So I've been seriously busy and put off writing this post until I'd been out a couple times with Viggo camping to be able to comment. I wanted to be able to share what I've learned and that wouldn't be from one trip...it takes a few. I will post again in future about our adventures camping when the season comes to an end. By then if we get away as much as we'd like we will be seasoned campers when travelling with a parrot.
We've been out twice now with Viggo. Our initial trip and maiden voyage in the trailer went fantastic! I cannot say that enough. The second trip went much like the first. I transported Viggo in his crate until we got to our site. Once the trailer was unhitched, set up, leveled...you know all the initial stuff, I brought him in his carrier from the truck to the trailer and transferred him into the travel cage we bought. Let me tell you, the whole drive (30ish minutes) he talked and went through his vocabulary. I'd say that is a sign of a happy boy. Once in his cage he looked around the trailer still mumbling away while we settled in. He talked a lot all weekend really. For more of a closet talker this was awesome, especially waking to his quiet chatter at 8am.
The weather was not conducive for Viggo to be outside as it was too cool, (I'm in Canada after all) so he remained inside the trailer all weekend. Our trailer is pretty open with two pop outs so Viggo was still able to fly circles and maneuvered around the trailer with ease to stretch his wings and get exercise. The bugs were also out and I didn't have netting yet on the first trip. Even with the netting the second trip I was iffy as the bugs were bad and I was a little worried about exposure to campfire smoke. We tend to keep our fire going for the duration of the weekend as everyone cooks, does their smokies, smores and what not over the fire. More in the spring, less in the summer. Hopefully the weather is over 14 degrees so he can venture out in his cage in the near future, and the bugs let up. Because it was a bit on the cool side I had blinds up so he could still see the surroundings. He seemed okay with everything, and very observant. I think he may even have picked up new neat sounds from the Whiskey Jacks that hung around the trailer all weekend.
I had to cover half his cage with a blanket during feeding as he throws food far! Even covered I still had to clean up food off the table and floor. Thankfully no food hit the blinds. He ate well though which indicated no stress. He is molting presently and continued to molt through the weekend.
I have to admit I was much like a mother with a newborn our first trip. Questioning things, wondering if things were ok, for instance...if the temperature in the trailer was ok for him and if he was going to be ok at night. No issue. I was chilly but we had the doors to our room closed off and there's no vent to our room. My kids on the other hand said they were quite comfortable, even warm enough to sleep on top of their sheets.
The only time we even heard a slight scream from him (I wouldn't even call it that) was when we had a short period of rain accompanied by thunder and lightening the first trip. The 3 booms we did hear were close and in a trailer they always sound amplified. He didn't seem shaken or bothered. The second time he was even more comfortable and settled and made more noise but nothing bothersome.
It would not have been as simple if we were still in the tent trailer. I think he would have been louder, colder, I would have fretted more, lack of room...a lot of concerns.
It's nice to be able to get away with him and save money on a bird sitter. He seems to enjoy himself as well. Now if only he would go into his travel crate like a good boy. He's had a fear of crates since he was shipped as a baby and no matter how many treats I offer it's a struggle to get him in. The second time heading out before we even left the house he decided to take off and fly into our foyer on the ledge and hang out as he knows I can't do a thing when he's there. Little brat! I'm sure it will get easier the more we do it and the more he realizes that it means he gets to come along. For safety the crate is far preferred. I do have a celltei carrier pak-o-bird but for longer trips I don't find it works as well, great for walks and outings but travel its nice to have hard secure walls around him.
There's lots more camping to come, more to learn, more to experience and I will be sure to share along the way.
If you are reading this and camp with your parrot I would love tips and tricks. Feel free to comment. Thanks for reading as always!
