Taking a caged bird over to Europe?

[RogeTeri]

My wife has a pet bird and wants to take it with us to Spain. Dogs are no problem. But, does anyone know what has to be done to take this dam bird?

 

[Allanm]

I think you may have to contact the Spanish Embassy to determine the requirement depending on the type of bird
If you are travelling through France, you may need to enquire with the French Embassy too to make sure you have the correct paperwork and forms.

 

[Snowbird]

When my father passed away I inherited an ancient African grey parrot. It was so old it did not have a ring on its foot and that was where the problem started, other than its very colourful language. I made enquiries with the ministry of agriculture fisheries and food and was told I would require export docs to take it out of the UK, import docs to import it into France, export docs from France to Spain and import docs into Spain.
All this again in reverse on my way home.
I decided to ask a mate who kept a local pub if he would look after it and he agreed. Have never set foot in that pub since, and that was almost 20 years ago.
This was 20 years ago, so I have no idea if the rules have changed.

 

[DBK]

My wife has a pet bird and wants to take it with us to Spain. Dogs are no problem. But, does anyone know what has to be done to take this dam bird?

I think you don't need anything at the moment but you could get a fit to travel certificate from a vet to be safe.

Anyone ever taken a bird to France?

The feathered variety...i.e. a cockatiel. Can't find anything on the internet except restrictions for poultry and racing pigeons. Pet passports needed only for dogs, cats and ferrets. (Who takes a ferret??) I suppose some of you think I'm daft taking a cockatiel in a motorhome but he loves it!

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Sandp]

Hi
We have been taking a canary abroad for last few years no problem vet said they do not come under the pet passport scheme.
Even chirps up at passport control when they ask about the dogs, officers just laugh and say at least we couldn’t be trying to hide him?

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[Minxy]

The 'only' thing that you might have to check about is avian flu etc and travel restrictions because of that sort of thing. Check with DEFRA.

 

[BreweryDave]

 

[Bonkers the Dog]

Depends on the species of bird.

If you are attempting to transport an endangered species you will have to jump through hoops to do it.

For instance, my family once imported into the UK (EU zone) 3 African Grey parrots from when we used to live in Zaire.

AS they are an endangered species and on the 'CITIES List' -the international convention concerning endangered species - the paperwork and bureaucracy was considerable and took several months, and fees galore, to complete; and that was to get them into just one country. They were then required to go into quarantine for a considerable time with an accredited facility! It all took a long time and cost a lot of money, even back in the late 80's.

So if your bird is a biggy, African grey, macaw, minah bird, some cockatoos etc and on that list, you might find it a considerable challenge.

If it's your old aunty Mary's canary (was it ever up the leg of her drawers?) then crack on, although you might be subject to local veterinary restrictions for avian transportation with regards to communicable diseases, especially members of the pscitticine family (parrots) as they carry the bacterium that causes psittacosis, a disease that can cross the species barrier into humans. AS you can imagine national governments are quite keen to control communicable diseases like that.

You will just need to do your research and due diligence.

I wouldn't try winging it either. If you are found to be contravening the CITIES regulations you will be looking at the thick end of a huge fine, confiscation of transporting methods, significant legal costs in a foreign jurisdiction and possible jail time.

You really need to love your bird to go through it!

Good luck.

Does polly get a cracker now?

 

[nicholsong]

'Bonkers the dog' said

'I wouldn't try winging it either' - groan

And he thinks the dog is bonkers.

 

[2x2camper]

Can't it just fly there

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[tonyidle]

A quick Google suggests there are no restrictions within the EU .

 

[Mikeco]

Be okay if it was a pigeon, if it got bored it could find its own way home.