Taking your bird on holiday......do you?

[Twogirls]

I'm on about the feathered variety our friends wanted to bring their budgie away with them to Portugal. I know, but they love her and didn't want to leave her for their 90 days away.

Vets ummed and aahed, eventually said contact DEFRA. DEFRA said you must fill in export/import forms. They said we're not exporting her, she's our pet, she'll be staying with us. DEFRA said go to vet and get an AHC form done. Vet said where was she born, what's her date of birth? Friends said no idea, we bought her from a pet shop 4 years ago. Vet said umm...aaah...can't do it as can't certify its healthy and it's not ringed. They said, no she's not chipped, ringed or anything else cos she's our pet and she lives in a cage. Vet said no, go back to DEFRA.

Anyone else taken their bird on holiday, and if so how did you do it?

 

[John Barrett]

Forgive me, but I have to suggest this. Find a vet that's going cheep?

 

[Twogirls]

Forgive me, but I have to suggest this. Find a vet that's going cheep?

I did suggest that they smuggle the budgie ....

 

[TinaLes]

Cant your friends wear a pair of Budgie Smugglers, after all that must be how they got their name.
Sorry couldn't resist that one.
Wish them all the luck they can get on this, it will be a hellover Trill for them I am sure
LES

 

[bobnick]

I Know people love their pets but a budgie on holiday.? really.

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[Jimbohorlicks]

I Know people love their pets but a budgie on holiday.? really.

And why not,just leave it in the cage and hang it up in the van,just take it. It's a budgie.

 

[John Barrett]

I Know people love their pets but a budgie on holiday.? really.

You could rephrase that to some MH'ers only want a budgie holiday!

 

[ElliesBoss]

Seems like DEFRA and the vet have set out their positions and neither is going to budgee. Difficult one. Try another vet? Perhaps one that specialises in birds? Must be some national budgie organisation that could offer info?

 

[Two on Tour]

When we were parked up on a stellplatz on the Moselle a few years back, a Dutch couple arrived and hung a birdcage on their awning containing a couple of canaries that were singing their hearts out.

 

[SpeedyDux]

I Know people love their pets but a budgie on holiday.? really.

We travel with our budgie, in its cage. Bad experiences with people we trusted (and paid) to take care of budgies while we were away - several deaths.

On the question of taking it abroad, we decided not to, partly because unlike other animals it can't have a pet passport and the rules here and across the Channel were too uncertain, although in theory it is possible. We didn't want to run the risk of it being stopped at Customs, then quarantined, or even confiscated and destroyed. The other uncertainty - what if there is an outbreak of avian flu while we are away, and a sudden ban on transporting caged birds?

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[Clipgate]

There is Avian Flue

 

[chaser]

Can't see any problem it's a bird , they fly, if you chucked it up in the air it could well end up in France, so don't see the difference in just taking it in the van.

 

[Rapido925M]

On the site in Gangeld, Germany, I met a lady with 3 parrots. She was pushing them around in a pram so I got chatting. Two of them travel in a huge cage in the back of her MH but the other one sits on her shoulder whilst she drives. She said that she is a member of like-minded folk who meet up regularly for rallies.

Since that encounter I noticed several others who travel with birds, often standing cages outside on sunny days.

Going from UK to Europe might cause import/export problems, but for domestic situations I can't see any difficulty.

Gordon

 

[Speve]

Here’s the latest on the Avian Flu epidemic: from Gov.uk
Latest situation
Update 6 December 2021:

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at a third premises near Barrow upon Soar, Charnwood, Leicestershire. All birds on the infected premises will be humanely culled. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around each of the premises.

Update 5 December 2021:

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at the following premises. All birds on the infected premises will be humanely culled. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around each of the premises.

seventh premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire
near Newent, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
For details of the cases and the measures that apply in the disease control zones in England, see the avian influenza: cases and disease control zones in England guidance. You can also find out about licences for movements from disease control zones in force

 

[The Wino]

I suppose unless it's chipped or ringed how could they identify it? Might be worth looking into how homing pidgeons are accounted for if they race across different countries

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[PP Bear]

It’s crying out for this to resurface

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

And why not,just leave it in the cage and hang it up in the van,just take it. It's a budgie.

Out of shear curiosity I trawled the internet for advice and it seems that you do need an AHIC certificate to show that the budgie is healthy.
A bit expensive for a budgie meethinks. Probably more complicated to fill in than for a dog.

 

[bobnick]

Not saying it's wrong, just strange to me. Then again i'm not a pet owner so what do i know.

 

[Richard n Ann]

If you buy a pigeon it can meet you there

 

[shrek snr]

budgie gas alarm.

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[3 cabbages]

It might be exciting ,to take someone else's bird on holiday!

 

[John Barrett]

It might be exciting ,to take someone else's bird on holiday!

If I tried that it would be on a wing and a prayer!

 

[3 cabbages]

The last time I offered to take a "bird" on holiday her Dad chased me with a shotgun !

 

[TheBig1]

You are taking a huge gamble travelling with a bird abroad. If the avian flu crisis hits lockdown again the bird may be refused re-entry to the UK or ordered destroyed. Far better for the bird to go stay with friends/relatives for 3 months

 

[VXman]

We were at a site at in Spain a month or so ago. I could hear the sound of exotic birds. I went to explore and found a Brit motorhome and van with a massive bird cage set up with about 8 different birds. Seemed a bit excessive if they were on holiday

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[dryad]

avian flu also in europe currently..
don't think i would risk taking a bird away at present..

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1038793/Highly_pathogenic_avian_influenza__HPAI__in_the_UK__and_Europe_29112021.pdf

 

[jezport]

Without it being ringed or chipped its probably a no. With bird flu around we keep our macaw indoors. We are in West Yorkshire and dont have to do it by law but better safe than sorry.

 

[Puddleduck]

We had budgies when I was at home and they were always ringed. THe man who used to come and clip their nails put a ring on then the first time he did the claws and then he's mark it down in his book that ring number xxx had nails clipped on whatever day.

With avian flu I wouldn't take a bird away at the moment. Our hens are enclosed and under cover at the moment and they hate it.

You can take hens in and out of the country - I'm not sure how many in one trip so it can be done.

 

[GibAvon]

Lots of er…. twittering going on this thread!

 

[suavecarve]

I dont know the answer but have sent our a message on twitter
No doubt someone will tweet me back

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