Birds are some of the most fragile types of animals. This can be hard to believe considering that some birds can outlive their owners. However, most people are familiar with the image of a miner carrying a canary into a mine with them. The fact that the birds would die if the air in the tunnels was unhealthy, effectively serving to warn the miners well before it became deadly for humans, is a testament to how sensitive these birds can be.
Just like birds found in the wild, pet birds are susceptible to unhealthy odors as well. Common household appliances and items such as Teflon pans, aerosol sprays and even innocuous furniture polish can be fatal for birds. One of the best practices when dealing with substances that may give off pungent odors is to use it in airy areas far away from your birds.
Pet birds have a natural inclination to chomp and it can be a major issue. When a bird chomps on soldered joints on welded items, lead poisoning is a common result. Also, birds do have a penchant to chew on potted plants. Despite popular sentiments, poinsettia plants are not deadly. It is important to remember that if you are unsure if a plant is toxic or not, it is best to err on the side of caution and move the plant away from the bird. To provide your birds with a safe alternative, a small pot of parsley can help avoid the temptation of nibbling on your houseplants.
Fresh food that is fed to your birds will do them a whole lot of good; however, avocado, coffee and chocolate, are toxic to birds and should never be fed to them.
During festive seasons, many families tend to bring trees into their homes. Many people associate a tree with a birds natural habitat and assume that their birds will enjoy climbing it. It is true that birds might enjoy this exercise, many pine trees could have had preservatives or chemicals administered and prove fatal to your pet. Furthermore, electrical lights and decorations can be pose a certain kind of danger for your birds.
There are a number of precautionary issues to see to if your bird does not have had its wings clipped. First, all windows and glass doors should be covered in some way. A good bet is achieved by blinds, shades or curtains. An alternative to curtains or shades is placing safety decals on the glass so your birds can tell the glass is there and avoid serious injury or even death. You should treat other large reflective surfaces and mirrors in a similar manner when your pet bird is released from its cage.
Standing water can pose as a form of danger as well. The bird can meet its untimely end in a toilet bowl or full kitchen sink in a few seconds. If a bird is released from its cage, cooking with an uncovered pot is especially ill-advised.
Finally, always be mindful of the whereabouts of your bird even if its wings are clipped. Even a bird with clipped wings can soar for a considerable distance if there is an upward breeze. It is easy to forget that your bird is perched on your shoulder when your doorbell suddenly rings and you rush to answer it but you must remember never to carry your bird to an open door regardless of whether or not its wings are clipped.
Moses Wright loves to help fellow bird owners with their pet care problems whenever he is free. You can find more free bird care problems and solutions resources on his site.
