We all hope that emergencies don't happen...but the old saying is "expect the best, prepare for the worst". Here are some ideas for emergencies.
injury put together an avian first aid kit. have styptic powder for claws and feather shafts, gauze for wrapping wounds, small pieces of wood or plastic to use as splints. have a couple of thick towels handy so you can restrain an injured bird for trreatment. have a pair of needle-nose pliers for removing blood feathers. have a heat lamp/heating pad for sick birds. wire cutters so you can cut the bird out of a tangled toy or perch. HAVE YOUR VET'S PHONE NUMBER AVAILABLE.
get a gram scale and use it...weigh weekly, and keep a record...often the first sign of a sick bird is weight loss or gain.
fire. smoke detector. have a plan for evacuation, depending on what kind of bird(s) you have and where you live. carrier, bag, crate...something to move the bird in, and a plan for where the bird will go. make sure that this includes the possibility that the fire could happen in freezing weather. in any case, there should always be as many carriers available as there are birds.
storm if a storm threatens your house, where does the bird go? obviously, this varies...we have to have crates and carriers in the cellar for tornadoes and preparations for blizzards, our friend Judith has to be ready to evacuate from hurricanes...just think it through and prepare what you might need. store bottled water for cases where the water is off, or contaminated.
power failure a generator big enough to supply the critical services like heat can be had for around $600. If they happen in your area, consider getting one, and learn how to use it. have an alternative source of heat if it gets cold where you live...what will you do if the furnace conks out at -20?
