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Birdie
proofing your home is just as important as baby proofing! What to
look for before you bring your new companion home...
-
Do
all your windows have screens? Do the screens have holes? Birds
can escape through open windows or doors and can make holes
in screens big enough to escape!
-
Are
there electrical wires that are easy to get to? Wires should
be tucked away, birds love to chew and destroy things. Electricity
poses a hazzard.
- Do
you use scented candles, spray air fresheners or the plug in variety?
These are dangerous to birds because of their very small respiratory
system. Regular use of these items can kill your new pet. Rule
of thumb... if it has a very strong odor don't use it around your
bird!
- Do
you cook with nonstick coated pans? This coating releases toxic
fumes at high temperatures and can kill a bird very quickly. If
you use these types of pans you might want to reconsider. Normal
use probably would not be harmful as the temperature must be very
high to emit the fumes, but if a pan were left unattended and
the coating started to burn it could be devastating. How many
times have you heard the story of the pan left on the burner that
boiled dry or caught on fire? Once is all it takes!
- Are
you a chocolate lover? Do you drink caffeinated beverages? Birds
love chocolate and a sip of coffee or cola, but they are stimulants
and can be harmful to your bird.
- Guacamole
anyone?... Avacadoes are poisonous to birds!
- Watch
out for the pits... Pits of some fruit contain cyanide and birds
just love to chew on pits. Serve your fresh fruit without the
pits!
- Got
a draft? Seal it quick! Birds can tolerate lower temperatures
but the drafts can kill them. You do not need to keep your friend
in a very warm house. What ever temperature is comfortable for
you should be fine, just not a draft. If you can't seal it you'll
need to keep the cage in a draft free area of your home. Air conditioning
vents can also create the same problem.
- Hold
the Onions... As with most other pets, onions are not appropriate
food for a bird.
- Your
favorite ceiling fan can be dangerous to a bird in flight. Birds
don't like ceiling fans even when they are inside their cage.
They don't like things moving above their heads. A bird in flight
can get too close and have a neck or wing injury.
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