EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANNING FOR PARROTS

ALWAYS REMEMBER TO STAY AS CALM AS POSSIBLE as your voice and mannerisms will be the most important thing to your parrot during an emergency situation.

In the event of an evacuation, DO YOUR BEST NOT TO LEAVE YOUR PARROTS BEHIND.

Most evacuation centers will not take parrots due to the noise factor. Therefore, you would need a preplanned evacuation facility such as your vet office or a preplanned safe place for your bird(s).

SHELTERING IN PLACE

If you have not done this and are in a last minute “OMG, what do we do with the bird situation”, and you need to shelter in place or leave your residence, my suggestion is to prepare a large transport carrier with:

• A large feed bowl that can hold a good 2-3 day supply of food—this should be bowls of dry feed placed high up in the cage.

• A water bottle (available at any pet store or large chain or grocery store) attached by any wire to the front of the travel cage.

  • Fill to the top as these work on a suction system. This will give your bird 3 to 5 days of clean water.

  • DO NOT worry if your bird(s) have not learned to drink from a water bottle as they can smell water and will do so.

  • You can also put a water bowl directly under the water feeder a few days in advance and slowly start taking the bowl away to train them.

  • Water is crucial!

• Place your parrot name, your (or a close friend or relative) contact number and address in evacuation kit and/or cage.

IMPORTANT: As a general practice, you should place each bird in their own carrier. Note that if you have a bonded pair that has been caged together for a long time and you know they will not fight, you should place them together in a large carrier.

IF YOU MUST EVACUATE WITHOUT YOUR BIRD(S) IN AN EXTREME SITUATION…

These suggestions are in extreme circumstances if you can’t take your birds with you in an emergency.

• Place the bird in the carrier at the highest point in your home such as an attic, as the temperature will be lower.

• Place large bowls of dry feed high up in the cage. Do not fill the bowls with fruits and vegetables!

• Place a waterproof card with your parrot’s name, your (or a close friend or relative) contact number and address in evacuation kit and/or cage—or write this in permanent ink somewhere on the carrier.