The keys to keeping birds healthy are lots of room for flight and exercise, fresh, nutritive foods, clean water and air. However, accidents will happen when we least expect them, or acute health problems may crop up suddenly. Our fine-feathered friends are very good at concealing most underlying maladies. Previously un-noticed health problems are typically advanced by the time we are able to detect them. Before you even need one, ask other experienced breeders in your area to recommend a reputable AVIAN veterinarian (most vets in suburban areas are adept at handling cats and dogs, but not many birds). Speaking from experience, I would not recommend treating unknown sicknesses by yourself, using a shotgun approach of over-the-counter medications. They may do more harm than good, since most of these are targeted to hookbill birds, and are not even suited for canaries. In addition, you may inadvertently be reducing the bird’s natural ability to fight the disease itself, or wasting precious time that is urgent for examination and treatment by a professional.

The following is a list of handy items to keep in the bird room just in case of emergencies, or until you can reach your avian veterinarian. I have also included some products commonly used by fellow breeders, which may help to minimize potential injuries or avoid health problems. This list is far from exhaustive, but represents a compilation of my own supplies, as well as items used by other breeders on the east coast. I welcome any additions or comments members may have – please feel free to email me at serinsong@att.net

• Telephone number of avian vet and 24-hour animal emergency clinic;
• Telephone numbers of club members or an experienced canary breeder in your area;
• Nail clippers – keep nails trim to avoid catching on cage bars or perches;
• Band cutter;
• Needle-nosed pliers and wire cutter;
• Kwik-Stop® styptic powder to stop bleeding – moistened baking soda also works;
• Rubbing alcohol and/or witch-hazel;
• Cotton swabs and cotton balls;
• For eyes – artificial tears, ophthalmic solutions or silver nitrate drops;
• Fine tip tweezers (to set bandages, remove broken blood feathers or small strings wrapped around toes);
• Wooden tooth picks (can be used for splints and hand-feeding chicks);
• Gatorade, Pedialyte, or Lactated Ringer’s solution (for re-hydration);
• Betadine solution;
• Polysporin or Bacytracin antibiotic ointment;
• Original Clorox (NOT ULTRA) in a 10% solution to clean cups, cages and perches; or
• Vanodine V.18 solution for virucidal, fungicidal and bactericidal surface disinfection (some breeders regularly use diluted in drinking water);
• Small manicure scissors;
• Tiny band-aids;
• Sterile gauze pads and gauze tape;
• Small clip-on or goose neck incandescent lamp;
• Small transport cage (show cage works fine, but may need a small bottom feeding dish and water vessel);
• Hot water bottle (injuries and egg binding);
• Old towels for cage covers or placing over water bottle;
• Several size droppers and syringes (for administering medicines and hand-feeding);
• Commercially available hand-feeding formula (most may be frozen until used), or corn meal, wheat germ and/or pablum;
• Listerine or apple cider vinegar (1/2 teaspoon per 32 ounces bath water);
• ABBA Rx SulfCox (to treat/prevent coccidiosis, going-light syndrome and about 15 other common canary maladies);
• Bene-Bac™ Powder (avian derived lactobacillus for post-antibiotic use);
• Pyrenone® liquid insecticide (0.5% pyrethrin content) for wiping cage bottoms and bird room to rid of mites;
• Buhach® powder insecticide (0.9% pyrethrin content) for sprinkling in nest bottoms to avoid/kill mites;
• Frontline® (0.29% fipronil) for mites;
• Tylan® soluble powder (tylosin antibiotic for treating mycoplasma infections – causes "mute" singing in canaries – common on east coast in late summer, especially with flocks of mixed poultry);
• Ivermectin (1% injectible Ivomec for cattle) for air sac mites (MUST be diluted with water - Linda Hogan recommends 0.5 cc per 8 oz. water); and finally, with hopes you will never need it.
• Canary Pox Vaccine (Bioimmune Company, Lexena, Kansas - Telephone orders immediately and rush shipment - 913-894-0230). See Linda Hogan’s book, pages 161-162.

Copyright © 2001 Laura Schwanof. All rights reserved.

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