Be sure to have these supplies on hand for any emergency, whether it be a fire, natural disaster, or bleeding injury. This list is more specifically for lovebird owners. Lovebird breeders would have many other items on hand to deal with slow crops, dehydration, and other issues.

• Syptic powder (for toenails, not skin)
• Corn starch and household flour (for bleeding skin/feathers)
• Hemostat
• Needle-nosed pliers
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Veterinarian tape/self-sticking wrap
• towels for handling birds
• Carriers for removal of birds
• Emergency water supply
• Emergency food supply
• Survival blankets (these can supply warmth when electricity is not available)
• Heating pad
• Pedialyte
• Betadine
• Distilled water
• Brooder/hospital cage (plastic reptile container will often work for most small-to medium parrots)
• Emergency phone list

Blood Feather Emergencies
This is an emergency no one wants to think about. Your lovebird is bleeding profusely and you cannot stop it. If your lovebird panics, it may bite you. You will need corn starch or household flour to stop the bleeding, a towel for holding the lovebird, hemostats or needle-nosed pliers, and a good set of tweezers. First try to stop the immediate bleeding with the corn starch or flour. Remember that styptic powder is good only on toenails. It burns on live tissue and will make handling your lovebird in this possibly life-threatening situation harder.

If you can stop the immediate bleeding emergency, then take the lovebird to the veterinarian to remove the feather and assure that your lovebird is fine. Remember that the bleeding can easily start again. The hollow shaft of the feather is like a hose and can cause serious blood loss should the bleeding start again without you realizing it or when you are not home. Substantial blood loss can result in the death of the lovebird.

If you need to get that feather out now, get a good grip at the base of the broken feather with the pliers or tweezers. Give a good, deliberate pull to remove the feather from the base. Do not twist or hesitate. Quick and clean is best because you do not want to break the feather close to the skin, which can make removal very difficult.

You may need someone to towel the lovebird and handle it for you while you find the culprit and remove it. A good idea is to have some people you know you can count on in such an emergency. Prepare them in advance for possibility. If you are having difficulty, do not wait: Take your lovebird to a veterinarian immediately to have the blood feather properly removed.

Lovebird Emergency Contact List
This is similiar to the list parents put onto the fridge for their baby-sitters. It should list the names and telephone numbers of your veterinarian, a back up veterinarian, pison control, and friends who have agreed to come over and help you should you need help with your lovebird. Remember, prepare your friends in advance for the job the might have to do so they are not nervous and hesitant when they actually have to help. This will also help you to know who should not be on your list because they will be too uncomfortable or  fearful handling your lovebird. You want someone who is confident about helping.

Some emergencies require even greater preparedness. A household fire could be a time of great panic. While you might feel at risk for this type of emergency, it is always a possibility. You do not want to be searching for pet carries and towels should you ever have to get out of your home quickly in the event of fire.

If you live in an area prone to any major natural events such as hurricans, tornadoes, or earthquakes, you definitely need to make special preparations to ensure you are prepared to care for your lovebird after such a disaster. Two general rules of thumb that are particularly important for people who live in areas where disaster such as earthquakes and tornadoes can strike with little warning are:

1. Never let yourself get down to your last bag of seed/pellets.
2. Never let yourself run low on bottled water

After a natural disaster, getting supplies can be extremely difficult. You do not want to realize have no tap water and see your lovebird looking up at you with thirsty look on its face. Obviously, you can make do with other foods in the home. However, if you have a finicky eater, you do not want to be caught only with foods your lovebird will not touch. Keeping enough seed, pellets, favorite foods, and water on hand to last five to seven days for all your lovebirds is best.

If you live in an area where you might be asked to evacuate, you may not be able to bring your lovebird with you if you wait until the last minute. It is best in such a situation to be an early lovebird and evacuate at first warning. This way you can calmly pack up your lovebird and take it to a location where you know in advance you will be allowed to keep it. If you think every motel will allow your two lovebirds, cockatiel, and Pomeranian, you are wrong. You need to do your research in advance so you know where to go in an evacuation. Public shelters will not allow pets in most cases.

In all these situations, you must have enough carriers for all your lovebirds and other pets. If you have one carrier that is shared among your lovebirds for veterinarian visits or like, you will not have an easy time evacuating. As most people know, you cannot put lovebirds who do not know each other into such a small, enclosed space. Fighting is bound to ensue.

Small carries can be bought for very reasonable price. You can use a standard pet kennel and add your own perch, purchase feed cups that fit in nicely, and make sure it is out fitted properly for your lovebird. If you have a lovebird who panics when confronted with a carrier, be sure you keep a towel near the carrier so it is readily available should you need to wrap your lovebird quickly.

You should have a portable evacuation kit on hand. This should include seeds, pellets, dried fruit and vegetables without sulfites added bottled water, and your lovebird's favorite treats. Keep this near your regular emergency kit since you may need this as well should your lovebird panic and break a blood feather or injure itself during this time of high anxiety. Also include special thermal (camping) blankets to provide warmth should you lose electricity.

Do not ever use any sort of outdoor grill to supply heat in a home after the loss of electricity. These produce deadly carbon monoxide. They are burning fuel. They must be used only outside. Anything that burns produces fumes. This is why stoves and fireplaces have vents and chimneys. You not only endanger the life of your lovebird, but you risk the health and lives of your human family as well.

Remember that in an emergency situation you will not be thinking clearly. You will be concerned about your safety, the safety of your family, and the safety of your pet. This is not the time to figure out where an extra bag of seed is to throw in the car. This is not the time to wonder how you will evacuate your six birds with two carriers. Preparation is the key to coping during natural disasters.