Are you getting ready to move to a new place? While packing everything up and hauling it away is hectic and stressful for humans, it’s a very confusing and scary situation for parrots, and all of our pets. Wild parrots rarely stay in one place for very long; there’s much to do every day, from foraging for food to fleeing predators. Our feathered friends, however, rarely go adventuring outside the home – and may be phobic of a big change in scenery. Since it is nearly impossible to explain how or why things are happening to our parrots, we have to take extra care to make sure the transition isn’t any more stressful than need be.
If you’re lucky enough to have a few weeks notice before a big move, take some time before the big packing to-do and think about your specific bird or birds. While it’s easy to assume all birds will be frightened by changes, the truth is that many birds are not even phased. Even generalizing by species can be useless; for example, African Greys are well-known for being phobic and resistant to change, yet Symon is a shining example of mental stability over three years of very large lifestyle changes for both of us!
Think of the following things that may or may not scare your parrot…
- Noises?
- Colors?
- Particular movements?
- Household items?
- Other pets?
- Other people or strangers?
Now, if any of the listed fears are a blaringly obvious issue within the context of moving house, don’t worry, you still have a little time and a few options to make everything run smoothly!
Have you ever heard of Avi-Calm? Made by Avitech, it is a fine powder 
that is intended to help ease the stress of new situations in parrots. Often recommended for traumatized or feather-plucking birds, it may also help with birds having a rough hormonal season. Treating your birds with Avi-Calm daily, starting a week or two before the big move, may help ease the tension that comes along with big changes.
If your parrot is a typical “scaredy cat”, it might not be a bad idea to find a pet sitter or local boarding facility for the duration of the move. Does grandma have space in her den for your parrot’s travel cage for a week while you drag all the big, scary furniture out of the house? Most birds would gladly take a trip to grandma’s over listening to the bumping, slamming, and dragging ruckus that usually accompanies a big move. If grandma isn’t an option, you can always find a pet sitter or local boarding facility to take her place.
If you have a spare bedroom that is easy to pack up, that could be a great “in home” sanctuary for the birds, and other pets, while the rest of the house is rummaged. Play an upbeat radio station in the room to slightly mask some of the noise from beyond the room, and to provide a distraction for your parrots.
Once the house is loaded up and ready for transport, you’ll have quite a few more steps to take in regards to your pets. Hop over to our next post – On the Road – to continue reading!
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