Keeping Journals

Keeping A Journal About Your Parrots

Have you ever wondered who would look after your parrots in an emergency? Perhaps you are lucky and already have family or friends that could care for your birds should you suddenly be taken ill, have to go into hospital or travel away from home for a while. Hopefully if you are in this position the carers would know what to do and would be fully prepared as to what each parrot eats, doesn't eat and their routines. On the other hand, what if you don't know anyone that has had to care for parrots before? You may have family and friends but maybe they have never had to look after a parrot? Wouldn't such a situation be daunting?

When an emergency arises one of the first emotions to hit anyone is panic!! There is usually so much to think about and a great deal to tend to, adding the care of a parrot will add to this pressure. This is why we would suggest you keep a journal for each parrot you have in your care. There is nothing easier than for a complete novice in a panic to find a small book giving complete details of each parrot's requirements and contact numbers. Those of us who share our lives with parrots often take for granted the everyday routines we keep with our birds, the time they wake up and are fed breakfast, what we feed them, what time they have lunch, when they are bathed, cages cleaned and when the birds go to sleep.

It would be a lot of information for a complete stranger to parrots to digest and if you aren't there, well, they can't exactly ask you! Being prepared for these situations is an important task we should not forget about or put off for another day, after all, you never quite know when an emergency will happen! So what can you do?

Firstly, go to any stationary shop and buy a small writing journal for each parrot you care for. Give each book a title, the name of your bird. On the first page write all the details you think a foster carer would need to know in your absence. The name, address and telephone number of your birds' Avian vet, perhaps you have friends who lives miles away but knows about birds, such a telephone contact would be a great bonus for someone stressed out and in need of reassurance. Another essential page should be written for all foods and products that are dangerous to your birds. Make a note about air fresheners, candles, jewellery and if your birds are partial to it! List all the dangers you are aware of, don't forget, you know all this information, someone new to parrots would have no idea.

On other pages of your journal write the exact details of your birds diet, dry food, from seed, pellets and treats to what fresh fruit and vegetables you give, what vegetables are cooked, which are given raw, plus any human food offered. State the times of the day your parrot is fed, what dishes are used and where it is placed in and outside of the cage. Let the foster carer know where all the food is kept and in the event of long term carers, the name and phone number of your suppliers would be useful.

What else do you think they would need to know? What time your birds wake up each morning, when are they sprayed, where you keep the mister you use for spraying, or perhaps your birds use your shower. Playtime and time out of their cages, give times and if you have more than one bird make a note of which birds come out together at the same time and which birds don't. What time do they go to sleep, are the cages covered at night, do you leave a small lamp on? Cage cleaning, write down when you clean the cages, from a quick clean each day to a complete cage clean with disinfectant. Where do you keep the products you use? What about toys, when do you clean them? Do any of your birds take medication? If so, what and why? List any previous or current ailments and whether medication is required. Give precise instructions as to administering any medications.

Remember about your birds safety, are they clipped? Are they allowed to free fly in the home. Make a note about Windows and doors and the importance of keeping them secure. Do your birds cages come with padlocks, if so, write down where you keep the keys or if they are combination locks, write down the combination numbers! Advise the carer about the dangers of other pets, you may have a cat or dog, are they allowed in the same room? What if the person who looks after your birds smokes? Remind them by writing down that they shouldn't smoke in the same room as your birds. These may seem silly details to list, but nothing would be silly to a novice!

Try to write in detail anything that you think is important for you, your birds and the person who is caring for them in your absence. Write these notes clearly and be specific, give as much information about the likes and dislikes of each parrot, how they behave, what noises to expect. It may sound silly but some noises and behaviours could be alarming to a person not used to your birds! Are all your birds tame, do any of them bite? Which birds can be handled. Make a note of simple instructions what the carer should and shouldn't do to avoid a parrot bite!

We all know that in such situations another person may not be able to adhere to everything you would do yourself, and if we are unable to care for our own birds we are thankful for any help, so the more details you provide the easier it will be for the person faced with such a huge commitment in your absence. Keep the journals in a safe place but be mindful that they must be easy to find for anyone who needs them. Many people have kept records on their computers for such emergencies, but who is to say the person already in a panic has the time or knowledge to access your records on a computer.

When you write your journal, be prepared to remember your absence may be shortlived, or it could be long term but to make sure your birds get the best possible care such a journal will benefit not only your birds, but the foster carer and of course yourself. In an ideal world we would all hopefully have arrangements with someone we can trust to care for our birds properly, someone that is knowledgeable, a non smoker, and someone who would know exactly what to do. The trouble with an ideal world is, it doesn't exist, emergencies on the other hand do, and in such situations you need help and fast, there may be no time to contact a person you would normally choose so your journal could be the only real help available to the person faced with the task of looking after your birds.

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