Pet Bird Safety

Keeping Your Bird Safe and Sound

Although some birds can live much longer than other animals such as dogs, cats, etc, and even their owners - they are really quite fragile. Just think of the canary in the coal mine. Coal miners use to take canaries underground with them to monitor the air quality. If the air became unhealthy, the canary would die long before the coal miners would be affected.

All birds, not just canaries, are sensitive and can become seriously ill in the presence of unhealthy air. Keep this in mind and stay away from anything which can put harmful substances in the air. Use aerosol sprays such as air fresheners and furniture polish in moderation and avoid using teflon pans anywhere near your bird. Teflon fumes have been shown to be extremely dangerous to pet birds.

Pet birds have a legitimate need to chew - it not only keeps them occupied, it also serves to keep their beak trim and in good condition. This can pose a real danger to them though - if they chew on the wrong things such as painted cages, poisonous plants and wires. Be sure to provide your bird with plenty of safe alternatives to chew on such as clean wood toys, cuttle bones and other bird-safe toys. Try to avoid keeping your bird in a painted cage and keep plants and wires away from his/her area to be on the safe side.

Birds love and thrive on a variety of fresh foods, in addition to their seed mix. Be sure to wash any fresh fruit and vegetables thoroughly before presenting them to your pet bird and avoid chocolate and avocado - which are extremely toxic to birds.

Christmas trees can be a hazard to your pet bird for a variety of reasons. Many trees are treated with preservatives that can be deadly to your bird. And tinsel, icicles and ornaments can lead to problems also.

Windows and mirrors also pose a danger to the bird with unclipped wings. They might not know that they're solid objects and try to fly right through them - in the process breaking their necks. So put safety decals, shades or curtains over windows and mirrors to avoid this hazardous situation.

Pet birds can easily drown in a pool of water, so keep all the toilets or bowls of water covered when your bird is in the area. And it's a good idea to keep your bird away from any uncovered pots on the stove.

Finally, be aware of where your bird is at all times. Many birds have escaped when a door or window is opened. And some people forget that their bird is perched on their shoulder and discover it too late - when they walk out the door and their bird flies off.

Bird protection and safety is all about common sense and prevention.