Can my healthy, older cockatiel safely handle a long car trip?

As long as he is in a transport cage or box, he should be fine. Secure the container so it doesn't get jostled or bumped about during the trip. Also, keep it away from open windows to prevent strong drafts.

Hello. If you can fit the original cage in your car, that would be best. You have a relatively short trip, so I do not think this will be overly stressful for him. Remove the food & water, make sure the cage is well anchored in case you have to hit the breaks & cover the cage with a light sheet. At your destination, place the cage in the quietest room possible & try to keep curious family members from attempting to engage your bird. Try to keep to your normal schedule with Sunny as much as possible & everyone should do great. Have a good visit & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The main question is, will she stay relaxed in the car when she looks out the window and the landscape rushes past her? You can try this out, but if she gets upset, I suggest you cover the cage and basically entice her to sleep. It is also important to do this at dusk while driving at night as the lights will be upsetting. IIf your bird gets upset, cover the cage. That should work.

Rarely will a bird die from a seizure so, if the bird has a seizure during the move it is probably not going to pass from it. I'm assuming there has been no medical work-up to determine the underlying cause of the seizures? Without knowing that it is difficult to give advice. The only thing I can say is that she should move him in a small cage covered with a dark cloth and/or move him at night. She should start training him now to be used to be covered with a dark cloth to minimize stress (cover the cage with him in it). I suppose sunlight could trigger a seizure but I have never heard of anything at night causing it. She can also start taking him covered in short trips in the car to acclimate him. She can also try using some Rescue Remedy (not the one for humans): ( http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-pets-bach-flower/ )

That transport cage is fine. You don't need to add anything else and you definitely don't need to sedate Kali. The only change I would recommend is to use a water bottle to prevent spills. Keep the cage away from open windows, vents and strong drafts. Use a light blanket to cover the cage to provide more security.

Hi and thank you for your question, There is no reason why he shouldn't have a long life in India as long as you provide him with the correct husbandry. There are many websites that have care sheets about cockatiels. I recommend that you read about it and try to give him the best possible living conditions. Regards

It would probably be the least stressful to have someone come and watch Cheeko so that he isn't stressed by the sudden change in environment. Providing extra food and water dishes can help while you are away if it is only going to be for a few days. If you must be gone for a long time, or no one can watch him, then bringing him in a smaller travel cage that has food and water in it is best. Covering the cage with a cage cover or sheet/towel can also help reduce stress by making it darker and calm for him during your travel. Once you've arrived, keeping him in a low traffic area away from pets and people may help him settle in.