LauraO
04-28-2007, 02:34 PM
Well I have been living in Hawaii for the last thirteen years and my husband has spent most his life here. We've decided (mostly me as I've wanted to leave for years) that it's time to relocate. We are now in the process of moving from Hawaii to Portland,OR and we are taking most of our stuff and the whole flock. So I thought I'd share the experiences I am having with the flock so it can possibly help those in the future if they make a move such as this.
We currently have 26 birds and an old crotchety bunny and everybirdy is coming along. For the past few months I've been doing research and tapping my friends, and Linda about the best way to proceed. The actually gathering of the necessary stuff, and making the necessary arrangements has been going on for the last month.
First, we went to Portland in March and rented a huge house. Then I quit my job and went to Portland a couple of weeks ago and got some things in the house ready. We bought new cages for Mijo(CAG), Bumpy(Alexandrine) and our two meyer's parrot and I put them together, and bought food and water for when everybirdy arrives in Portland. While I was there we had the carriers we would be using to ship the birds sent to the new house in Portland and I brought them back to Hawaii to save on shipping costs.
After several discussions with airlines and under Linda's advisement, my husband and I decided the bulk of the birds would fly continental cargo. They allow you a lot of latitude in the crates and carriers you can use. They also don't require any health certificates unless you put a value on the birds. Since they ship by weight each of the two bundles will be $239. So we got eight in cabin carriers and will be bolting them into two blocks of four. We also bought smaller critter carriers that will allow us to put two in each carrier. The birds that have a mate will go two to a carrier and the single birds will go in one. It is a small carrier but there is enough room for them to move around. We have also bought a bunch of those small budgie water containers and drilled holes in the carriers to put the water portion in, and they will be getting millet to eat. Most people don't include water but fruit. however, Hawaii has strict laws about taking fruit out of State so that's not an option.
Here are the kennels we will be bolting together
http://www.thepetstoreonline.com/cakesotop.html
Here are the carriers they will be in, except for the Meye's who will have one kennel to themselves and a bigger carrier
http://www.ferretstore.com/smalsuppetta.html
So as it stands now the birds will arrive at the Honolulu airport on Tuesday at 3:30pm and leave at 6:30pm, arriving in Houston at 7:00am the next day. they then leave out of Houston at 9:00am and arrive in Portland at 11:21am. It is a long time for them, but 1) I have spoken to a lot of people who tell me the birds should be okay, 2) much of the flight is overnight so they will be sleeping, 3) they will be close to their flock, and 4) they have food and water.
Now, Me, Mijo and Bumpy (them with health certificates) will fly the direct Northwest red eye flight from Honolulu to Portland. We arrive an 1 1/2 early to check in and the flight leaves at 10:55pm on Tuesday with the birds riding in Cargo, arriving Wednesday in Portland at 7:30am. We will get a rental car and head to the house we rented and Bumpy and Mijo will go in their new cages to chill out. I will be breaking down all the lovebird cages and taking them with me as luggage on the flight, and will start putting them together while I wait for the flock to arrive at 11:21am. I have already set up a place in one of the rooms with a couple of perches and the Meyer's parrots cages where the bulk of the birds can hang out if it takes awhile to get everyting set up.
When I go pick up the bulk of the birds I will have all the necessary vetinary and emergency clinics' names and numbers in case somebirdy is in need of immediately medical care, and am prepared to go anywhere necessary straight from the airport. If not, we we all head back to the house and we will start our new life, and I will monitor the birds closely (as always) over the next couple of weeks to make sure everybirdy is healthy.
Oh, one important fact to remember that all the shipping requirements are often of the state you are shipping to and not from. So I called Hawaii's State vet's office to get all the information, and they gave me the State vet's number for Oregon who I called. So when finding information you it's most prudent to find out the requirements of the State you're in, the State you're going to, and the airline. It's also important to call more than once as you'd be surprised how much different and inaccurate information you can recieve.
Whew! I know this is long but I hope it's helpful:D
Oh, and we are also filling the Matson crate this weekend as well:x .
We currently have 26 birds and an old crotchety bunny and everybirdy is coming along. For the past few months I've been doing research and tapping my friends, and Linda about the best way to proceed. The actually gathering of the necessary stuff, and making the necessary arrangements has been going on for the last month.
First, we went to Portland in March and rented a huge house. Then I quit my job and went to Portland a couple of weeks ago and got some things in the house ready. We bought new cages for Mijo(CAG), Bumpy(Alexandrine) and our two meyer's parrot and I put them together, and bought food and water for when everybirdy arrives in Portland. While I was there we had the carriers we would be using to ship the birds sent to the new house in Portland and I brought them back to Hawaii to save on shipping costs.
After several discussions with airlines and under Linda's advisement, my husband and I decided the bulk of the birds would fly continental cargo. They allow you a lot of latitude in the crates and carriers you can use. They also don't require any health certificates unless you put a value on the birds. Since they ship by weight each of the two bundles will be $239. So we got eight in cabin carriers and will be bolting them into two blocks of four. We also bought smaller critter carriers that will allow us to put two in each carrier. The birds that have a mate will go two to a carrier and the single birds will go in one. It is a small carrier but there is enough room for them to move around. We have also bought a bunch of those small budgie water containers and drilled holes in the carriers to put the water portion in, and they will be getting millet to eat. Most people don't include water but fruit. however, Hawaii has strict laws about taking fruit out of State so that's not an option.
Here are the kennels we will be bolting together
http://www.thepetstoreonline.com/cakesotop.html
Here are the carriers they will be in, except for the Meye's who will have one kennel to themselves and a bigger carrier
http://www.ferretstore.com/smalsuppetta.html
So as it stands now the birds will arrive at the Honolulu airport on Tuesday at 3:30pm and leave at 6:30pm, arriving in Houston at 7:00am the next day. they then leave out of Houston at 9:00am and arrive in Portland at 11:21am. It is a long time for them, but 1) I have spoken to a lot of people who tell me the birds should be okay, 2) much of the flight is overnight so they will be sleeping, 3) they will be close to their flock, and 4) they have food and water.
Now, Me, Mijo and Bumpy (them with health certificates) will fly the direct Northwest red eye flight from Honolulu to Portland. We arrive an 1 1/2 early to check in and the flight leaves at 10:55pm on Tuesday with the birds riding in Cargo, arriving Wednesday in Portland at 7:30am. We will get a rental car and head to the house we rented and Bumpy and Mijo will go in their new cages to chill out. I will be breaking down all the lovebird cages and taking them with me as luggage on the flight, and will start putting them together while I wait for the flock to arrive at 11:21am. I have already set up a place in one of the rooms with a couple of perches and the Meyer's parrots cages where the bulk of the birds can hang out if it takes awhile to get everyting set up.
When I go pick up the bulk of the birds I will have all the necessary vetinary and emergency clinics' names and numbers in case somebirdy is in need of immediately medical care, and am prepared to go anywhere necessary straight from the airport. If not, we we all head back to the house and we will start our new life, and I will monitor the birds closely (as always) over the next couple of weeks to make sure everybirdy is healthy.
Oh, one important fact to remember that all the shipping requirements are often of the state you are shipping to and not from. So I called Hawaii's State vet's office to get all the information, and they gave me the State vet's number for Oregon who I called. So when finding information you it's most prudent to find out the requirements of the State you're in, the State you're going to, and the airline. It's also important to call more than once as you'd be surprised how much different and inaccurate information you can recieve.
Whew! I know this is long but I hope it's helpful:D
Oh, and we are also filling the Matson crate this weekend as well:x .