Shipping birds

[flap]

I am wondering what the process is for shipping birds within a state, what the costs are and how it impacts on the birds. Thank you for any information.

[Diane]

My experience...on the receiving end...
After all the flight details were received, on the day of the flight I get a phone call from the senders saying the birds had been accepted at the airport.
I know the time of arrival here so I arrive a half hour after the flight landed (as advised) to allow for the box to be taken to the office.
Turned up, told the guy behind the counter what I was picking up and each time the box has been sitting on the counter behind him.
Birds always seemed to have travelled well and dont seem any more bothered than if they had been bought at a local place and went home by car.
Costs been between $50 and $80

[AMCA26]

All good my end as well. Agree with BB. Just on cost i charge what i am charged from AAE for flights and it takes me over an hour to the airport and tolls which i have never charged. But on prices some people may have accounts with AAE so it costs less to freight than say someone with no account.

[Greg41]

Hi Flap, best to contact one of the airlines going to Kununurra and find out the cost for different weights, then build or buy the lightest box you can for shipping.
The airline will tell you all that they require.
Cheers Greg.

[flap]

Thanks for the feedback so far. Is AAE Australian Air Express? Thanks. I wonder if a bird box made from balsa wood would last the distnace???

[Diane]

Is AAE Australian Air Express?

Yes that's who my birds flew with. (Although I have been known to call it Ansett )

[desertbirds]

Hi Flap, best to contact one of the airlines going to Kununurra and find out the cost for different weights, then build or buy the lightest box you can for shipping.
The airline will tell you all that they require.
Cheers Greg.

I tend to disagree with the lighest box. Buy a good sturdy box, AAE may not accept a box if its not up to standard. Screw the door shut so no one can tamper with it. AAE has always been fantastic for me.Can post pics later if you need to see a good freight box.

[flap]

Thanks for the information DB, yes would love to see pictures of suitable bird boxes. Saw some advertised in local gumtree but not sure who might sell them. City Farmers have some single ones with just small holes and no mesh, I wonder if they would be good to minimize stress/injury? And what do people do about food and water during freight??

[spanna]

Seed covering the floor, water in a small bowl filled with cotton wool, and secured to the ground. I used a decent amount of blue tac and that worked fine!!

Make sure you put plenty of seed and water in, just in case. When I shipped birds up north the plain was delayed for 4 hours, without notification to me, the sender, or the receiver. I was fuming beyond belief, but because I had been cautious and supplied lots of seed and water, the birds were all fine when they did arrive. Agree with sturdy over lightness.

The ones on gumtree may have a bit larger mesh than I would use, so the ones from city farmers with only small holes would do well. Again, this is what I used when I sent birds up north. So long as they can't fit their heads through.

[flap]

Thanks Spanna, should have known to call you directly! Might do so tonight or tomorrow to find out more detail from you. Just to clarify, did you use city farmers boxes? Anyway I can find out when I speak to you.