Shipping Your Bird | The Florida Exotic Bird Sanctuary
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Shipping Your Bird

SOME HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS JUST NOT POSSIBLE TO DRIVE THEIR BIRD TO FEBS AND HAVE ASKED ABOUT SHIPPING. WE HAVE INCLUDED ALL THE INFORMATION BELOW FOR SHIPPING YOUR BIRDS SAFELY.

  • Pick up service through FEBS is available. Please inquire. 

  • We require that you make a vet appointment to make sure your bird is healthy before shipping. Health Certificates are not required by the Airlines.

  • FEBS only uses Delta Pet First. They fly the birds in climate controlled cabins, and they go “counter” to “counter” meaning we are right there to receive them upon landing – they do not sit out on the tarmac like the luggage. There are some things you will need to do to prepare for the flight.

  • You will need to get a pet carrier large enough for your bird to stand on a perch and enough room that the head does not touch the top of the carrier. We recommend screwing a perch inside through the outside of the carrier with regular wood screws and a washer right through the carrier into a (bird Safe) piece of wood. Put a layer of newspaper in. No toys, bowls or water bottles in the carrier, nothing that could hit the bird during flight. Only a handful of your bird’s food and some cut up apples or grapes or what ever has a high water content directly on the paper. Most Air Cargo’s want you to “screen in” or “wire” the open holes in the carrier. Window screening or wire, duct taped to the outside is fine.

  • You’ll need to call the reservation desk for Delta Pet First at 1-800-352-2746 and find out what flights are available (keep in mind they want you there 2 hours early) you will be sending your bird to Tampa International Airport. Remember to ask them for the number for your local “Air Cargo” as you will need this to find out what they require for the carrier and where they are located. This is where you will take your parrot for the flight.

  • Before you leave your house to take your bird to the air cargo, make sure you call them to make sure the flight is still on. Sometimes they overbook and the animals get bumped first.

  • Then call FEBS and let us know the possible flight times. We will arrange for the most convenient times for us both. We will give you exact shipping address at that time. Then call the reservation back and confirm, they will ask you for our name, address, and phone. They will also want the dimensions of the carrier and approximate weight. Which for most birds and carriers is under 10 lbs.

  • It should cost roughly $89.00 to ship a single bird and carrier. The price is adjusted when shipping multiple carriers. You will pay that when you drop off. Then you will receive a flight number, times and a confirmation number. Then call FEBS and give us your confirmation. Please also call after you have dropped your parrot to make sure the bird got off ok. We will call you the minute we pick up your bird. If there is any problem you will be notified immediately. After a day’s rest they are always back to their playful selves.

  • We have done this many times and we are not at all concerned about flying birds. We have yet to receive an injured or stressed parrot.

  • Be sure to include your paper work with any health or sexing records, approximate age of the bird, a list of what the bird likes to eat, regular diet, known words, your contact information so that we can send you back a donor’s receipt and sponsorship package. You may also want ship their cage, but the shipping cost could be large.

  • Health Certificate’s used to be required before your animal was shipped (flown) but are no longer required.

  • If you would like to send a box of toys before the flight so that we can set up their new cage with familiar items, that would be appreciated as well.

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