I have been thinking about having a bird shipped and I personally would NEVER do it. I don't know if its just my opinion or not but I believe that the bird picks you and when one is just shipped to you, that can't really happen. That and wouldn't it be pretty stressful on the bird.

I don't know. Has anyone actually had a bird shipped to you? How did it work out?

Tiki was flown from Calgary to a breeder, who picked him and his two hatch-mates at the Kelowna airport. They were in a rubbermaid container of a sort, lined with a towel, and with a bowl of cut up fruit. The flight would have been less than an hour, but they had been held up for a bit. But all in all they were all in very good shape. The breeder watched the weather forecast, and would only send them on a day that was mild, so that if there was a delay they wouldn't be stressed by the temperature.

Missy was shipped by Continental, in an air controlled environment. There was no need to worry about temps because the amount of time spent on the tarmac waiting to board wasn't enough to do damage. I was very satisfied. It was cheap too.

Lillie was flown from New York to Miami on Delta, and while they do fly in controlled temp on the plane, they're more concerned about temps because they do sit out for a while. They couldn't find her at first. We waited an hour in the cargo pickup area for her. She was still handfeeding at te time and was well overdue for another feeding. She did bond immediately to us too.

While Khirsah did choose me, if you get them young enough, they'll imprint on you. So don't worry!

Overall, I'd use Continental again. It was great. It's also the service the placement program uses, so you know it's safe.

I have shipped hundreds of birds (on both Delta and Continental), and I have only ever had ONE incident where the bird went to the wrong airport...but my BF was there to pick him up and all ended well. The shipping isn't any more stressfull than a car ride...in a lot of cases less since the trip by car is longer. My yellow collar macaw was shipped to me sight unseen and he is wonderful and we have a great relationship. I have sent a few cockatoos, that were rescues, and a severe mini macaw all to new homes w/o any problems with them bonding. So I would have to disagree with you.

If I lived in an area where it was impossible to get birds I would have one shipped. Of course I would like to choose my own but if there was nothing to choose from, I would have to ship! It's true you don't get to pick the exact one you want/that wants you, but I believe it usually works out well! My friend breeds and she ships them to homes all over Canada and they have all turned out wonderfully and bonded to their parronts. I know she has only ever had one incident where the bird got 'lost' but the people at the airport were fantastic and made sure that they got everything the Grey needed for the night and they actually stayed with him in one of the offices in the airport until the flight the next morning! She would never ship unweaned birds so luckily this guy didn't need a lot...

I really don't think it's that stressful on a bird, usually it's a fairly short trip and it's probably over before they know it!

If it's your only option one day, hopefully you'd consider it!

Thanks for all the info. I am convinced that it might not be so bad. I am glad. My dream bird would be an African Grey but there is only 1 breeder of them in Oklahoma and she is...well she just isn't very nice!! I spoke to her on the phone and she sounded very uninterested in answering any questions and even more uninterested in if the bird was going to a good home so I wanted to avoid buying from her which would mean buying out of state.
I would prefer to ship it but I was worried it would be more stressful but I am quite happy to hear that it isn't too bad for the bird!

The only thing with shipping is make sure you go with a reputable breeder. Make sure to ask for references and call them!!! Ask around. Do your homework on the breeder. Make sure the bird you are getting is what you are expecting.

Thats true. Would it be better to make a 4 to 6 hour drive with a new bird sitting with me in the back seat of the car but being able to pick the bird myself, see the parents, meet the breeder etc or would it be better for it to be flown here and not get any of those?

I think that kinda depends on how much you trust the breeder. I had three birds shipped to me, sight unseen (except for photos). I had a good deal of trust for the breeder and knew what she was sending me was what I was expecting. Shipping those birds was not only less expensive, but it was less stressful on birds seeing as how they had a 45 minute flight as opposed to a 4.5 hour car ride

I totally agree that shipping them is really not all that stressfull on them, I've been with Andie when she's shipped birds and picked birds up that have been shipped from all over the U.S. I have also traveled with birds in the cabin, and I think its far more stressful to drive with them than it is to have them shipped for several reasons...First of all when they are shipped all they hear is the sound of the plane engines which can actually be quite settling to them if you stop and think about it. The constant hum of the motors is far less stressful than having some stranger talking to you and poking at you. As well as having the radio blaring and having scenery zip past their eyes at 60+ miles an hour. While some birds do very well with traveling in a car for short trips it can really be stressful for many others.

In the cargo hold to my understanding it is either dark or dimly lighted so that it is also calming to them.

I understand the reasoning about not being able to pick your bird or letting them pick you but if you can't find a local breeder I wouldn't hesitate to have one shipped.

Its been our experience that the handlers are very good with the animals and usually they are really interested in the well fair of the animal.

As Carrie stated if you communicate with the breeder well before shipping then you shouldn't have problems, Always ask for references if you are uncomfortable and follow through with calling or emailing the reference person.