An argument against keeping birds as pets is that they’re incapable of demonstrating illness. Displaying signs of weakness or injury in the wild may result in being preyed upon, so it is in their natures to avoid openly showing of illness. The signs are very subtle and may be picked upon by an observant owner though, so if you find your bird’s behaviour deviating from the normal without explanation, such as irritability, unnatural lethargy, unclear eyes or discomfort, you probably have an injured pet on your hands. The important thing to do is to contact a vet, especially if the bird is visibly injured, but if for some reason you are unable to do so immediately, here are some things you can do to make your birdy feel a little better till they can get the proper care that they need.
Now, the most important thing to do is to make sure she is situated comfortably. The temperature of the surroundings should be as your bird prefers them. It is not advisable to keep her in a room with too much air movement such as a draft, this will make her tense and uncomfortable.
As you would with an unwell human, it is necessary to make sure she is well hydrated and well fed. She may stop eating, but if you do not feed her, she may die. This doesn’t imply stuffing her full of her favourite sunflower seeds, just make sure she sticks to her feeding routine, with a few added nutrients in whichever form you might think she’d be comfortable with, use a pipette if necessary to feed her and give her liquid.
If the problem is a wound, treatment will depend upon the nature of the injury. For broken or injured wings, make sure the bird moves the affected area as little as possible, to avoid further aggravating the problem. Wrap the wing loosely to the body using a soft but firm material, making sure to not constrict the bird too much. Minimize activity till the wing in question is fully healed.
Broken blood feathers may look like a serious injury, due to the inordinate amount of blood lost, but all that needs to be done is the removal of the broken shaft from the skin. But unless you have prior experience doing this sort of thing, it is best left to the expert. What you can do in the meanwhile, is attempt to stem the bleeding by packing the injury with ordinary flour, till you can get her to a vet. The blood involved makes a lot of people panic, so for the sake of your bird, make sure you keep a cool head on your shoulders, or ask someone calmer to assist you if you can’t stop freaking out.
If the injury in question is a small scratch or abrasion, simply treat it as you would a minor wound on yourself. make sure your own hands are clean, then clean the area in question of all dirt and other debris using a pair of tweezers or a similar, blunt instrument. Then, using a cotton bud, apply some anti septic ointment on the wound. Do this for a few days and he wound should be fine. Now, it is necessary to leave the area undisturbed for a few days in order for it to heal properly. If your bird insists on scratching at it with it’s beak or claws, it may increase chances of an infection, so make sure you keep an eye on her.
Injuries causes by other animals, on the other hand, such as a dog or a cat, need more care. The bird may be in shock, try and calm it down by keeping it in a warm environment, with no harsh lights. Clean the wounds and swab them with antiseptic, then take her to the vet immediately. Even if the attacker has had it’s shots, you can never know when it’s been drinking from the toilet bowl or rummaging in the dustbin again, and may carry germs in it’s mouth or claws that may be very dangerous for the bird. Attack by a stray is even more cause for concern and the bird should definitely get shots.
An injury on the beak might seem improbably, but I assure you, I can happen and can be very dangerous as it can affect the bird’s diet and cause it a great amount of pain, depending upon the nature and extent of the injuries. Bird beaks are like fingernails and small chipped areas will grow back. Beaks have a large amount of blood supply, so bleeding may be involved. If t doesn’t perturb the bird, just pack it with flour and let it grow out on it’s own just make sure the bird has a calcium bar or something similar to rub it’s beak on, so there are no jagged edges that may hurt the bird while grooming or such activities. If the damage is extensive, the bird needs immediate medical attention and may not be able to grow back the damaged part.
If the injured party in question is a wild bird, and not your pet, extra precautions need to be taken. If there are no visible injuries, it may be best to leave it alone. It may merely have suffered a collision and may only be recuperating from the shock. Taking it in may make it’s situation much, much worse. Birds are easily stressed out, especially in unfamiliar surroundings and may go into shock. Just make sure it is in an area sheltered from cats or dogs and it should be up in no time.
If you can see visible injuries, coax it, or gently move it to a lined box with a towel on top and plenty of holes for air. Try to follow the above procedures without stressing it out or forcing it , and contact your nearest animal shelter or wild bird rescue team, who can not only help with the injuries, but can probably facilitate rehabilitation of the bird too.