Handling Common Bird Emergencies at Home

AVIAN FIRST AID KIT

• Styptic powder/Clotisol (cornstarch or flour will work if these are not available)
• Various bandage materials 
• Triple antibiotic ointment
• Eye irrigating solution
• Heating pad/heat lamp/swing arm lamp
• Pedialyte/Gatorade
• Small aquarium/box/plastic storage container
• Hot water bottle (rubber gloves filled with hot water can be a substitute)
• Emeraid II/Roudybush Acute Care Diet
• Small syringe or eyedropper (to force-feed Pedialyte, Emeraid II, etc.)
• Needle nose pliers/hemostats

BLOOD FEATHERS
Restrain the bird in a towel and find the bleeding shaft. Apply styptic powder (flour, cornstarch) with a Q-tip to the bleeding area. Several applications may be needed. If the bleeding continues, the feather may have to be pulled. Two people are needed to pull a blood feather-one to restrain the bird and one to pull the feather. If there is no one to assist you, it will be in the bird's best interest to bring him/her to the clinic. Needle nose pliers or hemostats are needed at this point. The person doing the pulling should hold the wing so that it is supported as they pull. Grab the shaft with the pliers as close to the skin as possible without grabbing the skin. Give a little twist from side to side and PULL!!! The bird will probably scream so do not be startled. If a remnant is left in the skin, that needs to be pulled out. Just grab the remnant with the pliers and pull it out. If there is any bleeding from the skin, just apply some styptic powder until it clots.

BLEEDING NAILS
Apply styptic powder (flour, cornstarch) to the bleeding nail. Several applications may be necessary; rubbing a nail file briskly over the bleeding nail may stop or slow the blood flow. The heat and friction sometimes cauterizes the nail. Another method is to stick the nail in a bar of soap. A nail that has been torn off and bleeding is best handled by applying triple antibiotic ointment and a pressure bandage. A veterinarian should see the bird the next day.

WOUNDS
As with most avian procedures, having two people to work on the bird is optimum--one to restrain and one to work on the bird. If the wound is bleeding, apply pressure until it has stopped or slowed. Apply some triple antibiotic ointment to the wound, cover with a non-stick bandage, and then wrap the wound area. If the wound is small, just applying the antibiotic ointment twice daily may be enough for healing. If the wound is large or the bird is chewing at the wound, it should be temporarily bandaged until a veterinarian can see the bird.

GENERAL ILLNESS
If a bird is showing some signs of illness (lethargy, decrease appetite, watery droppings, puffed up), but is not an emergency, there are some things you can do at home to help the bird. A sick bird needs extra heat. A heating pad under a cage, aquarium, box, etc can supply this. Cover the cage except the front or place a cover on the aquarium or box. Monitor the temperature so the bird does not overheat. If a heating pad is not available, you can shine a swing arm lamp into part of the cage. Only shine it in part of the cage because if the bird overheats, he/she needs to have an area to cool down.

Purchase some Pedialyte (in the baby section of grocery or drug store); use this as drinking water. If the bird is not eating or drinking much, give the Pedialyte directly (a few drops given slowly several times) with an eyedropper or syringe. The Emeraid II or Acute Care can be mixed with the Pedialyte, warmed, and given with a syringe. This will give the bird some nutritional support. A veterinarian should see the bird the next day.

DR. RAYMOND KRAY'S HOOKBILL DIET

Ingredients:
2 20-oz. bags frozen corn
1 20-oz. bag frozen peas and carrots (or mixed vegetables)
5 cups cooked brown or white rice
5 cups cooked dried beans (13-bean soup mix, no flavor pack)
2 cups cooked vegetable rotini pasta

Mix above ingredients together. Store in 3/4-cup portions in Baggies in freezer until ready for use (for smaller portions, freeze in ice cube trays and then place in storage container in freezer.

Thaw one portion per bird each morning. Before serving, add pelleted diet and sprinkle with quality vitamin powder.

Add:
6-8 pieces of fruit, cut to size for bird
6-8 pieces of cheese, hardboiled egg or meat cut to size
A few leaves of dark greens

We don't feel it necessary to add seeds to this diet. If you wish to use seed as a treat or training aid, please use a good quality, clean seed.

Our thanks to Dr. Kray for doing the research which resulted in this complete diet.