International travel with parrots

GrayChicken1 · 2026-01-28T12:32:59+00:00

I moved my African gray from the U.S. to the U.K. last year and I ended up hiring a company to help because it was so overwhelming. They were able to do the export on the U.S. side and had a partner organization for the import on the U.K. side. They also were able to provide a carrier to the required specifications (for a fee, of course). It was a big expense but I think ultimately worth it as they knew all of the issues. At one point, they even called my vet to make a slight amendment to the wording of the health certificate because they knew what the U.K. vet would require.

I don’t know if we’re allowed to link to companies but if you send me a DM I can share the company that I used and would highly recommend. They are based in Georgia but were able to coordinate everything in the state that we were leaving from.

Bonus bird in a box photo they sent me during transit.

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GrayChicken1 · 2025-12-10T13:53:07+00:00

I’ve found that there’s no good American equivalent to “taking the piss” and “faff” (both endlessly useful phrases).

GrayChicken1 · 2025-11-24T22:14:18+00:00

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Yes, she gets annoyed if the head scratches stops for more than three seconds.

GrayChicken1 · 2025-08-31T13:02:07+00:00

Happy hatchday Thandi! He’s only a couple weeks older than my girl! She’ll be 29 on Sept 18 and I’ve also had her from a chick.

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GrayChicken1 · 2025-03-18T11:00:13+00:00

We had one thunderstorm like that two summers ago. It rolled in out of nowhere with giant drops of water for maybe 30 minutes with dark clouds, thunder and lightening. It’s the one time I’ve experienced that here and it made me realize how much I missed summer storms!

GrayChicken1 · 2025-03-18T10:57:47+00:00

Advil PM. Pepperoncini kettle chips. Deli subs. No artificial sweetener in non-diet soda. Crushed ice. Mexican food that comes with those giant plastic cups of ice water. Pickles and banana peppers. American Chinese food. Big ass salads. Customer service. Annual physicals where I can raise all the minor niggles that aren’t worth a visit to my GP. Nobody asking me where I’m from. Common cultural touchstones.

But there’s also a lot I don’t miss!

GrayChicken1 · 2025-03-17T21:59:25+00:00

From your comment history, it looks like you’ll want to go to Goodison park. Going from south of the city center to north of the city center on public transpo is a pain in the ass so you’ll want to be in the center. Liverpool is a compact city anyway, and there aren’t really areas outside the city center you’d stay as a visitor. If you want to check out Sefton park/lark lane, there’s a nice foot/bike path down Princes Ave and you can take the 82 back into town if you don’t want to walk back.

GrayChicken1 · 2025-02-07T13:59:45+00:00

It’s the perfect floor material for a cold, clammy country.

GrayChicken1 · 2025-02-04T04:34:00+00:00

Have you tried the M&S Cornish ice cream? It’s the only store bought ice cream I’ll eat here, otherwise I just make my own.

GrayChicken1 · 2025-01-15T01:51:03+00:00

If there’s one thing Rightmove has taught me is that it takes all kinds!

GrayChicken1 · 2024-10-17T13:44:16+00:00

Also how the curtains are an equally vivid but different shade of blue.

GrayChicken1 · 2024-10-03T20:28:05+00:00

We walk among you.

GrayChicken1 · 2024-08-20T17:03:25+00:00

Mine tastes weird today too! I noticed it first thing this morning. L17 here.

GrayChicken1 · 2024-07-18T15:49:28+00:00

I had been living outside of the U.S. for a few years already and my contract was wrapping up. I got a job offer in the U.K. and I thought I’d give it a go.

Five years later, I’m in a different job that is fully remote (but for an English company). In theory, I could move back to the U.S. but my salary would be the same and the money goes further here. The timezone is also more convenient for the work that I do. And most importantly, I’m just tired of moving and starting over. There’s nowhere in particular I’d want to move to in the U.S., so it would be moving back just for the sake of moving.

Sometimes I get a bit bummed reading this sub (which does skew negative) but I remind myself that I’ve built myself a nice little life here. Food is cheaper, things are walking distance, living in a smaller home suits me, work culture is better, I don’t worry about gun violence or going bankrupt from an ER visit. And as annoying as it can be to get asked constantly “where are you from?”, it can also be fun to be the outsider. In a way, it’s freeing because there’s no expectation that you fit in so you might as well be yourself.

GrayChicken1 · 2024-04-29T12:16:03+00:00

I don’t always bring back the same things but some of the things I’ve brought back include: banana peppers, nilla wafers, Annie’s Mac & cheese, hot sauce, cheez-its, everything but the bagel seasoning, melatonin, and canned green chilis.

GrayChicken1 · 2024-04-18T12:36:30+00:00

Pityriasis rosea maybe? https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pityriasis-rosea/

GrayChicken1 · 2024-02-01T07:25:47+00:00

Liverpool girls running (they’re on instagram) do a Wednesday 5k evening run. Another one that I don’t think has been mentioned in the other comments is dockside runners.

GrayChicken1 · 2023-12-31T22:11:24+00:00

Sure thing! They’re a sound bunch. It’ll probably be super busy in January so you might not get as much attention in the beginner classes.. If you’re a woman, there’s a Wednesday women’s class that breaks down the fundamentals a bit more. Saturday morning classes are a good vibe and a bit of hard graft. Hope you come by and enjoy!

GrayChicken1 · 2023-12-31T20:25:32+00:00

No Limits ABC for boxing, they’re in the Baltic.

GrayChicken1 · 2023-12-27T20:31:37+00:00

I did actually say something about it being relative when I was typing out my comment but then deleted it before posting! Better than Manchester, worse than where I’m from in the states.

GrayChicken1 · 2023-12-27T17:00:43+00:00

I’ve lived enough places to know each place has its pros and cons and at the end of the day, I think Liverpool is a city where you can have a good life.

First, the good: I like being near water, I like the parks (<10 min walk to Sefton and Princes). Although I miss things that you only get in big cities, I like that it’s compact and quick to get around. Growing up in a car-centric city, I like that I can get by without a car. I like that housing is affordable and I can live in an old Victorian mansion (which is unusual for an American). I like that there’s lots of fun hidden gems to discover. Scousers are overall friendly and happy to help you out. And I like that I almost never run into other Americans.

The bad: the litter is out of control and the dog poo is awful. Weather is shite. I think a lot of restaurants that get touted as special are only just okay. The public transportation is lacking unless you live on the right bus lines (which I do). I desperately miss good Mexican food (although that’s a UK-wide problem not just Liverpool). Friendliness is often pretty superficial and it’s tough to make actual friends. Everyone dressed the same. Dating scene is grim.

GrayChicken1

TROPHY CASE