The Caique Site
|
|
The Caique Manual
4. Parrot proofing your home After you buy any parrot, you must parrot proof your home. This is a bit like baby proofing, except for birds. Please take this very seriously, your bird’s life may be at stake. The most important things that you must do are: 1. Remove all items made of lead. Lead is extremely toxic for both humans and birds. Parrots, however, like to chew on this soft metal just like we chew gum. Birds also like the "sweet" flavor of old lead paint. Pay particular attention to removing the lead weights from your curtains and drapes. These often become one of your bird's favorite play areas. Other things made of lead are fishing weights, leaded windows, glazes on antique and imported pottery, bell clappers, and old window putty. Even brass house and auto keys contain a bit of lead. 2. Eliminate or limit your use of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated cooking utensils, especially the drip pans under your range burners. PTFE is sold under a number of brand names including Teflon®, Hostaflon, and CuFlon. PTFE is also used to manufacture many other products such as clothing irons, space heaters and even heat lamps. When a PTFE product overheats, it emits a gas that is extremely poisonous for birds. Only a few minutes’ exposure to this gas can kill. This is also a reason you should not keep your bird caged in the kitchen. 3. Stop smoking. Birds are generally more sensitive to air pollutants than humans. This was why miners took canaries with them into the mine. Pulmonary disease in birds is frequently associated with secondary smoke. Not only is the smoke dangerous, but parrots pick up the nicotine and tars off one's fingers on their feet. This can be so noxious that the bird may chew on its feet and mutilate itself. 4. Remove plants to another room or altogether. Not all are poisonous, but why take chances. If your bird happens to chew on a plant and you are uncertain if it is harmful, you should first call the local poison control center listed in the front of your phone directory. They will tell you if it is poisonous for humans, if it is, it is probably poisonous for birds too. If the poison center is uncertain about a particular plant, phone the National Animal Poison Control Center Hotline at (800) 548-2423 ($30/call) or (900) 680-0000 ($2.95/minute). I have included a short list of common toxic plants in Appendix A. It includes some of the more common toxic plants, but it would be impossible to make it comprehensive. 5. Put the toilet seat down. This is not an edict from Miss Manners, but sound advice to prevent accidental drowning of your bird. 6. You need to do additional parrot proofing if you insist on leaving your bird's wings unclipped. You need to remove or discontinue using ceiling fans. Remove your large mirrors. Use a shear or other curtain on your windows. Birds can seriously injure themselves when they fly into mirrors and windows at full speed. And while on windows, keep them closed. One of the most common reasons for the loss of pet birds is escape.
|