Caring for Your Sick Bird
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If you are new to bird keeping, it can be very difficult to detect when a bird is ill. The signs that usually prove to be good indications are fluffed up feathers, slightly drooping wings, unwillingness to eat and general inactivity. As you become more experienced, you will be able to assess your bird’s health by looking at its eyes. In a healthy bird, these should be bright and alert. If you discover any difference, you should consider calling out your veterinarian.
You may find that during the winter months, a bird kept outdoors may look rather dispirited. You may be undecided about whether to bring it into the warmth of the house or leave it for another day. If you bring the bird in, you may find it very difficult to introduce it back into an outside aviary after its spell of recuperation inside. Once acclimatized to the warmth, the bird will experience a great shock as it feels the cold again. In fact, it may be best to wait until spring arrives. With this possibility in mind, it is always useful to have some sort of indoor environment available so that when you experience a problem outside, you will have somewhere to transfer your birds without delay.
If your bird suddenly becomes ill, you will find it very useful and reassuring to have a hospital cage standing by. A hospital cage is simply a customized cage where sick birds can recuperate. They usually consist of a wooden or metal box with one side made of glass or wire mesh. The difference between this and a standard cage is that it is fitted with a heating system, usually in the form of a low-wattage infrared lamp fixed to the roof or a number of light bulbs under the floor. The aim is to provide a stable environment with easily controllable heat where you can place a sick bird to recover in peace.
The main objective is to lower the bird’s stress level, so under no circumstance should you attempt to heat the bird up too quickly, as this in itself will cause a great deal of damage. It is not uncommon for a bird to recover extremely quickly during a spell in a hospital cage, so be sure to keep an eye on it and, most importantly, make sure it has a constantly available supply of clean water. If a bird does recover quickly, do not be tempted to put it straight back into its usual quarters; keep it in the the hospital cage for at least a few more days.
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Tags: Aviary, Cage Birds, Circumstance, Feathers, Inactivity, Indoor Environment, Infrared Lamp, Light Bulbs, Main Objective, Recuperation, Shock, Sick Bird, Sick Birds, Stable Environment, Stress Level, Unc, Veterinarian, Warmth, Wings, Wire Mesh