (screwed in from the outside of the container) for birds. At Mega Bird Store, the perch is made no higher than an inch from the bottom. This way, the parrot won’t fall hard or get caught under the perch during turbulence. We also line the bottom of the carrier with newspaper or crumpled then tamped down paper toweling so that the bird has a better foothold if it stays on the bottom. We also to tape a thick piece of cardboard halfway up the front door if the weather is inclement or if we are shipping babies. For parrots that are extra-large and can chew through most material (such as hyacinths and Black palm cockatoos), we line the entire crate with hardware cloth. We always ship bonded pairs separately or in a separate compartment within the crate so as to avoid stress wounds. We fill the bottom of the crate with the seed (and/or pellets if that is their diet). It works as a good bedding liner and gives the parrots nourishment if they want to eat during the flight. We place cubes of juicy fruit in the container on the floor – grapes, apples, oranges, etc. This will provide the bird(s) with liquids during the flight and any layovers. Just be sure that there is enough food for the bird(s) in case of a 1 or 2 days delay! Finally, we add an extra piece of hardware cloth over the entire door of the crate so that no one is tempted to open the door to take a closer look or to take the parrot. We always make sure the crates have the “LIVE BIRDS” label on it, which is generally provided by the airline.

Our Shipping Policies, Routines, and Norms

We ship to all states and can make arrangements to almost any city in the United States and the World. Our primary consideration is the well-being of the bird(s) being shipped. We have been shipping for years and we take every precaution to make sure that your new pet arrives safely. We prefer to ship direct to a major city, eliminating connecting flights if at all possible. This may mean driving a bit further to a large airport, or it may mean picking up in the evening to ensure appropriate shipping temperatures during hot weather seasons. Weekday shipping is preferred over weekends, due to the fact that there are fewer travelers then, and that many cargo terminals close early on the weekends.

We take care of all the flight/shipping arrangements. Very Simple and Very Safe!

We coordinate flight times with our customers a few days in advance before the bird is being shipped (weather permitting). The customer is provided with the airline, flight number(s), air waybill/tracking number, and flight arrival time prior to departure. It is recommended that the customer arrives at the airport no later than the expected flight arrival time so that your bird does not wait at the airport for any period of time. We contact our customers once again on the day of shipment before the bird leaves. A return call, text, or e-mail to Mega Bird Store letting us know that the bird(s) arrived safely is highly appreciated. All sales are final when the birds are shipped. There are no returning birds unless the bird has health issues. We have a 24-hour limit, for notification after delivery of the birds, of any problem at the point of delivery, specified on the order. Immediate inspection is necessary to ensure damage didn’t occur during shipping and the birds are alive at delivery. We will replace the dead bird or refund the complete cost of the bird, but not the shipping cost. At least a 50% payment must be made before any bird is shipped.

Shipping International – Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Europe, Asia, and Africa

All parrots except cockatiels and parakeets are listed on the CITES appendix two list as threatened species. Because of this status parrots need a CITES certification to be moved from one country to another. Once a parrot has CITES certification, the paperwork should be valid in all countries.
To ship a bird to a foreign country, one first needs to get a CITES permit. We can expedite the acquisition of a CITES permit, with our well-established connections. This is generally done under situations concerning the purchase of Hyacinth Macaws and Black Palm Cockatoos, so we able and ready to ship our parrots to other countries without any problem or additional cost.
CITES is a worldwide organization and not directly associated with the USDA. Each country has its own office to process CITES certifications. The CITES certification is processed through the Division of Management Authority in the Fish and Wildlife Department in the US.