NO TEFLON! Telfon or PTFE has LEAD. Teflon turns to LEAD vapor when heated to a high temp. Birds have very efficient lungs in order to get the oxygen to fly so things that don’t affect us will KILL them. If you use a Teflon pan to fry an egg or cook hamburger helper then make sure you get a lazer temp tester and see to it that it doesn’t go over 400 degrees. You can get them at hardware and auto parts stores but online you can get them cheap. Just get the cheapest one. I found a killer deal at Menards for $12. So whatever number your stove says reaches that temp, make sure you don’t go over that number if you use Teflon. Hot oil vapors can be harmful too so make sure if you’re say cooking fried chicken make sure the oil is made for that temp and doesn’t start to smoke. Teflon in the oven will do the same thing. Most things that say bake at 450, simply turn it down to 400 (or just under 425 if you somehow really need to do so) and cook it longer. You’re literally talking an extra 5-10 minutes. That’s not a lot to ask to prevent killing your special feathered buddy. Also, I’ve found that doing this to all my food results in better more even cooking with almost no burnt edges which even if there are no burned areas, results in better tasting food. Most Americans want food fast so we cook things at a much higher temp than generally is needed. Teflon helps with that since it allows you to cook at a higher temp without the food sticking. Get a stainless steel pan and cook at a lower heat and you never have to worry about it. Eggs are a pain to cook without Teflon, as is things like hamburger helper. If you have to use Teflon, be responsible and use that lazer temp gauge. Keep the bird as far away from the kitchen if possible. Cook with the vent fan on for questionable items. Silicon cookware is also suspect. The reports I’ve read is not so much the muffin pans or cake pans (even though I’ve only used it once and it could be a first time thing) but the strange smell from using one was strong enough for me to move my bird’s entire cage into another room and shut the door. The reports, however, talk about silicone bags and liners for things like turkeys, etc. So I would definitely stay away from those if your bird is near the kitchen at all. Also there was a report about a bird (amazon, I think) who was at the bottom of the cage, wings pointed down and gasping for air in a smoke filled room because of a random chance happenstance. If the smoke alarm hadn’t gone off then the bird would have died. The guy ran the dishwasher, not thinking anything and a plastic spatula slipped down past all of the grates and the handle tip got wedged and stuck by the heating unit, melting the plastic and sending noxious smoke into the air. Luckily the bird was brought to fresh air and managed to survive but even things we do every day and take for granted can kill your bird.
Ceramic pans should be safe but I just found out about them and cannot tell you for sure. Use Google and use ceramic at your own risk. I don’t know about the rounded square cookware on infomercials but again, contact customer support and ask them to send it to you in writing. Most states are a one party recording law state which means that as long as one party (you) are aware that you’re being recorded its perfectly legal. They made that rule for wire taps on mobsters. Most smartphones have apps available to do phone call recording in real time. It may be $5 but it can be used for a myriad of other things, especially when you need it like for insurance and dealing with government but if $5 isn’t worth your buddy’s life so that you can cook faster then… don’t get a bird.
No candles, wood stoves, glade plug ins, febreeze, aerosol air fresheners, Pam cooking spray, hairspray or anything that comes in an aerosol can. If the power goes out and you have to light a candle or if it happens in the winter time and you’re trying to keep warm, keep unscented candles handy and have a small blanket for your bird. You should probably have a sleeping apparatus for him anyway and you should have enough extra blankets to weather a night of winter with no heat but if you have to, have your bird flannel ready and keep him in your flannel pocket or inside the flannel to keep warm. Hairspray, only use in the bathroom with the ventilation fan on. If you don’t have one then open a window. This isn’t the 80’s. Even so, if your hair is more important than your bird then find your bird a good home and get rid of it. Or wait until the revival of the worst decade of the 20th century minus the great depression is over and THEN get a bird. If you use Lysol then spray the cloth outside or in a closed bathroom with a vent then use it on the surface. Honestly, its better to just get the wipes. Best yet use natural cleaning remedies. Subsequently, if you use spray in the bathroom for the “deuce under a spruce” effect, make sure you have the vent on and the door shut. Honestly, lighting a sulphur match works quite well and dissipates rather quickly and matches are dirt cheap and you need them anyway for a charcoal grill. Ozium is used in hospitals to sanitize air but I don’t know if its safe for birds. I will say that with Ozium a little goes a LONG way. Seriously. Even if you attempt to do the shortest spritz you possibly can, it will fill numerous rooms and that soapy scent lingers for quite some time. If you use it, use it only in the bathroom with the vent fan on. Otherwise, use a match and deal with it. The bird don’t care if yo’ azz stank. They will care when they can’t breathe. If you need to deodorize other rooms (teenagers who are in sports) then move the bird then spray the Ozium. Don’t use masking scents. At least Ozium kills airborne bacteria. To check to see if the scent is gone, since our olfactory system gets saturated quickly when a scent is prevalent, go outside for 3-4 minutes and walk back in the house. Once you can no longer smell it, put the bird back. If at all possible, Wait til warm, 70+ degree weather to do any window opening or airing out unless the bird is in another room.
When I spray Pam cooking spray on my baking pans I go outside and spray (even in winter) then wait for 30 seconds and then bring it back in after the aerosols have dissipated. If the birds are upstairs or in another room far away from it that will cut down on the chances but still be careful. I now have a mister that you put cooking oil in and pump a few times then you spray mist the oil just like you would Pam. Only use cleaning agents that are safe for pets. Even then, make sure they have a light scent. Most cleaners have these horrendous scents to them that are so strong it hurts my nose to use them and gives me a headache. If it gives me a headache it can’t be good for birds. Honestly, a vinegar and water (insert joke here) work just fine. Mild dish soap. Baking soda. Try different natural cleaning remedies. The internet is chock full of them. Especially home & garden magazines and Pinterest. Dry Swiffers work well and Norwex has a great sweeping product for flat floors. I don’t know about their enzyme spray but I’d contact their customer support and ask them if its safe for birds. Have them send it to you in writing that its safe. This is a good practice for any company’s product that might not be safe. Chances are they won’t send it because if the bird dies then they aren’t going to send you a written statement that will nail them as culpable but you at least now see how dangerous some of this stuff can be when you start thinking about your feathered buddy. We lived for thousands of years without harsh chemicals and cover scents. I assure you, living without these things doesn’t mean you have to have a dirty house. Plus it will end up saving you a LOT of money.
NO BLEACH! No bleach or bleach containing products. Especially for cleaning a sink if your bird plans on bathing in a sink. At least not for a few days afterwards. Preferably if your bird (small bird) bathes in the sink then put a rectangular grill grate like a dish rack over the top if they like running water. This way the water pours through and your bird doesn’t have to worry about coming in contact with cleaning products or food boogers in the sink hole that carry germs. If you do use a questionable product make sure you rinse well and do not let the bird near it at least 24-48 hours after you clean the sink if you do use harsh chemicals. I recently talked to someone who’s dad had a bird that died because it fell into a dish in the sink that was soaking. It was a pot with soapy water in it and the bird flew there to take a drink, slipped on the soapy side and drowned because the soap covered its wings and it had nothing to grab on to. I’m tellin’ ya. These stories are everywhere and that was somebody I personally knew.
We’re on 4 Facebook Bird groups and every week someone chimes in with a “bad news” story that could easily have been prevented. No perfume either when you’re near the birds. If you’re wearing perfume, use a very small dab, preferably in your hair. Its more disbursed and actually helps spread so other people can smell it. Also, your bird probably won’t land in your hair as an adult so this helps. Try to only use it when you go out somewhere nice and are going to come home late with the bird already asleep. It will give it time to wear off by the morning. Especially if you’re already married. No need to nasally impress your coworkers when you’ve got a bird. No one will ever knock you for not having perfume on. In fact many radio stations, MRI facilities, conferences have a strict “no scent” policy. Aside from the money savings, you’ll be saving your bird so save it for special occasions.
NO ZINC! (NO LEAD EITHER but that should be self-explanatory) Zinc is even poisonous to humans but our skin keeps us pretty protected. However, if you get pear links for the birds cage (for hanging swings or holding up doors) or toys make sure they are stainless steel. Aluminum is OK but preferable stainless steel. Zinc will kill a bird in small amounts and leave you clueless as to why. Stainless steel links are more expensive but again, you’re talking an extra dollar per link to make sure your bird doesn’t die a slow horrible death from heavy metal poisoning.
Illness/exposure: if the bird is fluffed out and doesn’t move a lot or is at the bottom of the cage it is probably sick. They will act normal but when they stop trying to “act” a certain way and they’re sick they’ll be lethargic. They might even begin to pluck out chest feathers if they have a lung/ crop infection. If its breathing heavy with its mouth open and wings pointed down get to a vet quick. Also, this is also how eggbound females act. Females can lay eggs while living alone so it is something to be mindful of. Also, a vet can give females a shot of Lupron to curb their breeding cycle for 2-4 weeks on average if you have a breeding female that won’t stop (like ours)
Always have corn starch (preferably Argo in the yellow container with a lid. The lid is for freshness) at the ready. If you have a bleeding bird you may need to use it. Refrain from chemical clotters as the chemicals will be more than likely eaten by your bird after the bleeding has stopped which can harm them. If the bleeding is that bad that corn starch won’t work the bird is probably not going to make it since birds have very little blood. If that is the case then having a chemical clotter is probably better than nothing but usually cornstarch is fine. If there is a feather break and needs to be a feather pulled consult a vet if you can but sometimes you may need to do it yourself. It always seems that a tragedy happens on a Saturday afternoon when the regular vet just closed and the 24 hour vet (for 4x the cost) is needed. There is literature online on how to do this but always have a pair of small pliers specifically for the birds so all the grime on regular pliers don’t get the bird sick. It is also good to have a pair of long, slim (like a gar fish’s mouth) pliers to adjust toys and such from the outside of the cage if your bird is territorial. Also, if you do your own nail trimming make sure you have a dedicated pair of nail clippers strictly for the birds. You don’t want your toe jam getting into the birds’ blood stream. Also, have a dedicate pair of scissors for wing clippings and a nail file for filing (beaks and claws if needed). You will want to have a very soft (preferably white since that’s what vets usually use) cloth to cover your bird when you do things like filing, clipping, wing clipping, pulling blood feather, examining, etc. Do that every so often so the bird gets used to it and will be better at vet visits. I learned at a seminar, if the bird doesn’t like it then cover their head and work on one wing or foot at a time. They should remain calmer for this.