Household dangers to pet birds come in a variety of forms -- a bird safety hazard can be something as simple as an open bathroom door, or something as complicated as your home's heating and cooling system. This list highlights the top 10 household dangers to pet birds and offers ways to protect your pet from succumbing to a household related illness or injury.
Read on to discover some of these surprising household items that are safety hazards for birds.
Cookware
Image (C) 2010 Alyson Burgess licensed to About.com, Inc.Pots and pans offer various dangers to pet birds in the home -- perhaps the most surprising being avian health problems that are linked to the use of non-stick or teflon coated cookware. When heated, non-stick cookware releases a chemical into the air that causes immediate death in some birds. Parakeets and Cockatoos have been found to be particularly sensitive to teflon, but to be safe, all bird owners should immediately discard any non-stick cookware and replace it with stainless steel.
Pots and pans in use on the stovetop pose an obvious danger to birds, as your pet could fly into one and burn themselves badly. Look at the story of
Lucky Charlie the Cockatiel as an example.
Windows and Doors
Image (c) 2010 Alyson Burgess licensed to About.com, Inc.Bird owners should keep a close eye on windows and doors to make sure that none are left open when their pets are out to play. Birds will be birds, and an open window or door is an invitation to fly out and explore. Sadly, when this happens, many bird owners never see their feathered friends again.
In addition to the danger of fly-aways, doors and windows have hinges that can easily catch a bird's leg, toe, wing, or other body part when closing. The best idea is to keep all doors and windows closed and secured while your bird is playing outside of the cage.
Toxic Foods
Andrew Dernie/Getty ImagesParrots are a lot like toddlers -- everything goes in their mouths! Ingesting toxic foods is a big hazard to pet birds in the home, and can cause illness and death. Protect your feathered friend by making sure that all your chocolate, alcohol, and other foods that are poisonous to birds are kept away from your bird's cage and are secured when your bird is allowed out for playtime.
Other Pets
Image (c) 2010 Alyson Burgess licensed to About.com, Inc.Stories of pet birds getting along with other pets like dogs and cats abound, but bird owners must never forget that no matter how sweet their dog or cat is, it is still a predator to your bird. Dogs and cats have an instinctual prey drive that can compel them to chase and capture your bird, or could even injure your bird by trying to play with it. This has sadly led to the severe injury and death of countless pet birds throughout the years. Please supervise your pets closely if you decide to allow them to interact, or better yet, allow your bird a play space that is secured away from other household pets.
The danger doesn't end with cats and dogs -- uncovered aquariums pose a drowning hazard to birds, and should be secured as well!
Household Appliances
Image (c) 2010 Alyson BurgessCeiling fans are responsible for the death and injury of hundreds of pet birds every year. Even if your bird's wings are clipped, there is a chance that they could gain enough height to reach a ceiling fan in your home. As a precaution, make sure to turn all fans off while your bird is playing outside of the cage. Other household items, such as electrical wires, ovens, and even toasters can pose shock and burn hazards as well. Make sure that these appliances are secured or not in use if your pet bird is out at play.
Improper Sanitation
Michael Cogliantry/Getty ImagesIt's extremely important to keep your bird's cage as clean as possible -- not only for your pet's comfort, but for his health as well. Birds are naturally very clean creatures. They are designed so that their waste drops below their homes to the earth, where is supports other lifeforms in the ecosystem. When dander and waste is allowed to accumulate on a cage floor, the bacteria can cause respiratory and intestinal
illnesses that could even spread to your family.
Avoid these issues and more by adhering to a proper cage cleaning schedule, and keep it simple by learning
How to Clean a Bird Cage the Easy Way.
Household Chemicals
Image (c) 2010 Alyson Burgess licensed to About.com, Inc.Most household chemicals can pose safety hazards to pet birds, from spray cleaners to scented oils and everything in between. Birds have extremely sensitive respiratory systems and can be easily overcome by fumes. Some cases of exposure to cleaners and fragrance sprays have led to the bird's death.
To avoid the risk, use a
natural, bird-safe cleaner on your bird's cage and any other surfaces that your pet may come into contact with. You should also not use products like candles, scented oils, and incense in your home, instead opting for natural fragrances such as 100% pure citrus oil sprays or heated cinnamon sticks in a pot of water (secured away from your bird, of course!)
Bathrooms
Image (c) 2010 Alyson Burgess licensed to About.com, Inc.Parrots are not the world's best swimmers. While many birds enjoy a perch in the shower with their favorite human companion, open toilets and filled bathtubs can spell disaster for your feathered friend. To reduce the risk of drowning, make sure that all toilet seats in your home are kept in the down position, or better yet, close off bathrooms completely when your bird is playing out of the cage.
Uneducated Guests
Digital Vision/Getty ImagesIt's sad but true -- your visitors can be a safety hazard to your pet bird. Bird owners know that we must interact with our feathered friends differently than with cats, dogs, or other more common pets. People that don't know any better, however, may try to grab your bird to hold it, or may unknowingly offer your bird a piece of toxic food. Make sure that your houseguests are aware of the rules for interacting with your pet bird, and enforce them!
Decorative Items
Image (C) 2010 Alyson Burgess licensed to About.com, Inc.Both holiday and everyday decorations in your home can be potentially hazardous to your bird. Shiny or brightly colored items are a virtual beacon for parrots -- they are inexplicably attracted to them and will not think twice about tearing them apart with their beaks for fun! These items can harbor toxic chemicals in their dyes, can have sharp edges that could cut your bird, or could have small pieces that could be ingested, causing an intestinal blockage or worse. Protect your pet by making sure that all your decorative items are well out of the bird's reach, both around the cage and out of it.
