DKC • The Aviary • Dubai, UAE

Does my bird need exercise?

<h5>Does my bird need exercise?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_pet_photo_123.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>Birds can become very overweight, especially if they're not given a large enough space to move around in. This can be especially true for birds with clipped wings, who are more likely to end up rather sedentary.</p> <p>And so, yes, exercise for your bird is very important in helping them stay fit and healthy, to say nothing of reducing or eliminating boredom. Give them as much opportunity to fly as possible, if at all possible, with lots of perches around their environment which they can fly from/to. And if you're developing a good connected relationship with your bird, calling her to you from a distance will encourage flying and general activity. Even encouraging your bird to walk along the floors of your home can be fun, explorative activity, especially if you've got her looking for toys and food!</p></div>

Does my bird need exercise?

Birds can become very...

Can I export my bird?

Answer

Yes, definitely, birds can be exported. However, there very strict guidelines and lots of paper w

<h5>Can I export my bird?</h5><p>Yes, definitely, birds can be exported. However, there very strict guidelines and lots of paper work to arrange. It's always best to check with both the country of origin and the desintation country to learn what they each require, as the rules differ from country-to-country.</p> <p>You'll also need to check the CITIES list to see if your bird (species or family order) are required to have a CITIES permit to travel. Take a look <a href="https://www.cites.org/eng/disc/species.php" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

How do I change my bird's diet?

Answer

As you learn more about your bird and her dietary needs, it might be necessary to change what you

<h5>How do I change my bird's diet?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_118.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>As you learn more about your bird and her dietary needs, it might be necessary to change what you feed her.</p> <p>Start the new food gradually by mixing a small amount of the new food with the existing food. You can even "hide" the new food in toys, around her cage to encourage natural, foraging and playful behaviour to make it more interesting and fun. Pellets can also be made into a mash with warm water in order to change their texture and make it more interesting for your bird to try.</p> <p>Consistency and persistence are key during this process, so just stick to it and you and your bird will get there, promise! You can even pretend to eat the food yourself ~ parrots will often try and mimic your behaviour. <img alt="" src="/graphics/ic_wink.png" height="15" width="15"></p></div>

The very best way to answer that question is for you to come meet us and take a look for yourself

<h5>What are your enclosures like? What size are they?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_34.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>The very best way to answer that question is for you to come meet us and take a look for yourself. In fact, that's what we always really strongly recommend.</p> <p>But that's not always easy to schedule, is it. We know. So you should definitely look at the images <a href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/the-kennels-the-catteries-the-kennatteries" target="_blank">here</a> and elsewhere around our site, as well as our video tour <a href="/video-tour" target="_blank">here</a>, because there are lots for you see, and this should help a great deal in understanding what your pet will experience.</p> <p>In short, though, our enclosures are like this:</p> <ul> <li>All our dog enclosures have an indoor and an outdoor run, and almost all our cat enclosures do too, and your pet decides where he or she wants to be. Those few cat enclosures which don't have an outdoor run, we try to reserve for cats which need or like to be inside most of the time anyway.</li> <li>All indoor runs are air-conditioned.</li> <li>Cat enclosures are multi-storied, with shelves and trapdoors and bedding and toys and all.</li> <li>All dog enclosures have various types of comfortable, snuggly bedding.</li> <li>Cat enclosures range in size. The smallest space we have is an indoor portion of a run which is L:0.8m x W:0.8m x H:1m. The largest space we have is an outdoor portion of a run which is L:4.2m x W:1.1m x H:2.2m.</li> <li>Dog enclosures also range in size. Our smallest enclosures are 1.5m x 1.5m both indoor and outdoor. Our largest are 2.2m x 1.8m indoor and 3m x 2.5m outdoor. And there are a couple of sizes in between.</li> </ul></div>

I know you relocate dogs and cats, but what about birds • rabbits • ferrets • guinea pigs • lizards • snake • cheetahs• penguins • monkeys • fish...

Answer

<h5>I know you relocate dogs and cats, but what about birds • rabbits • ferrets • guinea pigs • lizards • snake • cheetahs• penguins • monkeys • fish...</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_2.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>Well, DUH! Of course we can! Just about any animal at all. <img alt="" src="/graphics/ic_smiley3.png" height="15" width="15"></p> <p>As with our boarding and daycare services, we relocate all types of animal, all over the world, into and out of the UAE, including domestic pets of any kind and exotics, large and small.</p></div>

I know you relocate dogs and cats, but what about birds • rabbits • ferrets • guinea pigs • lizards • snake • cheetahs• penguins • monkeys • fish...

Well, DUH! Of course we can! Just about any animal at all. As with our boarding and daycare services, we relocate all types of animal, all over the world, into and out of the...

Do you have discounts for long-term boarding or buddy-boarding?

We sure do.

Take a look at our price list.

If your pet boards with us for 28 or more consecutive days, we give you a 10% discount; if 60 days within a year, you get 7 days free boarding for future use. Also, if your pet buddy-boards with another family's pet, then it's a 20% discount! Yay!!

Will you board my bird • rabbit • ferret • guinea pig • hamster • mouse • lizard • snake... any animal at all?

Answer

You bet! Just about any animal at all.

And we have quite a lot of knowledge about these an

<h5>Will you board my bird • rabbit • ferret • guinea pig • hamster • mouse • lizard • snake... any animal at all?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_30.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>You bet! Just about any animal at all.</p> <p>And we have quite a lot of knowledge about these animals too, so it's not just a matter of sticking them somewhere in our facility and hoping for the best. We've spent a lot of time and energy over the years making sure that we have handlers who have real knowledge and experience in dealing with all manner of domestic pet and exotics, including and especially appropriate feeding and enclosures/spaces for them. And if there's anything we don't know, we have excellent contacts in the realm of wildlife husbandry and care who we can talk to.</p> <p>Take a look here: <a href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/pet-boarding-other-animals" target="_blank">Other Creatures Too</a></p></div>

What are your vehicles like? How will my pet travel?

Answer

<h5>What are your vehicles like? How will my pet travel?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_52.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>We use converted passenger vans (such as the Toyota Hiace) which have been heavily modified for our pet collection and delivery service. Take a look at <a href="/what-we-do/collection-delivery" target="_blank">Collection & Delivery</a>.</p> <p>Now, as we've said, these are people-passenger vans, <em><strong>not</strong></em> cargo vans; this is an important distinction because passenger vans have windows all around the vehicle so that plenty of light gets in, and also high-quality air-conditioning throughout. Furthermore, we've added fans to create even better air circulation.</p> <p>All the seats have been removed, of course, and replaced by metal flooring with embedded hooks, so when we put your pet and her/his travel box into the van, we can use strong ties to secure the boxes in-place.</p> <p>And finally, there's no solid/opaque partition between our handlers who are driving the vans and your pets in the back, which means we always know what's going on and your pets aren't isolated at all during the trip.</p> <p>And just so you know, we transport any animal in these vehicles, not just your dogs and cats.</p> <p>Oh, and one more thing: We do <em>not</em> have "drivers". The same Animal Handlers who take care of your pets when in our care are the ones who will come to your home for Collection & Delivery.</p></div>

What are your vehicles like? How will my pet travel?

We use converted passenger vans (such as the Toyota...

Do you have a vet on-site?

Answer

Yes! Uh... No! Uhhhh... let us explain.

We do not have a vet on-site at our boarding faci

<h5>Do you have a vet on-site?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_48.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>Yes! Uh... No! Uhhhh... let us explain.</p> <p>We do not have a vet <em>on-site</em> at our boarding facility in Umm Ramool.</p> <p>HOWEVER... that really should not worry you. Our own vets at <a href="/what-we-do/dkc-veterinary-clinic" target="_blank">DKC Veterinary Clinic</a> in Motor City are available to our boarding staff 24 hours a day, every single day of the year, so if anything is ever wrong, we do have the resources that you and your pet need. Additionally, our veterinary clinic is open 24/7. All Day. All Night. Always.</p> <p>Furthermore, in almost all cases when a pet is needing veterinary attention, it is not an emergency situation. So we will be able to book appointments with our own clinic or your preferred vet if you wish, and we will also of course always let you know in advance that we are doing that unless for some reason you are unreachable and it cannot wait.</p> <p>Finally, because of <a href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/love-and-other-stuff-too" target="_blank">the way we work</a> on a daily basis, we almost always discover very early if there are any developing problems, which also does a lot to keep your pet well and, most importantly, to avoid emergency situations almost all the time.</p></div>

Which vaccinations does my pet need?

Answer

<h5>Which vaccinations does my pet need?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_17.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>If you're relocating your pet into the UAE, the best place to get this information is on our <a href="/what-we-do/global-relocations/pet-imports" target="_blank">Pet Imports</a> page and in our document <em>Relocating Pets into the UAE</em>.</p> <p>If you're planning to board your pet with us, or partake of doggy daycare, then take a look at our <a href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/prices-admission-requirements">prices & admission requirements</a>.</p> <p>Research and reading is just so much fun, don't you agree?</p></div>

Which vaccinations does my pet need?

If you're relocating your pet into...

What are your opening hours?

Take a look...

...at our Two-Legged Timings for Boarding, Daycare, Relocations and our Veterinary Clinic.

Is someone looking after my pet during weekends, holidays and at night?

Answer

Simply, yes. Even when we are closed to our two-legged customers, we have staff on-site every sin

<h5>Is someone looking after my pet during weekends, holidays and at night?</h5><p>Simply, yes. Even when we are closed to our two-legged customers, we have staff on-site every single day of the year. Full stop.</p> <p>Furthermore, we have staff on-site even at night. And because of our relocations work, which takes place mostly at night, every night, we have at least a couple of hours spread throughout the night when things are going on at DKC. Now, in fairness, we're not actually working with all the animals during the night as we do during the day, but after all folks, your pets need to sleep too! <img alt="" src="/graphics/ic_smiley3.png"></p>

Does my bird need vaccinations?

Yes... maybe.

There are different vaccines available for different species of birds, with the main vaccinations being for poultry. Parrots tend not to need vaccines unless it's a requirement of the country they are in or travelling to.

Does my bird need dietary supplements?

Answer

<h5>Does my bird need dietary supplements?</h5> <p>If your bird is eating a good quality, complete diet, including fresh fruit and vegetables, there is usually no need for extra dietary supplements. Yay! <img alt="" src="/graphics/ic_smiley3.png" height="15" width="15"></p>

Can I have pictures and videos and daily updates of my pet while I'm away? And do you have webcams?

Answer

<h5>Can I have pictures and videos and daily updates of my pet while I'm away? And do you have webcams?</h5> <p>Pictures? Videos? Daily updates?</p> <p>Yesssiiirrree!</p> <p>If you let us know you'd like that... your wish is our command. And we also post our "DKC Weekly Photo Shoot" on our Facebook and Instagram pages, which includes pics of all the pets currently staying with us ~ including yours, of course.</p> <p>As for the webcam thing... sorry, no, we don't have webcams (did we just spoil it for you?).</p>

Do I need to get my bird's wings clipped?

Answer

DKC has ethical concerns regarding wing-clipping. Instead, we strongly advocate teaching your bir

<h5>Do I need to get my bird's wings clipped?</h5><p>DKC has ethical concerns regarding wing-clipping. Instead, we strongly advocate teaching your bird about and familiarising your bird with his home environment and surrounding territory, and keeping him in a safe environment where he cannot fly away.</p> <p>If wing-clipping is a decision you feel you must nevertheless take, the procedure is fairly straightforward and will be done either with or without anaesthesia, depending on the bird involved and their reaction to the process (i.e. their stress levels). But do be aware that even after wing-clipping, birds can still fly a very little bit and will gain some height in the air while trying ~ especially smaller birds ~ but they will not be able to gain and sustain enough height and could well fall from the air and injure themselves.</p> <p>Give this all some thought and talk to us if you'd like more guidance and insight.</p>

Boarding Reservations: How far in advance do I have to book?

Answer

<h5>Boarding Reservations: How far in advance do I have to book?</h5> <p>Now <em>that's</em> an important question!</p> <p>During more than half the year, you can book anytime, even last minute, and we'll be able to take your pet in. No problem.</p> <p>During about 5 months of the year, things are a bit more complicated than that. Take a look at <a href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/gotta-book-early" target="_blank">Gotta Book Early!</a></p>

Clipping my pet's claws ~ How often should I do it?

Answer

When to clip your dog's claws depends on the amount of exercise your dog gets and, importantly, t

<h5>Clipping my pet's claws ~ How often should I do it?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_66.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>When to clip your dog's claws depends on the amount of exercise your dog gets and, importantly, the type of surface your dog exercises on. If you can manage to get some walkies time on rougher surfaces (such as roads (but be safe!)), this will usually be sufficient to maintain those claws at a good length. (Oh, and by the way, a good part of puppy training should always include playing with their feet ~ this gets them used to having their paws and claws touched, making it easier as they get older to clip those claws when necessary.)</p> <p>As for cats... well, they have retractable claws (very high-tech!), and so they keep them smooth by scratching on posts or (don't say it!!) your furniture... when they get their claws out! As for length, however, this usually requires a little hands-on maintenance on your part... or on the part of your vet... whichever of you has more confidence. <img alt="" src="/graphics/ic_wink.png" height="15" width="15"> (It's not too difficult, though, so why not ask for some training?)</p> <p>The amount to be cut off depends on the nail length and the length of the small blood vessel within the nail, all of which you need to learn a bit about and can ask any vet or a good kennels/cattery handler about, and then you're off and running.</p> <p>Oh, and by the way, don't forget to clip your bird's claws too!</p></div>

Will my bird have time outside her cage and some interaction with your handlers? What if she's staying in one of your offices?

Answer

<h5>Will my bird have time outside her cage and some interaction with your handlers? What if she's staying in one of your offices?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_pet_photo_100.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>Yes!</p> <p>Little birds have to stay in their cages because they can so easily get <strong><em>too</em> </strong>free for their own good, but they nevertheless very often spend all or most of their time in our offices, while in their cages, where there are always staff and customers to experience and interact with.</p> <p>As for large birds (cockatoos, macaws, African greys), if they tend to be very noisy (talkative?) we need to be cautious in our promises to you because we also have to serve our other customers on the phone and in person, as you know, so a really "talkative" large bird can make all that pretty difficult, meaning we might not be able to have them in our offices at all. BUT... DON'T WORRY... no matter what kind of squawker your bird is, all large birds in our care get a lot of time out of their cages and with our handlers, and spend a lot of time in our aviary ~ sometimes inside their cages, sometimes outside, but always given lots of attention. And in our lovely aviary (for both large and small birds), they have plenty of time to check things out and interact with staff, in addition to the regular feeding and bathing times they always get.</p></div>

Will my bird have time outside her cage and some interaction with your handlers? What if she's staying in one of your offices?

Yes! Little birds have to stay in their cages because they can so easily get too free for their own good, but they...

How long will my bird live for?

Longer than you think!!

It depends on the species of your bird. Small birds, such as budgies and cockatiels, can live for up to 20 years, and the larger parrots, like Macaws and African Greys, have been reported to live well over 60 years. OMG!

Can DKC make custom made travel boxes for animals other than cats and dogs?

Answer

<h5>Can DKC make custom made travel boxes for animals other than cats and dogs?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_93.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>We sure can! Any type of travel box or crate you might need, for any type of animal!</p> <p>Simply <a href="/contact-us" target="_blank">contact us</a>.</p></div>

Can DKC make custom made travel boxes for animals other than cats and dogs?

We sure can! Any type of travel box or crate you might need, for any type...

Do I have to provide my own pet food? What type of food do you provide?

Answer

<h5>Do I have to provide my own pet food? What type of food do you provide?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_pet_photo_43.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>No you don't. We provide everything.</p> <p>We rely primarily on dry Royal Canin, wet Lily's Kitchen for dogs and wet Catit for cats... and also chicken, tuna and rice when needed or specifically wanted.</p> <p>Of course, if you have a special diet (your own concoction or a veterinary prescription) we can do that too... although for these there <em>might</em> be additional charges.</p> <p>To learn more, take a look here: <span class="span_link cursorpointer" data-href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/love-and-other-stuff-too#Special-Diets">Love... and other stuff too/Special Diets</span>.</p></div>

Do I have to provide my own pet food? What type of food do you provide?

No you don't. We provide everything. We rely primarily on dry Royal...

What's DKC's Collection & Delivery schedule?

Answer

<h5>What's DKC's Collection & Delivery schedule?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_pet_photo_51.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>Sunday-Friday. We don't offer this service on Saturday. (See our <a href="/about-dkc/two-legged-timings" target="_blank">Two-Legged Timings</a>.)</p> <p>We have a lot of customers asking for very specific appointments but this is often not possible, although we <em>do</em> try if we can, because each day presents its own unpredictable schedules, number of home-visits, number of pets and... traffic!</p> <p>However, we <em><strong>always call</strong></em> approximately 30 minutes before we get to you while we're doin' the rounds, so <em>do</em> feel free to go about your day as you need to and then, when you hear from us, you can return to your home to meet us.</p></div>

What's DKC's Collection & Delivery schedule?

Sunday-Friday. We don't offer this service...

What's the minimum age a bird should be when I first get/purchase her?

12 weeks old!

It's important for young birds to be fully weaned before they are taken away from their mother, so no younger than 12 weeks old. And it's best for only experienced bird people to attempt to handle rare baby birds.

Do you collect/deliver outside Dubai?

Yep. Outside Dubai...

...and outside the UAE if need be. Contact us for pricing.

Does my bird need to be microchipped?

Answer

Microchipping is a great way to identify and register your bird in case he ever flies off into th

<h5>Does my bird need to be microchipped?</h5><p>Microchipping is a great way to identify and register your bird in case he ever flies off into the unknown. A microchip is also a permanent, more reliable method of identifying your bird than feet-rings which can wear out or become damaged and can even break and fall off entirely.</p> <p>Microchips for birds are smaller than those for cats and dogs but nevertheless sometimes birds require a light sedation to have them placed. Not something to worry about, though. <img alt="" src="/graphics/ic_smiley3.png" height="15" width="15"></p> <p>Do be very aware that all birds will always need a form of identification <span>if they ever need to travel abroad </span>~ this is usually a microchip or a closed bird foot-ring.</p>

Can DKC help me rehome my pet?

No, sorry. This is not something we are involved in.

We are a for-profit, commercial (but lovely and homey!) boarding and daycare business. However, there are many not-for-profit, equally lovely organisations in the UAE who are totally focused on helping people rehome family pets and strays. A quick search in Google will get you headed in the right direction.