Avian First Aid Kit List

Antibiotic powder and germicidal ointment (used to fight infection)
Blood stopper
Contact info for your vet (days, nights, weekdays, and weekends)
Corn Starch. Styptic powder, or Styptic pencil (used to stop bleeding) See warning below.
Cotton balls, cotton swabs, and Gauze squares
Flashlight
Honey or Karo Syrup (used to provide carbohydrates and energy)
Hydrogen Peroxide (used for cleaning wounds)
Infrared Lamp (250 watts – large birds) or Hospital Cage (small birds)
Nail Clippers
Needle-Nose pliers or sturdy tweezers
Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate (used for some cases of poisoning)
Pet carrier (used to transport your sick bird to the vet)
Plastic eyedropper (used for administering fluids and irrigating wounds with water)
Powdered Gatorade or Pedialyte (used to provide energy and electrolytes)
Roll of gauze for bandaging
Scissors
Surgical tape or Masking tape (used for taping bandages)
Towel for restraining your bird
First Aid Book or Instruction Pamphlet for birds

The use for most of these items is obvious except for maybe the infrared lamp. Birds typically have a high metabolic rate. One of the first things that can happen with a sick bird is that it stops eating correctly. This can lead to a drop in body temperature and possibly hypothermia that can be deadly. The ideal temperature to nurse a sick bird is about (30C, 86F) which can be provided by the hospital cage or the infrared lamp. The infrared lamp should be a “dull-emitter” type that radiates heat and not light. Some people have also used heated blankets (with the cord carefully concealed) in the bottom of the cage or a heated blanket draped over part of the cage. It is important to drape it over only part of the cage. This will give the bird a place to get away from the heat if it wants to.