How to Choose the Right Bird Carrier

Size Reference:

Dimension of Pak-o-Bird

X-Small
10" x 8" x 11.5" (25 x 20 x 29 cm)
Perch Positions: 4", 6" (10, 15 cm)
Lories, Lovebirds, Parrotlets, Caique, Small Parakeets, Hanging Parrots, Pekin Robins, Sugarbirds, Waxbills, Whydahs, Zosterops, etc.

Small and Small with Tail pouch
13" x 10" x 14" (33 x 25 x 35 cm)
Perch Positions: 4", 6", 8" (10, 15, 20 cm)
Optional - Tail Pouch 6" (15 cm)
Cockatiels, Small Conures (including Sun Consures), Lorikeets & Lories, Medium size Parakeets, Small Amazon Parrots, Pionus Parrots, Poicephalus Parrots (including Jardine's, Meyers, Senegal Parrots), etc.

Medium and Medium with Tail Pouch
13-15" x 12" x 18" (33-38 x 31 x 46 cm)
Perch Positions: 6", 8", 10" (15, 20, 25 cm)
Optional - Tail Pouch 6" (15 cm)
Conures (Blue-crowned, Slender-billed), Small Macaws (including Yellow-collared and Hahn's Macaws), Amazon parrots (including Blue-fronted, Mealy, Yellow-fronted Amazons), Eclectus Parrots, Average size Grey Parrots, Small Cockatoos (including Rose Brested or Galah Cockatoos), Large parakeets, etc.

Modified Medium
Up to 20" (51cm) W and 21" (53 cm) H
Perch Positions: Made to specifications
Modified size and structure for birds such as Large Congo African Greys, large Amazons:
       Congo African Grey
       13" x 12" x 18" (33 x 31 x 46 cm)

Medium Large
22" to 28" (56 to 71 cm) H
Perch Positions: Made to specifications
Modified size and structure for birds such as Moluccan Cockatoos), Toucans, Mini Macaws (including Severe Macaws, Military Macaws):
       Umbrella cockatoo
       13" x 12" x 22" (33 x 31 x 56 cm)
       Toucan
       15" x 16" x 22" (38 x 41 x 56 cm)
       Moluccan Cockatoo
       13" x 12" x 26" (33 x 31 x 66 cm)

Large to XL
(Base Model and with Full Features)
32" to 38" (81 to 97 cm) H
Perch Positions: made to specifications
Large Macaws including Blue and Gold, Scarlet, Green-winged Macaws etc.

For Two or More Birds
20" x 12" x 18" (51 x 31 x 46 cm)
Perch Positions: Made to specification

For Airline Travel
20" x 12" x 18" (42 x 26 x 28 cm)
Perch Positions: Muliples

Side View of Pak-o-Bird

Birds are very sensitive and treasure their tail feather greatly. Generally, the bird's tail should be above the floor and away from the back wall and its head is not too close to the mesh. Therefore, the bird's measurements A to D (shown above) should be shorter than the available interior space:

         

    Reference Measurements (with the bird perchs naturally):

  1. Tail Length - From the perch to tip of the tail.
    Ensure available perch position (see E) is higher than A.
  2. Full Length - From the crest to tip of the tail.
    Ensure the carrier height is at lest 1.5" higher than B. The interior space is slightly less than the seam to seam dimension specified and head room is reduced by the sloped down shape in the top front.
  3. Distance between the perch and tip of the tail
  4. Distance between the perch and the front of the beak.
    The perch is generally set at the middle of the width so a 12" wide carrier would have the perch set at 6" mark. Although birds do conform to the available space by standing straight, you would not want the carrier to be too restrictive.
  5. Various available perch hole positions
  6. Back Length - Shoulder to Hips.
    For carrier larger than 22" (56 cm), it would be more comfortable to have the carrier lifted above the hip. We do offer retrofit service for older models.
    7.

Stainless steel or Nylon Mesh

The stainless steel mesh is recommended for birds that love to chew and explore. When in doubt, choose the stainless steel mesh and give yourself a peace in mind. Since mid 2007, a stainless steel mesh with thicker thread and over 50% opening has been used. The new mesh improves ventilation with percentage of opening comparable to that of nylon mesh. As metal reflects and shows a glare surface from a distance, the visiability would be lower for you to see inside. However, it does not matter for the bird to look from the darker interior to a bright environment outside through the nylon or stainless steel mesh.
Besides the bird's size and its body-to-tail proportion, considerations for the intended activities and your statue and comfort are also important in choosing the right size carrier for you AND your bird.

Some people may choose a smaller size carrier and remove the perch so as to wear the carrier in the front and going about with their daily activies. Some prefer a larger size because of the frequent long trips where the birds would stay in overnight. For birds that love to chew and explore, the stainless steel mesh is a must. Be patient in introducing the carrier. Your birds would love it once they can establish the idea of going into the carrier means going out with you!

For the Type of Activities:

Pak-o-Bird can be carried on the shoulder but most people prefer to carry it in the front or on the back. Many people also like to put the carrier into the foldable cart and stroll around at ease since the cart becomes available. This may be the new and only option for some to go out with their very big birds.

The standard length of medium and larger sizes has been reduced from 15" to 13" in 2008 partly to make the carrier more comfortable for women to carry in the front because of their smaller frame. The reduced length still offer sufficient space for one bird. The 15" length medium size carriers are still available on made-to-order basis.

If the Pak-o-Bird would be used for long duration such as car trip or as a mobile home for overnight weekend trip, consider a large size that gives the bird more space to move around while having all the favorite toys strapped inside to keep it happy along the way.

Perch Position and Tail Pouch:

Celltei Bird Carrier with a foldable tail pouch

Most carriers come with more than one perch position (E) to accommodate birds of various sizes and tail length by moving the perch up and down. A foldable tail pouch can be added to most sizes for the convenience of Pak-o-Bird is being carried. If the carrier is often placed on a flat surface, this may not be a suitable option as the tail pouch has to be folded.

For Your Comfort:

Many features are added to make it comfortable and safe for a long trip. Theses include the padded backpack straps and back wall, additional movable lumber support pieces for the double or the X-Large size or the padded wide waist or hips strap for larger size carriers. We also customize the carrier to fit individual needs such as to shorten the backpack strap for people with small body frame and increase the thickness of the lumber support pieces to fit individual body contour.

We suggest you try out a standard size before investing in customizing a perfect solution for your travel need. It is also very useful to review other users' experience in the Feedback Page to get more ideas first.



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Photo courtesy of Celltei customers. Site is being updated to add many custom designs. Last updated on 07/10/2010.