Tips and Guide to Keeping Pet Birds Safety at Home

One of the more fragile mammals in the animal kingdom, it is hard to imagine that some species of birds can live longer than their owners. Some may have even heard of the practice of miners going into mines with a canary. Miners used the canaries to gauge if the air in these tunnels were unhealthy, as the birds would perish long before the air reached fatal limits for humans.This practice is proof to the fact that birds are very attuned to the environment.

Pet birds are easily affected by unwholesome smells, similar to wild birds. Many household items, Teflon pans, aerosol sprays and even furniture polish, can be lethal to birds. One of the best practices when dealing with substances that may give off pungent odors is to use it in airy areas far away from your birds.

Pet birds have a strong desire to chew, and this can prove to be a serious danger. When a bird chomps on soldered joints on welded items, lead poisoning is a common result. In addition, birds like to nibble on potted plants. Despite popular sentiments, poinsettia plants are not deadly. It is important to remember that if you are unsure if a plant is toxic or not, it is best to err on the side of caution and move the plant away from the bird. To provide your birds with a safe alternative, a small pot of parsley can help avoid the temptation of nibbling on your houseplants.

Fresh food that is fed to your birds will do them a whole lot of good; however, food like coffee, chocolate and avocado are fatal for birds and they should never be given such foods.

During festive seasons, many families tend to bring trees into their homes. Many people associate a tree with a birds natural habitat and assume that their birds will enjoy climbing it. It is true that birds might enjoy this exercise, many pine trees could have had preservatives or chemicals administered and prove fatal to your pet. In addition, ornaments and electric lights can pose a safety hazard to your birds.

There are a number of precautionary issues to see to if your bird does not have had its wings clipped. First, all windows and glass doors should be covered in some way. The best way to do this is with curtains or shades. An alternative to curtains or shades is placing safety decals on the glass so your birds can tell the glass is there and avoid serious injury or even death. You should treat other large reflective surfaces and mirrors in a similar manner when your pet bird is released from its cage.

Standing water can also be a hazard. Your bird can drown in a toilet or full kitchen sink in a matter of seconds. Cooking while a bird is out of its cage is not advised, especially if you have an uncovered pot on the stove.

Finally, always be mindful of the whereabouts of your bird even if its wings are clipped. On an updraft, even a bird with clipped wings can glide for quite some distance. It is easy to forget that your bird is perched on your shoulder when your doorbell suddenly rings and you rush to answer it but you must remember never to carry your bird to an open door regardless of whether or not its wings are clipped.


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Moses Wright is a pet lover and loves to help new pet owners deal with their home pet problems. You can find more home bird care problems and solutions on his site.