Bird Proofing Your Home

Safety is a major factor when owning a bird. Simple everyday items can become deadly hazards. Things that never seemed like a danger before can be a potential hazard to your bird. Houseplants and certain foods can be poisonous. Toys need to be selected with safety in mind. The kitchen and bathroom hold potential dangers to a pet bird.

House plants can be toxic if eaten. A list of safe house and outdoor plants can be found at http://www.orgsites.com/ri/ripbc/SafePlants.htm you can also find a list of hazardous plants at http://www.orgsites.com/ri/ripbc/HazardousPlants.htm.

Toys can be hazardous if they are not chosen with safety in mind. Avoid things that can be eaten like rubber. Also look to make sure your bird can't get tangled in the toy and strangled or get a foot or leg caught. Avoid toys made with fabric, soft rubber, or brittle plastic. Anything with string is dangerous. Don't give your bird anything to play with that has paint, varnish, or chemicals. Some excellent toys for parrots include metal cowbells and rawhide chews for dogs.

Food we eat can be toxic to a bird. Some of the things not to give your bird include alcoholic beverages, mushrooms, caffeine, avocado, chocolate, onions, apple seeds, processed meats, anything with a high sugar, nitrate, sulfite, monosodium glutamate (MSG), or salt content. Don't give your bird junk foods and limit milk products since birds are lactose intolerant. Also, avoid a lot of protein. I unknowingly almost killed my parrot by feeding her eggs and meat. I didn't know a parrot's liver couldn't process large amounts of protein until she became sick. If it's something that isn't in the birds natural environment don't feed it to your bird. If you're not sure, ask your avian veterinarian.

Protect your bird from fumes of any kind, including paint, insecticides, other poisons, self-cleaning oven fumes, etc. Aerosol's, ammonia, bleach, oven cleaner, glues, and paint fumes. Overheated nonstick coating on cookware emits a fume which is deadly to your bird. Some other items which are poisonous to birds are tobacco, detergents, furniture polish, hair dyes, iodine, lighter fluid, nail polish and remover. Keep a vigilant watch on what your bird can get into when it is out of its cage.

Another safety consideration includes windows, mirrors, and ceiling fans. You bird can fly into windows and mirrors thinking it is another room. Turn off ceiling fans, cover mirrors and close window blinds before letting your bird free in the room. Clipping the flight feathers also helps prevent this. The flight feathers when clipped should only be cut to prevent your bird from full flight and so that the bird can still glide. Avoid direct sunlight. Your bird can develop sunstroke if left by a window where direct sunlight streams in and your bird can't get into a shady spot. The ideal temperature is between 68 and 75 degrees. Avoid temperatures at 60 degrees and below or temperatures of 90 degrees and above.

The kitchen and bathroom can be hazardous rooms. Don't let your bird out in the kitchen when you're cooking. Hot coffee, boiling water, and hot oil can quickly become a hazard even deadly. If your bird is in the bathroom make sure the toilet lid is closed, you bird can end up in the toilet bowl and not be able to get out.

This is just a starting point. Another excellent source of information other than your veterinarian is Bird Talk Magazine. I learned a lot by joining a local companion bird club. Local bird clubs not only provide constant information on how to care for your bird, they provide a network of friends who also are interested in birds.