Avian First Aid: Mastering the Art of Towel Restraint
Practice Makes Perfect When It Comes to Towel Restraint
Mastering the artwork of safe and not incursive chasteness techniques for your companion bird is essential for proper prepare and emergency first gear help procedures. One of the most primary lessons in our Parrot Life Seminars is a presentation of proper towel chasteness for assorted species of birds. It ’ second besides one of the crucial items avian caretakers need to know in the event of an hand brake or for grooming and general health judgment. In a previous station we ’ ve discussed how HARI fledglings are desensitized to towel by teaching them towel cradle .
Fledglings learn very cursorily that their towel is “ OK ” which makes prepare or emergency handling a less nerve-racking position. well, what about parrots that were not towel trained…that can be challenging for both the boo and the novitiate handler. In the same manner we practice burn drills or other emergency procedures at home plate or at work, we do recommend that you exercise towel restraint with birds long before an actual hand brake arises. With even practice on a method that is not invasive, your feathered buddy will soon learn that this is “ very well ” excessively ! If you are uncomfortable at first, ask your avian veterinarian or an feel dame friend to assist.
Step by Step Towel Restraint
so lease ’ s begin this first lesson in a gradation by footfall guidepost for Towel Restraint, but first base take a moment to understand the cautionary statement about preparing your shuttlecock for a towel restraint !
CAUTION: Care must be taken never to apply pressure on the body of the boo. The bird ’ s air sacs are found throughout the body. many handlers fail to realize that compressing the lower body ( above the hips ) can be suffocating to the bird !
If the dame shows signs of hypoventilation ( rapid breathing and signs of overheating ), then release the dame immediately to resume at a late time. Overweight and inactive birds have lower tolerance to restraint and stress. The towel will restrict movement of your boo if it is tucked by rights.
TIP: fleshy birds or birds unaccustomed to handling can be sprayed with urine prior to towel constraint. This cools the body temperature and actually eases the “ envelop ” serve .
Assemble Your Tools
- Towels: choose a towel material that does not slip or one that does not shred or unthread easily, as nails tend to get caught in the loops and loose threads.
For All Size Birds
- Gel Pad (A Gel-type Seat cushion is perfect as it protects the bird’s shoulder region when he’s lying on his back on the counter)
- Spray mist bottle with room temperature water
Large Bird
- Advisable for 2 people
- 2 Large towels (3 X the size of the bird with wings expanded)
- VelcroTM strap for larger bird restraint
Small Bird
- 2 Hand size towel
- Small Velcro strap
Place the Gel Pad Cushion on Counter
This adds extra pad. You can use a bombastic towel if you don ’ t have a cushion.
Place Open Velcro Strip on the Pad
ideally identify it about where the bird middle section would be once he ’ south on the Gel Pad. It doesn ’ t have to be perfectly placed-but rather ready .
Once Everything is in Place, Follow These 7 Steps to Successful Towel Restraint!
- Drape the towel over the bird’s body and most of the head, tuck a bit of towel under the neck with one hand while in a swift motion, wrap the towel sides around the bird’s underside with your other hand.
- Turn the swaddled bird up keeping one hand on the side of the towel that keeps the towel in a closed wrap.
- With your other hand, keep the towel wrapped around the birds neck. A “helmet” hold with your hand is optimal to keep the bird still while you roll a bit of the upper towel around the neck with the other hand. Place the bird on the gel pad.
- Finish wrapping the bird. The key here is to only allow the towel to directly touch the bird – not your hands.
- The second large towel can then be used to wrap a macaw size bird securely prior to using the Velcro strap. Note the placement of your hand as you feel for his feet!
- Place the Velcro wrap around the bird to secure the towel wrap – please use caution as to where you place the Velcro strap and your hands so as not to suffocate the bird.
- Fasten the Velcro and you’re all set! The bird is safe and secure!
If this is a new have for your bird, please do not leave him swaddled for long. Unfasten the Velcro and towel and be sure to praise him with nurturing reassurance !
And, that will lead us to our future section : Pododermatitis Normal and not Normal !
So until then, practice!
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.