Important Information That May Save Your Parrot's LifeThe information below may save the life of your parrot. There are many sites on the internet which discuss the subject of things that can harm your birds but we have found, from personal experience, that many are not listed at all. So, in Sadie's honor we have complied a list (with the help of others) of things that are dangerous and deadly to your parrot. First we will discuss things that are not commonly found on any site but are very serious, followed by a complied list of known dangers. In Sadie's case there were a number of factors which arose in her short illness that we did not know at all. * Doves and Pigeons-Doves and Pigeons, to quote our Avian vet, "Are disease factories". They can carry many deadly parrot diseases their entire life and never be sick from them. They can however, be spread to your parrot very easily through direct contact and through their dander. At the time of Sadie's death we owned three. No one ever mentioned the fact that doves and parrots do not mix well together. * Reptiles-Reptiles carry the bacteria Salmonella. It is very important not to handle reptiles then birds without washing with anti-bacteria soap. Also the food and water dishes should not be rinsed or washed in the same sink. If you own reptiles they should be kept as far away from the birds as possible. A very interesting and nearly unknown fact to the public did arise during Sadie's illness. According to the Medical books one of our vet's referred to, Salmonella can be spread through the air. Only day's before Sadie showed signs of being sick we changed the sand in our lizard's tank. Knowing that the dust from the sand could affect the birds, I worked right in front of the air filter. Unknowingly spreading the potential bacteria even farther. If we had known how dangerous it is to mix reptiles and birds, we would have never brought Sadie home until we found a new home for our lizard. Our only hope is that this was not the cause of her death. * Note: African Grey's are more susceptible to Salmonella than other parrots. Teflon and Other Non-Stick Cooking Utensils-Teflon and non-stick cookware emit a deadly fume, which is undetectable to humans, but can kill a bird instantly. If you use Teflon, it is VITAL to be careful not to exceed 400 degrees. Although recent tests have shown that deadly fumes are emitted at even lower temperatures. Items that contain Teflon include space heaters, pots, pans, coffee pots, waffle irons, griddles, cake pans, cookie sheets, crock-pots, irons, iron board covers, etc. There are many others just check your house thoroughly and be careful. * Many cooking fumes and sprays are toxic or can lead to respiratory problems. Hot cooking surfaces and boiling foods are also a potential deadly hazard to your bird. As such, it is not recommended that you keep your bird in the kitchen area. Cooking Bags-It has been reported that the use of Durkee Cooking Bags and Reynold's Cooking Bags has resulted in the death of birds. We do not know if all cooking bags are dangerous but knowing the results of those two we think it best to avoid using any of them. Self-Cleaning Ovens and Oven Cleaners-Self-cleaning ovens emit deadly fumes and will more than likely kill your bird. Oven cleaners also emit toxic and deadly fumes. I asked an avian vet how she cleans her oven and this is what she said. First she said she would never use the self-cleaning feauture ever. She cleans and scrapes as much as possible without using a cleaner, if a cleaner is in order, she puts her birds outside, cleans with the least toxic and low order cleaner she can find. She leaves her birds outside for 12 hours. (Please make sure your birds are secure in their cages and are safe from outside predators.) Mini-blinds-Some mini-blinds contain lead, which is toxic to birds. Make sure your bird does not have access to any blind. One chew on a mini-blind could be enough to kill. Electrical Wires-Make sure there are no electrical wires that are easy to get to. Birds love to chew and destroy things, wires should be tucked away where your bird can not get to them. Wood-The only wood that should be used to make perches and toys is pine. Please read the following page before purchasing any pine from the local home improvement store. Click here and read this before you purchase any wood for your bird. Perches Made From Outside Branches-It is not recommended that you use branches from outside to make perches. They may be contaminated with disease or parasites and wood cannot be disinfected. Please use only commercially available natural branches. Zinc and Toys-In our opinion at least 75% of all bird toys are made with potential harmful parts. C-clamps that are used to hang toys to cages are almost always made out of zinc, unless other wise stated that they are stainless steel on the c-clamp. If your bird chews or hangs from these clamps we recommend that you purchase the stainless steel clamps to replace them. Toys that have metal rods to hold parts together are galvanized steel and toxic. We replaced the metal with strips of leather and when that wasn't possible we took the toy apart, saved the parts to make a new toy and tossed the metal. Also, almost all chains and connecters are nickel-plated with zinc underneath, which is fairly safe until it starts wearing and flaking then immediately replace the chain or toss the toy. Stainless steel chains, clamps, connecters are all available and can be purchased to make your toys safe. Most manufacturers do not use these parts because they are very expensive which in turn would make the toys very expensive. Also make sure the toys are made with closed link chain. If not, the bird can get his beak or toe caught in the opening. *One last note on toy safety is be careful that your bird cannot get its head or body stuck in a toy. Make sure the part is to small to fit the birds head in it or big enough for it's entire body to fit through. Also, be careful of long or frayed pieces of rope and string which could cause your bird to entangle itself and cause harm, if not death by strangulation. In addition, be aware that larger birds are capable of pulling apart the strands of the rope and then inserting their heads, resulting in strangulation. Corn Cob Litter-Corn Cob litter should under no circumstances be used in any bird cage. The corn cob pieces not only carry bacteria but can become impacted in your bird and cause death! Cleaning Products-Many cleaning product fumes are deadly to your bird. Pine cleaners, anything containing bleach, orange oil products, Fabreeze odor remover, Potpourri, carpet fresheners, ammonia, floor cleaners, etc. Aerosol products spread into the air and into your birds lungs. Basically if it has a strong odor, it proably isn't good for your bird,that also includes things that smell really nice. Just because an orange cleaner smells like fresh oranges that doesn't make it any less toxic and deadly to your bird. Birds have very small lungs and a smell that may not affect us can cause serious respitory problems and death in your birds. We do know people that use Windex and that seems fine but personally we just use a spray bottle with water and a rag. Insecticides and Pest Strips-Almost all insecticides are potentially poisonous to birds. Aerosols sprayed into the room to kill insects can also kill your bird. Scented Candles and Air-Fresheners-Scented candles will kill your bird in fact any candle has the potential to cause death. Air- fresheners including the plug-in type are the same. Also included is incense and matches. We read an article in which this woman was taking her bird to the vet for a check-up and by the time she arrived her bird was dead. She had one of those pine air-fresheners in her car. Personal Hygeine Products-Items such as perfumes, colognes, nail polish and nail polish remover should be avoided around birds, their small lungs can not handle the strong odors. Hairspray, which usually can not be avoided, is used at the far end of the house with the bathroom door closed. Paints and Varnishes-All paints and varnishes should be avoided in your home except Latex paint. If you need to use any other kind of paint or varnish it should be done outside. When using Latex paint, move your birds as far from the area as possible and make sure the house is well ventilated until the odor has subsided or better yet move your birds out of the house. If you live in an older home please be careful of lead paint that may be in your home. Do not allow your bird to chew on anything that is painted or be careful of loose and flaking paint. Oil and Grease-Oil and feathers do not mix. Do not use any oil or grease based medicines on a bird for any reason, use only water based salves. It is highly recommended not to treat your bird with any medication without first checking with an Avian Vet. Products to avoid include cooking oils, motor oils, mineral oil, baby oil, oil based ointments or salves (including some sold in pet stores). Scotch Guard and Other Stain Protectors-Be very careful when getting new furniture/carpet treated with a stain guard fabric protector. We have heard about birds becoming very sick and dying within 24 hours of exposure. Even though they were told that it was perfectly safe. I myself became very disoriented and fuzzy headed from some new furniture we had gotten about 10 years ago (before we had birds). The furniture store insisted that it couldn't be the stain guard, however I felt perfectly fine when I was out of the house. It took over 2 weeks for my symptoms to subside. So if a human can be affected by it just imagine what would happen to a bird. *One last note I did just hear about the carpet padding someone installed with their new carpet was extremely toxic and killed their two birds. Ozone Generators and Air Filter Systems-Although results are still inconclusive there have been reports that ozone generators and air filters with the ionize option can be potentially harmful. We owned the Ionic Breeze for a short time and it came with a warning that it can affect people with asthma, that tells you right there it can affect your respiratory system. Proceed with caution. Water-Be careful of opened toilets, tubs and buckets filled with water, fish tanks, glasses of water, cups of coffee, dishes in your sink, etc. If an unattended bird lands in the water it will probably drown before you even know that it is in trouble. Water Bottles-Water bottles are more sanitary than water dishes and provide continuous fresh water to your bird. However, every day you should tap the drinker tube to make sure that the bottle is not clogged or that the ball isn't stuck. We almost lost one of our finches because of a clogged water bottle. He was near death and luckily we were able to save him, thanks to Joy, who told us that very same day of a clogged water bottle that caused the death of one Canary and almost a second one that thankfully recovered. If not for that story we would of not thought to check the water tube right away and the finch probably would of died by the time we figured it out. Water bottles are the way to go but you need to check then each and every day. Drafts-Birds should always be free from drafts such as those created around windows, outside walls, radiators and air vents. Heat Exposure-Like children and other pets, birds should never be left unattended in the car. If you put your bird outside for fresh air make sure that it can get out of the sun. Remember, just because the bird is in the shade at that time, a hour from then it can be in direct sun and die very quickly. Recliners and Fold-Out Beds-Birds have been squished by recliners or fold-out beds. Before closing either make sure you know where your bird is. Windows, Mirrors and Doors-Although we as humans know that you can not go through glass birds have no perception that the glass is even there. A flighted bird flying around the house can very easily break its neck flying into a window or glass door. Pull shades or drapes when your bird is out. Do all your windows have screens? Do the screens have holes? Birds can escape through open windows or doors and can make holes in screens big enough to escape. Also, be careful of swinging doors. As you leave the room your bird may try to follow you and be hit or crushed between the doors. Fireplaces-No burning of plastics in fireplaces, the smoke is toxic to birds. Also becareful of regular fires with wood, some fumes can be toxic. Ceiling Fans-Make sure your ceiling fans are turned off before you let your bird out of the cage. The spinning blades can seriously harm or even kill your bird. Owner-Caused Diseases-We carry bacteria and fungi that can cause serious infection, or even death, in our birds. Owners must understand that it is dangerous for pet birds to have direct contact with their owner's mouths. Birds should never be kissed with an open mouth, nor should birds be allowed any contact with the owner's teeth, tongue, lips or saliva. Other Pets-Be careful of others pets, such as cats, dogs, and ferrets. Pet saliva, such as dog or cat, can be deadly to a bird. A small scratch or bite, or seemingly innocuous lick, can infect your bird with a disease called septicemia, or blood poisoning. Also, be aware that other birds in your house can severely harm smaller birds. When a flighted bird lands on another birds cage it can be very dangerous for them. I have known small Lovebirds to bite the toe off of Budgies. Never leave un-caged birds unsupervised. It only takes a second for them to hop or fly on their neighbor's cage. Taking Birds Outside-Our feeling is that no bird should be taken outside unless it is in a safe travel cage. Bird harnesses in our opinion can be dangerous in the fact that a hawk could swoop down and grab your bird right off your hand. We've seen people carrying their fully flighted birds into stores with no restraints at all. All it would take is for something to startle your bird and off they go. There was a person I heard about that took their bird, whose wings were clipped, outside on their hand with no restraint, the bird was startled and off he went. The man just stood there with his mouth opened, stuttering, "But, but his wings were clipped." Always restrain your bird in a carrier. Wing Clipping-Please do not risk losing your beloved pet because you forget or choose not to clip their wings. Birds are found outside all the time. It only takes a second for someone to come in from outside and inadvertently let your bird out. Foods That Are Dangerous-These are foods that should never be served to your bird. Avocado (will kill a bird instantly), chocolate (also deadly), apple seeds (contain arsenic), fruit pits such as peach pits, apricot pits, cherry pits, etc., rhubarb, alcohol, caffeine and foods with lots of sugar, salt or fat. In addition, wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly and if you feed your bird chicken or other meat please be sure it is thoroughly cooked so that all the bacteria is destoryed. Plants That Are Dangerous-Because of the enomous amount of plants in the world we suggest that you consult your local Avian Veterinarian about any plants you may have in your house. There are many that are deadly, so please be sure to find out. Sleeping With Your Bird-While sleeping or napping with your bird seems like a good idea, it can be deadly to your bird. While sleeping you can inadvertently roll over and crush your bird. Don't ever sleep with your pet bird! Cigarette Smoke-As stated by the Surgeon General, cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health. Now imagine your poor little bird being forced to breathe the toxic smoke into their tiny little lungs. Needless to say people should not smoke in homes where there are birds. I'm not saying there are no cigarette smoking bird owners; they just go outside for a smoke instead of endangering their bird's health. Final Note-Although we tried to cover the main things that can harm or kill birds there are lots more dangers lurking around that can potentially hurt or kill your bird. Just be careful, bird proof your home, and remember if you can smell it, it can probably harm your bird. If anyone can think of anything else or if you have any questions or comments please email us. |