SAFETY CHECKLIST~MUST FOR ALL

For all experienced people and beginners, here is a comprehensive list that is a must read...as we all know accidents can happen all the time and I have seen even very experienced bird keepers to make silly mistakes that cost them their bird's life...its better to be safe than be sorry!

BATHROOMS: Be careful when your bird is in or near your bathroom. Hazards like grooming products, cleaning products, open toilets, elastic bands, hair clips, and plugged-in electrical equipment (especially near wet surfaces) can endanger your bird if he is left unattended around them. Also be aware of any aerosolized chemicals like perfumes,deodorant, hair spray, etc., that your bird could inhale, as these are toxic as well.

CANDLES: While scented candles are especially harmful, even unscented, all-natural candles like beeswax can be toxic to birds. Even wicks without lead still release other toxins, the wax itself can cause an impaction if ingested, and of course an open flame can burn a curious bird.

CARBO MONOXIDE: Any home that uses gas should have a carbon monoxide detector in it, but it is especially important to be aware of CO levels when a bird is in the house. Because of their more efficient respiratory system, it can become dangerous at much lower levels that what is considered dangerous to humans. Make sure your bird's living area is well-ventilated.

CARPET: The glues used underneath it and the Scotchgard sprayed on it are both toxic to birds. As long as it has the new carpet smell, it is emitting those toxic fumes. Also, if a bird ingests carpet, it can cause an impaction. Carpet also harbors dusts, molds, fungi, and dander that can irritate your bird's respiratory system and cause or exacerbate allergies or even more serious respiratory illnesses.

CLEANING PRODUCTS: Almost any chemical cleaning product, especially scented ones, are toxic to birds. Beyondthat, they also tend to be expensive and contribute to human allergies. The cheapest, safest, most effective cleaning products in the world are water, vinegar, baking soda. These  products can clean,disinfect, and polish almost anything.

DEODORIZERS: Products like sprays, scented oils, potpourri, carpet powders, and any other

aerosolized scented product can cause serious respiratory illnesses in your bird. Instead, you can simmer spices and citrus rinds, or you can bring in fresh, nontoxic flowers, fresh eucalyptus branches and leaves, or other nontoxic herbs or aromatic plants such as peppermint.

DISEASE: Do not allow your bird to be exposed to other birds of unknown medical backgrounds. If you bring a new bird into your home, make sure to keep her quarantined for 90 days in a different building or a room with a separate ventilation system, and wash your hands and change your clothes between handling the two birds. Alternately, do not take your bird to a location where there will be other birds of unknown origin, such as an aviary.

DRY CLEANING: Dry cleaned clothing should be kept away from birds and in a separate ventilation system until the odor is entirely gone, as the chemical used in dry cleaning, perchloroethylene, is a known carcinogen.

FANS: Any kind of fan, either ceiling fans or floor models, should not be turned on when your bird is out of his cage. Even birds with clipped wings can get caught in a fan and killed or seriously injured.

FERTILIZER: Both inorganic and organic fertilizers are toxic for your bird. Even soil and compost can contain asper or other harmful fungi and molds. Do not let your bird come into contact with any of it.

FLOOR LAMPS:  floor lamps that open towards the ceiling with the bulb easily accessible

from the top – can badly burn a bird if he were to land on it. Make sure your bird has no access to lamp bulbs of any kind when they are hot.

GLASS AND MIRRORS: Flighted birds have been known to fly into windows, mirrors, or other transparent or reflectivesurfaces and be seriously killed or injured. Show your bird that they are solid objects or adorn them with something that will indicate to your bird that they are (such as curtains, blinds) and he will be much less likely injure himself in this way.

HOME IMPROVEMENT PRODUCTS: Paints, solvents, finishes, adhesives, Scotchgard, the dust from drywall and texturizers, and pretty much any other chemical product used in home improvement and repair is toxic to birds. These things are obviously necessary, so when you must use them, remove your bird from your home and keep your home well ventilated for several days before reintroducing him. The rule of thumb is that if you can smell it, it can still harm your bird.

KITCHENS: Be careful when your bird is in or near your kitchen. Hazards like hot surfaces, boiling water or food, smoke or toxic fumes, knives and scissors can kill or injure your bird.

METAL: Any metal that is soft or small enough to be swallowed by a bird can cause life-threatening toxicity. DO NOT let our birds chew on or play with any product that contains metal in even trace amounts. If he does, or you think he might have, take him to your vet immediately.

OPEN WIDOWS AD DOORS: DO NOT leave any windows or doors open if your bird is out of his cage. Even clipped birds can get out and a gust of wind can carry them great distances.

OTHER PETS: Monitor your bird carefully around other animals; even in play, they can injure each other. Bigger birds have been known to kill smaller ones. Ferrets, cats, and some breeds of dogs are natural predators of birds, and hounds especially should always be restrained or removed when a bird is out of his cage, as their chase instinct can override any training or socialization. Also, dog and cat saliva contains bacteria that are deadly to birds.

PESTICIDES: Any pesticides that a bird can inhale, ingest, or absorb through the skin can be deadly. This includes sprays, flystrips, foggers, powders, mothballs, flea collarsAND shampoos

PLYWOOD and PARTICLE BOARD: These wood products are toxic to birds. Use only pure, preferably untreated,wood to make perches, toys, or other items for your bird.

POISONOUS PLATS: There are many plants in our homes and yards that are highly toxic to birds if ingested. The list is long and the level of toxicity varies, but none of these plants should be kept in a home with companion parrots. The Humane Society publishes and updates a fairly comprehensive list here .

TEFLON: Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene) and other non-stick surfaces release a deadly gas when overheated that will kill birds instantly and cause flu-like symptoms in humans. It is also a carcinogen.

SALIVA: The saliva of humans and other animals poses a serious health threat to birds, as it contains microorganisms that a bird's immune system is not equipped to handle. Do not let your bird stick his beak or head into your mouth, do not offer him food that was in your mouth, and do not let your pets drool on, lick, or bite your bird.

SMOKE: Smoke from cigarettes, cigars, pipes, joints, bongs, burning incense, and even burning toasters or other appliances can cause severe irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory system of birds, and can even cause severe respiratory illness or even death. Nicotine is particularly insidious, since it lingers in fabrics, perches, and other porous surfaces and continues to cause irritation long after the smoke itself is gone.

STYPTIC POWER: Coagulants like kwik-stop or silver nitrate are great for stopping nail bleeds, but should never be used on a bird's skin or feathers. Cornstarch or flour can be used to stop minor bleeds.

SUBSTRATES: Litter of any kind can get impacted in a bird's crop if ingested, and also harbors harmful molds and fungi when wet. Wood shavings (not from all trees, obviously, but from the ones most commonly sold as wood shavings in pet stores: pine, cedar, and redwood) can also be toxic to birds and/or cause impaction, and should therefore also be avoided. Neither should ever be used to line your bird's cage trays. Instead, use paper of some kind (e.g. newspaper,pre-cut cage liners, etc.), and change it often.

TEA TREE OIL: While this product can be very beneficial to humans and other mammals, it is irritating to birds' skin and toxic if ingested. Keep this product away from your bird.

TOYS: All toys should be examined regularly for any loose parts, knotted threads, sharp objects, rusted metal, feces, or any other object that might pose a danger to your bird. One of my birds lost a toe from getting it caught in a knotted piece of rope (before he came to me), and another almost hung herself on a loop of raffia (while I was sitting there watching her play), so this is not an uncommon phenomenon. So even though toys are essential to a bird's well-being, they also need to be carefully checked to ensure their safety.

UNSANITARY CONDITIONS: Keep your bird's cage and tray clean to prevent the growth of molds and harmfulbacteria, as well as the accidental ingestion of feces and the attraction of unwanted pests. Clean all bowls daily and toys and perches weekly. Wash your hands before and after handling each bird. Change your clothes before handling your bird if you have come into contact with any other birds outside your home