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AIRBORNE DANGERS:
As discussed previously..new birds should be quarantined. Many avian diseases are airborne and may travel in air in the form of dust (dried feces) dander (normal in many birds) and/or feathers during a molt. (It's also not a good idea to share dishes unless you are disinfecting them thoroughly after each use rather than just washing in soapy, hot water.) It is imperative that your cage liner be changed at least once per day to insure that your bird and other birds you may have are not infected in this way. Food droppings can also be a menace if left in the bottom of the cage to decay! If an odor is bothering us, our birds may already be in trouble! Remember the stories of canaries in the coal mines (what a terrible thing to do to the canaries) but the humans who used them knew, if there were toxins in the air, the birds would tell them! All of the following can prove fatal to your bird: All cleaners, solvents, insecticides (including fly strips and bug & or mouse traps containing poisons-there are bird-safe insecticides available), smoke from stoves, grills, cigarettes, fumes from electrical shorts in TV's, computers; fumes from Teflon pans and self cleaning ovens and other appliances containing Teflon; also watch fumes and smoke from gas grills outside going through open windows. Also, Resolve and Fabreeze type cleaners sprayed in close proximity to your bird, carpet cleaners or any type with solvents, deodorizers, perfume, hair sprays, paints, varnishes, nail polish remover, fumes from scented candles, Lysol and any disinfectant spray. Many avian cleaning products state they are non-toxic and can be used while your bird is in the cage! Research this carefully.... if the liquid is non-toxic the fumes from the liquid may not be. Did you know that new drapes and bedspreads contain formaldehyde? As with self-cleaning ovens and new carpeting, you should allow an air out time before exposing your birds to these items. When remodeling your home, your birds should be shielded from dust and particles in the air also. Can you have a life when you have a bird in the house? Yes, yes, yes!! We just need to proceed with caution. If in doubt, move the bird out! Put your bird in a room which can be closed off from new item(s) or area being painted, cleaned or rebuilt. Have an air cleaner in your bird's room going 24 hours a day. There are many inexpensive, effective air cleaners available which will help to alleviate any normal day to day toxicity hazards. If you have the web available to you, visit Bird Safe... a great site, which offers many ideas and hazard information. (http://www.birdsafe.com).
AIR QUALITY: Important to you and your feathered companions also! Invest in an air filtration system. Today there are many to choose from in price ranges for everyone! The new air filtering systems come sized for your home or apartment and offer clean, quiet, low maintenance operation and most can be moved room to room to room so that you don't have to install a full "in house" system.