One only needs to consider the past practices of how miners used canaries as a gauge for unhealthy air levels in the mines to sense how keen birds are to their surroundings. Should canaries expire while in the mines, it would alert the miners that the air was at an unhealthy level with abundant time for the miners to leave. While birds are sensitive creatures, they are also known to outlast some owners.
Just like birds found in the wild, pet birds are susceptible to unhealthy odors as well. 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 natural inclination to chomp and it can be a major issue. Lead poisoning can be caused when a bird chews on soldered joints found on welded items. Also, birds do have a penchant to chew on potted plants. Despite popular sentiments, poinsettia plants are not deadly. It is better to be safe than sorry so do err on the side of caution should you be uncertain if a plant is poisonous for your pet bird and remove it from the reach of your pet. To provide your birds with a safe alternative, a small pot of parsley can help avoid the temptation of nibbling on your houseplants.
Feeding your birds fresh food is usually good for them; 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. Furthermore, electrical lights and decorations can be pose a certain kind of danger for your birds.
There are a number of precautionary issues to see to if your bird does not have had its wings clipped. Firstly, all glass doors and windows should be shielded one way or another. A good bet is achieved by blinds, shades or curtains. 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. The bird can meet its untimely end in a toilet bowl or full kitchen sink in a few seconds. If a bird is released from its cage, cooking with an uncovered pot is especially ill-advised.
Finally, always be mindful of the whereabouts of your bird even if its wings are clipped. Even a bird with clipped wings can soar for a considerable distance if there is an upward breeze. 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.
Information about the Author:
Moses Wright loves to help fellow bird owners with their Powersmails.net pet care problems whenever he is free. You can find more free home bird care problems and solutions resources on his site.
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