Sweet Heart Aviary
Handfed Companion Parrots

Dangers and Toxins

More good information AVIAN POISONING By Gillian A. Willis: http://www3.sympatico.ca/davehansen/avpoison.html

BACTERIA

I cannot stress how important cleanliness is. DISINFECT ALL SURFACES AND FOOD PREP ITEMS EVERY TIME YOU USE THEM! Disinfect food bowls every day!

You can put your toys (including wood) in a pillowcase in the washer with a blanket or towels (to prevent damage to the washer). Do not use and soap that is not free of dyes and perfumes.

DO NOT use a wooden cutting board! PLEASE WASH your fruits and vegetables with raw apple cider vinegar. Do not forget to disinfect your cages!

Candles, Air Fresheners (Essential Oils, etc.)

Essential Oils are toxic to your birds. Air fresheners, Any and all Plug ins, Sprays, Fabreeze (TM), Oust (TM), Scotch guard on your furniture and or carpets). Yes many many things can kill your birds and quickly. Candles (You can use soy candles NOT scented with essentuial ois and no metal in the wick)

Candles that are bird safe contain fragrance made for lotion and soap which is safe to put on your skin and mucous membranes. Cotton lead free wicks, 100% soy candles.

www.freewebs.com/parrotcandlesgalore

Parrot Parrot has alot of infromation about dangerous toys and household toxins (please read this page completely): http://www.parrotparrot.com/birdhealth/alerts.htm  

Teflon ( PTFE's)

Teflon poisoning, (polytetrafluoroethlyene (PTFE) intoxication), is a rapid and lethal gaseous intoxication affecting ALL birds. The only clinical signs of illness are birds starting to drop off their perches or displaying severe respiratory distress such as open-mouthed breathing, tail-bobbing, or even audible respiratory rales (raspy breathing sounds) followed quickly by death.

Teflon is found in:

Cookware

Toasters, Stoves, Ovens (sometimes its only the heating coils) Alot of heating elements are coated in teflon at the factory which burns off once the appliance is run for a few hours.

Space Heaters

Hair curling products, including curlers, blow dryers and irons.

And other appliances. Please check that the heating coils in all appliances (including dishwashers) do not have teflon elements.

AVIAN VETERINARIANS

I want to say that I have had bad experiences with so called Avian Vets. A Board Certified Avian Vet has to be approved by a panel of their Peers. They are required to keep abreast of new and upcoming diseases and treatments and health requirements for pet birds. Make sure your Avian Vet is BOARD CERTIFIED! Also if your vet is not willing to talk to you and ask questions about your bird, then get a new vet! A closed mind is a dangerous one. After 35 years living with, studying and raising birds, I by no means know it all, and I NEVER WILL! Most vets do not raise birds, do not have birds, and generaly do not see larger birds often. A good vet is willing to listen to an experienced breeder or aviculturist when it comes to health and diet.

ANIMALS IN THE HOME

I must stress the importance of monitoring your bird with other pets. I have repeatedly heard phrases like "Oh my cat ignores the birds." or "My dog loves the birds they are so cute playing together."

This is a time bomb ticking away. It takes LESS THAN ONE SECOND for a dog or cat to kill a bird. Most times when cats or dogs play with an object or other cat or dog they use their mouth and they can easily (whether intentional or not) puncture the bird's lungs or the crush the lungs. If you bird does not die from that then you must worry about bacteria. Your bird will most assuredly die withing 7 days if scratched or bitten by a cat. And you bird has a 50/50 shot if dog saliva gets in an open wound.

I would never leave a baby that cannot walk yet unattended with any animal. Why would you clip your birds wings and leave them alone with one? What is the difference? They cant get away from the dog or cat. Please supervise your bird at all times when it is out of its cage.