This area should be well separated from the rest of your birds to prevent air-borne transmission of germs, as well as those spread by direct contact.
Some of the signs of possible illness include: more time on cage floor, talking and playing less, fluffed feathers, lack of appetite, drinking more water, personality changes (such as becoming bitey or not wanting to come out of the cage), tail bobbing, puffy eyes, sleeping on both feet with head tucked, droopy wings, sneezing or coughing, “clicking” in chest, vomiting, diarrhea, soiled vent, etc. I won’t go into specific diseases here, but hopefully you get the general idea – if things are “different,” get to the vet! Other problems include broken blood feathers or egg binding.
It’s a good idea to put together a first aid kit (Your Parrot Place has a nice one for sale!)
Include:
? Eye and skin wash
? Styptic powder
? Corn starch
? Antiseptic wipes
? Cotton Swabs and balls
? Eye dropper
? Assorted bandages – gauze, adhesive, vet wrap
? Scissors
? Latex Gloves
? Forceps or hemostats
? Betadine or iodine swabs
? Adhesive tape
? Penlight
? Heating pad and/or lamp
? Hydrogen peroxide
? Pedialyte (Electrolyte solution for babies)
? Hand feeding formula and syringes
? Phone number for vets and poison control
Generally, with any illness or injury, remove the bird to a hospital cage and put him in a warm, quiet, dimly lit room (bathrooms can work).
natural pet remedies