I was looking over the list again and wanted to throw out another 2 cents worth of thoughts...
if you dont know how to give fluids under the skin, I would cross off the lactated ringers solution and jot down pedialyte. Pedialyte is a good fluid suppliment and also is a great form of much needed electrolytes to a dehydrated bird.
Heating pad- I would personally opt for a ceramic heat emitter in a clamplight instead. If you are talking a medium size to larger bird, the bird is most likely going to be rooming in a cage that is on a stand, is metal, etc. So you cant place the heating pad on the cage and expect it to keep the bird warm. If the bird is sick and you move it to a smaller cage, the heating pad may actually pose a hazard. If the smaller isolation cage is plastic bottomed and the heating pad is placed at the bottom, there is a chance the heating pad may melt the plastic. I've seen pictures of one that did- someone was trying to incubate their sick cockatiel in a smaller cage that was outfitted with a plastic bottom and tray.
A ceramic heat emitter can be hooked onto the birds current cage (less stress, you do not have to move the bird to a new cage) and is safer in the fact you do not have to worry about it heating up the cage... it does not heat up the cage bars but provides sufficient heat to the bird, and careful placement allows the bird to move away from the heat as necessary. |