Household Dangers

[Jodi]

There are a lot of household dangers right in front of us that we might not think of as being dangerous to our birdies. Our birds are very sensitive to some of these items so it's important that we do our best to keep our homes safe. Parrots are very curious animals which doesn't help!

According to About.com, here are the Top 10 Household Dangers
1) Poisoning
2) Non Stick Coatings (when overheated)
3) Open Water
4) Inappropriate Foods
5) Electrical Cords
6) Poorly Made Toys
7) Ceiling Fans
8) Windows, Doors, and Mirrors
9) Other Pets
10) Air Quality

Click here to read more about each one of the above dangers.

Also, here in another great article on household dangers: Companion Parrot Article

[ninja_smurtles]

My dad had a cockatiel once and it used to fly about the house and one day it flew straight into the chip pan.
So if your birds have access to the kitchen then be careful when cooking.

[Jodi]

We had an incident with a toy one day. Toby got his head stuck in some rope and it was tangled around his neck. I had to cut him out of it. It was a reminder for me to check all of his toys. And not just when I first give them to him, but after he's chewed part of it up, it can then become a hazard.

[alleaa]

If you don't mind me adding, perches should be checked to make sure that they are very tight. I also have a list of dangerous toys on my site http://www.aviantreasuresonline.com/toysafety.htm

[Jodi]

Great! Thanks Wendy!

[fstybrat]

These are great reminders guys! Sometimes it is soo easy to overlook the obvious!

[PicOlio]

We had Nikko in the bird carrier with a terri cloth towel lining the bottom to take him to the vet.... everything seemed fine until we reached the vet's office and attempted to remove Nikko from the carrier.... his talon had gotten completely entangled in a frayed string coming off the towel... they had all of the right tools but it was SO TIGHT around his talons and leg that we were all starting to get rather nervous... we did finally get it off without injury but if I had not been at the vet I worry it could've ended up a lot worse.... He doesn't get towels in the carrier anymore...

Water is another danger to be very careful of with the birds..... I'm not talking about their spray bottle showers, feeding bowls or THEIR bath tubs but just plain old water in open toilets, sinks, large pans/buckets, our bathtubs, and uncovered fish tanks etc. Remember, the majority of our pet birds can NOT swim and will drown if they land in deep waters... toilets, oddly enough, are bird killers because people forget to close the lids (it's not just the guy's job ladies to "put the seat down" but all of our jobs to put the whole lid down). Fish tanks should always be covered...etc etc

[Jodi]

How scary Deb! I'm glad you got his foot out. I have blanket material that I use for the crate. You can buy big slabs of it at fabric stores for pretty cheap! I also use flannel sheets (twin size). I use both in my dog crates too.