Important items for bird owners

Important items for bird owners!

While everyone knows you generally need a cage, perches, and toys for birds, there are other equally important items which often aren’t talked about. How many of the following household items do you have on hand?

• FLOUR OR CORNSTARCH:

If your bird starts to bleed, rub flour or cornstarch on the wound to help it clot. This can mean the difference between life and death.

• NAIL SCISSORS OR CLIPPERS:

It’s important to keep your bird’s nails healthy, and trim them if necessary. If you’re unsure how to safely trim nails, ask an avian vet or experienced bird owner to show you how. Always make sure you have flour/cornstarch handy.

• KITCHEN SCALES:

If your bird becomes ill, knowing their healthy/baseline weight can help determine whether weight loss is an additional symptom. Birds should ideally be weighed at least monthly. Scattering seed on the scales can help lure birds onto them - just remember to tare the weight first.

• ZIP TIES:

Birds are masters of escaping, and travel cages are often less sturdy than everyday flight cages. If you are taking your bird outside in a cage, always make sure that all doors and cage bottoms are sealed shut with zip ties. This includes while traveling in the car. Then once your bird is safely back inside, you can use scissors to cut them off.

• SUGAR, SALT, AND BAKING SODA:

Birds can become sick suddenly, and once sick they then quickly become dehydrated. A homemade electrolyte mixture can be made using 1 cup water, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon baking powder. Some pet companies also sell pre-packaged electrolyte mixes for birds which can also be used.