Could you tell me if it is safe to use Vicks vaporizer around my pet birds?
-- Monica, monica@dtccom.net
I use white distilled vinegar, which helps (eliminate) cooking smells. I figure that should be okay, right?
-- Paula, paula.peyerl@arizonaea.org
Is there a way to get rid of ants in the house without poisoning our feathered family? In California in the winter, the ants come in, and in, and in...
-- Brenda Williams, bwilliams@pleasanton.k12.ca.us
I live in a rural area and we have frequent power outages. Is it safe to burn unscented paraffin oil around birds?
-- Ronnie Schenkein, Coudersport, Pa.
May I place a fallen branch from a mountain laurel tree in my umbrella cockatoo's cage? He has a very large cage and loves to climb. I have searched several lists of toxic plants for birds and did not find mountain laurel on any of them; however, I also did not find it on any list of safe woods, either.
-- Montene Jackson, montenejackson@yahoo.com, Franklin, Pa.
Can we use our fireplace in the winter, or is a bird's respiratory system too delicate?
-- Mitch Ruiz
I've recently been researching electrostatic air purifiers and found out that they release "ozone" into the air. Apparently the level of ozone is harmless to humans, but I wonder about parrots. I have a double-yellowhead Amazon, and we live in Arizona. With the high dust levels and dry heat, I feel it's important to have a purifier, but the HEPA filter version I currently use is very noisy and costly.
-- Denice Wells and Buddy, Peoria, Arizona
There is a new type of air cleaning system available that is supposed to be much better than a HEPA filter. It puts negative ions into the air so dust and debris fall to the floor to be picked up at the next vacuuming. I was interested in purchasing it until someone told me that they're lethal to birds. I can't seem to find any information on the subject and I don't want to put my red-belly or my greenwing in jeopardy. I have already asked two vets and their opinions differed. You're the tie-breaker.
-- NickiNwk@aol.com
Why can't you use zinc-coated chains for bird toys?
-- Robert Dunn, bob@profitcow.com
Is there any research on feeding tofu to birds? My bird loves it.
-- LauraVicari@cs.com
My African grey loves to eat boiled peanuts (as a treat) and sometimes eat uncooked rice before eating her pellets. Is there any harm on feeding her those foods?
-- Emelyn Leung, Mountain View, Calif.
I have a newly weaned Solomon Island eclectus. We grow several varieties of bronze and black muscadines on our small farm. Are muscadines safe for my little green friend?
-- Paul Achary, Kentwood, La.
IT IS WISE to proceed with caution when allowing your bird to come into contact with various substances. Birds are more sensitive to toxins than mammals. In fact, bird populations often are used to monitor the health of our environment. For instance, to test ocean contamination levels, scientists often count sea birds per square mile of an affected area and then compare it to the number of birds in known average populations.
Birds with their specialized respiratory systems (see How birds breathe) are very sensitive to smoke and other types of air pollution. For instance, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) poisoning is common in homes that use non-stick pans, heat lamp covers, irons, and ovens made with this compound. If heated to 536 degrees Fahrenheit, the chemical breaks down and emits fumes that can kill a bird in the house within minutes, causing the lungs to collect fluid and hemorrhage.
Smoke of any sort, including that from tobacco, incense, and wood fires that aren't properly vented up a chimney, are toxic to birds. Cleaning compounds, antistain agents, and other sprays can result in respiratory distress or death if not used in well-ventilated areas. Vicks Vaporizer, the medicated vaporizer many of us grew up with, contains phenol, a powerful disinfectant and bacteria killer. It kills cats - I wouldn't trust it around your bird. Burning any type of oil may release toxic gasses. If you must burn unscented paraffin oil, be sure to keep the room well ventilated.
Proceed with caution when cleaning with white vinegar. It contains 5 percent acetic acid. If present in high concentrations in a poorly ventilated room, acid fumes will at the least irritate your bird. There are many cleaning compounds and disinfectants on the market that are nontoxic and odorless. One is F10. Ask your veterinarian about obtaining one.
All insecticides are toxic to birds (and us). If used carefully, with plenty of ventilation, they're safe to use in the house. However, it's better to avoid them. According to some people (I haven't tried it), spraying warm soapy water on ants kills them just as quickly. Of course, the best way to control ants is to avoid attracting them in the first place, if possible; keep all food in sealed containers.
While there is a great deal of controversy over ozone-emitting air purifiers, I believe they're safe. However, if you're still concerned, stick with a standard air-filtering unit. Many bird-owning families keep one in their bird room, using the replaceable filters to filter out the fine dust and powder down that some birds, such as cockatoos and African greys, produce.
Species of Prunus, the botanical name for a large group of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs, contain cyanogenic compounds; that is, cyanide. The Prunus species choke cherry, peach, almond - and laurel - are thought possibly to be toxic to birds, but there is little or no documentation of this. Still, why risk it? It's always best to stick with perch material that's proven safe. (Check out these safe plants.)
Most foods we humans consume are safe for our birds, with the exceptions of alcohol, caffeine, salt, chocolate and avocado. Tofu, uncooked rice, boiled peanuts, and muscadines (grapes) are safe. However, cooked rice is more nutritious (not to mention easier for your bird to eat) and grapes should be considered a treat - they have a high sugar content and tend to produce wattery droppings if fed in large amounts.
Zinc is an important trace mineral we all need. In birds, a deficiency can result in deformed bones, especially in growing chicks. However, birds don't need much zinc to stay healthy, and certainly they should not consume any extra by munching on zinc-coated chains or toys. When consumed in larger quantities, zinc or lead produce gastric and intestinal bleeding and neurological damage. They hurt all the major organs, including the lining of the digestive tract, red blood cells and liver. They depress bone marrow production, resulting in anemia, and cause the brain to swell. Death can result. Treatment is possible if the damage is not too advanced, but it may involve long-term therapy. Preventing your bird from ingesting heavy metals in the first place is a much better solution, so choose caging and toys made out of safe zinc- and lead-free materials.
James Harris, DVM is owner and medical director of the Mayfair Veterinary Clinic in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia. He founded Montclair Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, Calif., and has served as medical director and chairman of the board for the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Berkeley. Dr. Harris' numerous professional honors include California and National Bustad Companion Animal DVM Awards.
