Dangerous to Birds
The natural habitats of birds have numerous dangers, but birds living in the wild have developed instincts within their environments to help them survive many of these dangers. In the captive environment however, there are many different dangers than those faced in the wild. The problem is that birds have not completely adapted to their new captive environments and it is up to us to help to protect them.
1. ROPE
Rope is typically made from three or four intertwined strands. It can be very dangerous, even potentially lethal, to pet birds. They can easily become entagled, or even strangle themselves in the strands. I do not recommend rope toys for pet psittacines (parrots).
2. OPEN TOILETS
An open toilet can be very dangerous to pet birds. Many birds have suffered an untimely death by drowning in open toilets. Become obsessive about keeping toilet lids closed.
3. AVOCADO
Many people already know that avocado can be lethal to parrots if consumed. It is not known if it is just the flesh of the avocado and/or the pit that is the dangerous part. Be safe – do not feed any part of an avocado to your bird.
4. CEILING FANS
An operating ceiling fan can be extremely dangerous to a flighted bird. When in motion, the whirring blades can be difficult to see and a bird can fly directly into the blades with serious injury or death resulting. Do not put an uncaged bird in a room with an operating ceiling fan.
5. SWINGING DOORS
For the same reason that ceiling fans are dangerous, swinging doors can cause great harm to birds. A bird will often try to follow its owner as the owner leaves the room. Even a bird that has clipped wings will sometimes leap off its perch to follow it's owner. A bird does not understand the danger of a swinging door and can be hit or crushed as the door swings back. I do not recommend that birds be kept in an area where there is a swinging door.
6. THE SLEEPING HUMAN BODY
One of the leading causes of death of small pet birds is the human body rolling over and crushing the bird while the person is sleeping. This is a tragic way to lose your little pet. PLEASE don't EVER sleep with your pet bird; not even a nap. Never. Ever.
6. TEFLON (NON-STICK) PANS
Fumes from burning Teflon are toxic to birds! This can kill a bird VERY rapidly.
NEVER BURN A PAN THAT IS COATED WITH TEFLON OR OTHER NON-STICK SURFACES!
7. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS
There are reported cases of bird death from new central heating systems emitting fumes that have killed birds. Do not accept the manufacturer's assurances that it is safe for your birds!
8. VARIOUS FUMES
Cleaning chemicals, cooking utensils (pans, grills, etc.) and other products that produce heavy fumes MAY be toxic to your bird. If in doubt, don’t use it near your bird.
9. SELF-CLEANING OVENS
Even if the manufacturer states that there is no Teflon in the product, the fumes from self-cleaning ovens can sometimes be toxic or fatal to birds. To be safe, I recommend removing birds when an oven is being cleaned and for birds to remain out of the area for twenty-four hours.
10. WINDOWS
When a bird has unclipped wings, it can easily fly into a glass window, seriously or fatally injuring itself. If you have large windows or sliding glass doors in your home, I would highly recommend clipping the bird's wings.
The natural habitats of birds have numerous dangers, but birds living in the wild have developed instincts within their environments to help them survive many of these dangers. In the captive environment however, there are many different dangers than those faced in the wild. The problem is that birds have not completely adapted to their new captive environments and it is up to us to help to protect them.
1. ROPE
Rope is typically made from three or four intertwined strands. It can be very dangerous, even potentially lethal, to pet birds. They can easily become entagled, or even strangle themselves in the strands. I do not recommend rope toys for pet psittacines (parrots).
2. OPEN TOILETS
An open toilet can be very dangerous to pet birds. Many birds have suffered an untimely death by drowning in open toilets. Become obsessive about keeping toilet lids closed.
3. AVOCADO
Many people already know that avocado can be lethal to parrots if consumed. It is not known if it is just the flesh of the avocado and/or the pit that is the dangerous part. Be safe – do not feed any part of an avocado to your bird.
4. CEILING FANS
An operating ceiling fan can be extremely dangerous to a flighted bird. When in motion, the whirring blades can be difficult to see and a bird can fly directly into the blades with serious injury or death resulting. Do not put an uncaged bird in a room with an operating ceiling fan.
5. SWINGING DOORS
For the same reason that ceiling fans are dangerous, swinging doors can cause great harm to birds. A bird will often try to follow its owner as the owner leaves the room. Even a bird that has clipped wings will sometimes leap off its perch to follow it's owner. A bird does not understand the danger of a swinging door and can be hit or crushed as the door swings back. I do not recommend that birds be kept in an area where there is a swinging door.
6. THE SLEEPING HUMAN BODY
One of the leading causes of death of small pet birds is the human body rolling over and crushing the bird while the person is sleeping. This is a tragic way to lose your little pet. PLEASE don't EVER sleep with your pet bird; not even a nap. Never. Ever.
6. TEFLON (NON-STICK) PANS
Fumes from burning Teflon are toxic to birds! This can kill a bird VERY rapidly.
NEVER BURN A PAN THAT IS COATED WITH TEFLON OR OTHER NON-STICK SURFACES!
7. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS
There are reported cases of bird death from new central heating systems emitting fumes that have killed birds. Do not accept the manufacturer's assurances that it is safe for your birds!
8. VARIOUS FUMES
Cleaning chemicals, cooking utensils (pans, grills, etc.) and other products that produce heavy fumes MAY be toxic to your bird. If in doubt, don’t use it near your bird.
9. SELF-CLEANING OVENS
Even if the manufacturer states that there is no Teflon in the product, the fumes from self-cleaning ovens can sometimes be toxic or fatal to birds. To be safe, I recommend removing birds when an oven is being cleaned and for birds to remain out of the area for twenty-four hours.
10. WINDOWS
When a bird has unclipped wings, it can easily fly into a glass window, seriously or fatally injuring itself. If you have large windows or sliding glass doors in your home, I would highly recommend clipping the bird's wings.