Next-level bird first aid kit suggestions?

bug_n_flock

Well-known member
Jan 2, 2018
1,371
207
Isolated Holler in the Appalachian Wilderness
Parrots
B&G Macaw, Galah, 5 cockatiels, 50 billion and a half budgies. We breed and do rescue. Too many to list each individual's name and age etc, but they are each individuals and loved dearly.
Hey guys.


I just got off the phone with the nearest vet I could find who sees birds. It is 50 miles away(next closest "bird" vet is 116 miles away, YIPE), but GOOD NEWS: they have a CAV and are willing to see Freedom as a patient even knowing his history and wild side and such. Siiiiiiiiiiigh, HUGE relief. I was worried because a half tame macaw is not typically an easy patient and I was worried they would either refuse him or sedate him for the exam, but no! PHHEW! We will get blood work, grooming, etc done on this visit hopefully. The woman I spoke with did caution me that we may not get it all done in 1 visit if he is too stressed out(I take this as a great sign. They would rather do 2+ visits than over stress a bird, sedate it, or force it into compliance).



This may not be a popular choice here, but it is one we and we alone are responsible for making for our birds(of which Freedom is now one). We are going to have the vet clip his wings at least for now. He cannot fly as is, and I worry the flight feathers are only something that could get him into trouble at this point if he were to get spooked and take off not knowing anything about flight. Once we have established trust with him we will probably start trying to teach him how to fly. 2 owners back used to take him outside unclipped she was so confident he "didn't remember how to fly", but he didn't 'forget', he never learned. 28 years padlocked in a small dog crate will do that to any bird.




But as you may or may not know, we are fairly isolated here, and when it rains too much we can't access our farm/the outside world(depending on what side of the bridge we are on, we have so far not been rained OUT tho, knock on wood). Sometimes we can be rained in for *quite* a while... a week or so at a time. So we need a really really beefed up first aid/stabilizing medical kit for every living thing on the farm. What would you suggest we keep in the parrot one, besides the typical stuff?




Disclaimer: I am experienced in bird first aid, biology, small animal medical care(mammalian, reptile, amphibian, avian, etc) both intensive and ongoing types, administration of medication, and my fiance is a very trained EMT. Between the two of us we have an amount of medical experience that is above average. This kit is not intended as an alternative to proper medical/vet care, it is an insurance policy of sorts and ideally we will never need to use it. Our situation requires us to be more proactive with the medical care of us and our animals, but we are not shunning legit medical and vet care when it is available.
 

texsize

Supporting Member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
Oct 23, 2015
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5
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1 YNA (Bingo)
1 OWA (Plumas R.I.P.)
1 RLA (Pacho R.I.P.)
2 GCA(Luna,Merlin) The Twins
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5 Cockatiels
One thing I have on hand. I bought it for myself but it could be a life saver for a bird.
Canned oxygen.
You can buy it in some sporting good store's that have the #5 in the name.
If you don't have a store near you on line shopping might get it to you.

I got it for myself for migraine headaches but felt it would be worth keeping some handy for my Fids.
 
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bug_n_flock

bug_n_flock

Well-known member
Jan 2, 2018
1,371
207
Isolated Holler in the Appalachian Wilderness
Parrots
B&G Macaw, Galah, 5 cockatiels, 50 billion and a half budgies. We breed and do rescue. Too many to list each individual's name and age etc, but they are each individuals and loved dearly.
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I have that one open in another tab and have been reading thru it as I get time. :)
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,643
10,007
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
A lot of excellent information was posted a while back.
Here is the link. I would suggest traveling up and down that entire thread for good info.
http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/65119-i-love-amazons-going-journey-14.html


Thank you my good friend for highlighting that Thread!
Very near or at the end is an extensive Medical First Aid Kit. The only thing that is not detailed is the newest liquid or spray skin sealers that are on the market. My choice would be the tiny droplets or tiny brush versions as the spray is far to wide for use on birds (causes near by feathers to stick together). It is a very easy kit to upgrade to larger animal and human use as well, since in most cases, one is simply adding larger versions.

FYI: I roll the kit in a bath towel and then place it into the carrier. This allows me to quickly remove the towel unroll and unfold it and everything is clearly available. I found this method much superior to just dumping everything from the carrier.


texsize: Love the idea regarding oxygen
 
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SilleIN

Active member
Aug 18, 2016
495
33
Denmark
Parrots
Lots of parrots, most of them rescues
I would add baby hand rearing formula. This has saved me and my birds on several occasions. If a bird feels poorly, the first thing to stop is their digestive system and if one gets them through the first bad patch, you might end up with a dead bird, if you can't get the stomach going again.

The first thing I do if any of my birds look a little substandard- give them a little formula. This is easily absorbed nutrients and it also holds pro-biotics to help keep the gut going. Especially if the bird has been cooled, then warm formula is the trick to help it back up again.

I also have coconut water for rehydration (instead of pedialyte) and I also have papaya enzyme tablets and pro-biotics (zoolac) for smaller stomach upsets.
 

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