Emergency Planning
We all hope emergencies don’t happen, but like the old saying goes… expect the best, prepare for the worst. It’s important to think about how to care for your birds when accidents or emergencies happen. Make a plan, stick to it, practice it if needed.
Fires
First step with preventing issues with a fire is a good, working smoke detector. Most people keep batteries around so be sure you know what kind your smoke detector requires. Have an evacuation plan, depending on where you live, and have an idea of where the bird can go during cold weather fires (they DO happen). An appropriate crate and towel to restrain the bird are important to have. In any case, there should be as many carriers as there are birds.
Storms
When a storm hits, where does the bird go? This depends on where you live, mainly, and what type of storms you have. Our friend Judith has to prepare for hurricanes, so she has to think about moving to high places or evac, having carriers ready, and food/water rations. Here in Iowa, our main threat is tornadoes. We keep carriers in basements or cellars to hunker down, with water and oil heaters. Think your situation through and prepare for what you might need. Always store bottled water in case of ANY emergency.
Power Failure
Power failure can happen from a storm or accident. Generators are the best thing to keep things running as normal, and you want something big enough to supply the critical services like heating. If power failures are common for you, consider purchasing one (good ones can be had for around $600), and learn how to operate it BEFORE the power goes out. Have an alternate source of heat if it gets cold where you live… You have to be careful about what type you use and ensure space heaters used with birds DO NOT contain PTFE/PFOA/Teflon/Ozone. They are also a huge fire risk.