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Information presented on the QPSerc pages is gathered from avian articles, books, reference materials, and the result of extensive discussion with Quaker owners, breeders, researchers, behaviorists, and avian veterinarians. It is not intended to replace the valuable information which your personal avian veterinarian shares with you.

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When the power goes out, get a large jar with a lid, then fill it with very hot tap water. Put the lid on tight, wrap with a tee shirt or something thin, place it inside or agains the side of the bird's cage, then cover the birdcage with a heaby towel or a blanket till the heat comes back on, or until the water is cold (then remove the water), but keep the cover on the cage with only a few inches open for light during the day.


ARE YOU PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY?

Tornados, hurricanes, floods, blizzards......... natural phenomenons can pose emergency situations for ourselves and our birds. Usually, thanks to technological advances, we are prepared as well as we can be for the big events, with batteries, water, food, for ourselves and feathered friends.

But, what about those little unexpected things, which can easily turn into big problems.....a blood feather, a toe caught in a toy, and what happens, if you the owner, encounters an unforeseen emergency? Is there someone to attend to your bird?



Every bird owning household should have an emergency or first aid kit. Following are some of the things you might want to consider to keep at hand in addition to your kit:

  • TRAVEL CARRIER or small TRAVEL CAGE

    • In an emergency, a PILLOW CASE will do temporarily to transport your bird to a safe location. Carriers can be lined with smooth TOWELS for warmth, comfort, and safety. A BLANKET wrapped around the outside of the carrier or cage provides extra warmth and protection from the elements. A carrier or travel cage is only useful if it is handy. Always keep it where it is easily accessible. Juicy FRUIT is a good item to have on hand to provide the bird in the carrier with liquid instead of water, which can spill or leak. If your bird does not eat fruit, as a rule, it's best to bring water with you as well and offer some when you can and it is safe to do so.

  • Always on hand, should be a FLASHLIGHT, extra BATTERIES, WATER, FOOD, ( at least a 3 day supply at all times), and MATCHES.

    Besides allowing you to see in the dark, a flashlight, or penlight, comes in handy to exam any wounds a bird nmight have, in places like under the wings. Water, which your bird's system is accustomed to, bottled for emergencies, should always be on hand, as well as a good supply of food. Pellets, as you know, are the best food to make up the majority of your Quaker's diet. Pellets purchased ahead can be frozen in case you cannot get to your supplier. They pour and store in plastic containers or bags if you have to leave your home with your bird in an emergency, and have a decent shelf life.

    		•

    Keep a list of emergency numbers, including your vet's number, handy. Have and evacuation plan, especially if you will be loading travel cages or carriers and carrying them from your home. Make sure your car's gas tank is full. THE BASIC FIRST AID KIT:

  • splints - popsicle sticks will do nicely
  • cotton swabs
  • 1" gauze tape
  • vet wrap
  • nail file or emery board
  • tweezers, hemostats -and/or needle nosed pliers for removing broken blood feathers. See QUAKER ANATOMY for more about feathers and blood feathers.
  • small scissors
  • clean, smooth, towels-dish towels and baby towels work well because they do not have loops, like terry cloth towels, that toe nails can get stuck in.
  • rubber gloves
  • moist, antiseptic towelettes-for sanitizing YOUR hands before examining the bird.
  • Clotisol-for clotting, can be gotten from your vet. It is used for clotting small wounds. Flour or cornstarch also works to help clotting, as will pressure applied to the wound, until you can get to the vet.
  • hot water bottle or heating pad

    • Ointments are not usually recommended by vets, Preening will cause the bird to injest whatever is on the feather.

    On a vet visit, you can take your First Aid Kit with you, or bring a list of the contents of your First Aid Kit and ask your vet what other items you should include.

    No First Aid Kit should replace a vet visit, particularly in an emergency. If you think your bird should see the vet, you're right, it should. You cannot weigh the peace of mind you will receive by the vet visit against the money or time spent. Potential bird owners need to consider the cost of avian veterinary medicine as part of the obligation and responsibility of bird ownership.

    THINGS YOU CAN DO BEFORE YOU GET TO THE VET

    If the bird has an obvious broken bone, wrap the bird in a towel to keep it from flapping and injuring itself further. A splint can be applied if you are comfortable doing so and the break is in a place that can easily be splinted without causing more harm.

    Keep the bird warm during transport. The bird will be calmer if it is kept in darkness.

    THE OWNER EMERGENCY

    None of us can see into the future. Unfortunate occurences do happen. Are preparations in place for your bird should you, the owner, be unable to care for him or her? The best time to prepare for an emergency is before an emergency ever happens. The best time to establish who is able and willing to care for your bird if you can't is before the bird comes to live with you. No one enjoys contemplating this subject, but, for your peace of mind and the welfare of the bird, serious discussion should be initiated between you and those individuals who you would want to care for your bird in your place, temporarily or permanently.

    There are programs which can help if you do not have emergency caretakers available or if you need to find a new home for your bird permanently because you can no longer care for it. QPSRAPP is one such program. Volunteers across the US and Canada, temporarily foster and permanently adopt, Quaker Parakeets. Most RAPP volunteers are experienced Quaker owners. They are aided, as are relinquishing owners, through fostering and adoption, as long as needed and desired, by the RAPP Support program.

    QPS, QPSerc and QPSRAPP offer all visitors to this page, a printable emergency card which can be kept on the refrigerator, where as a rule, emergency personal are trained to look, or, it can be kept in your wallet. See the QUICK PICK MENU to print out the QPSRAPP EMERGENCY CARD.