Do your research. Birds are not ornaments. Nor are they quiet. They're not always friendly. They're not very tidy. They're certainly not cheap to maintain. They are not there to entertain you. They require specialist treatment, food and surroundings. Forget the budgie your Gran had that lasted for years even though she used furniture polish and only fed it seed.
If you choose to own a bird, you need to know everything you can before deciding. Don't let your heart rule your head, so what if you want one, the main questions are - can you afford one - do you have 3+ hours a day spare to care for one - do you understand their basic needs
If you choose to own a bird, you need to know everything you can before deciding. Don't let your heart rule your head, so what if you want one, the main questions are - can you afford one - do you have 3+ hours a day spare to care for one - do you understand their basic needs
Goodbye Febreeze
And other household cleaners. Fabric freshener, polish, disinfectants, carpet shampoo, perfumes, air freshener, plugin freshener, scented candles and many many more everyday items can kill your bird in seconds. One lady lost her flock due to a pair of new slippers, they had been sprayed with a coating without her knowledge.
F10 disinfectant, vinegar, and GSE (grapefruit seed extract) are safe alternatives to clean your home with.
F10 disinfectant, vinegar, and GSE (grapefruit seed extract) are safe alternatives to clean your home with.
Hello Vet Bills!
Just to walk in to my vets office costs me £45, that's with no treatment whatsoever. Just a simple course of antibiotics plus consultation fee can set you back up to £200. A gram stain (poop test) can be up to £250. Birds are highly sensitive to many things, metals, our saliva, bacteria, smells, you need a backup plan incase your bird needs to see a vet.
Household Dangers
Cleaning products have already been mentioned.
Teflon is dangerous. It's probably no good for us either, as the USA are changing the process in which it's made in the next few years. Teflon is in hairdryers, tumbledryers, cooking pans, cooking utensils, sandwich makers, stand alone grills, even radiator paints.
Want a new sofa or carpet? You'd have to think twice with a bird. Carpet glue and fumes contain very dangerous chemicals to a bird, as do new sofas. You'd need to air them out for a week or two before they're safe.
Paints, wallpaper paste and glues also hold a danger. The smell of hot cooking oil. Burned food.
These are all everyday items that can and will, kill your bird.
Then there are physical dangers. Windows, curtains, other pets, recliners, not enough landing perches, too small/narrow rooms giving no space to fly. Water sources, electrical wires, children..
Teflon is dangerous. It's probably no good for us either, as the USA are changing the process in which it's made in the next few years. Teflon is in hairdryers, tumbledryers, cooking pans, cooking utensils, sandwich makers, stand alone grills, even radiator paints.
Want a new sofa or carpet? You'd have to think twice with a bird. Carpet glue and fumes contain very dangerous chemicals to a bird, as do new sofas. You'd need to air them out for a week or two before they're safe.
Paints, wallpaper paste and glues also hold a danger. The smell of hot cooking oil. Burned food.
These are all everyday items that can and will, kill your bird.
Then there are physical dangers. Windows, curtains, other pets, recliners, not enough landing perches, too small/narrow rooms giving no space to fly. Water sources, electrical wires, children..
I Hope You Like Cleaning..
Birds are messy blighters. They enjoy chomping, biting, throwing, climbing, chewing, making holes, spreading seed, shredding paper..
On top of the daily cage cleaning, and the daily hoovering, and the 3+ hours of playtime with you, you'll still need to find time for making them fresh food, and taking care of yourself too!
On top of the daily cage cleaning, and the daily hoovering, and the 3+ hours of playtime with you, you'll still need to find time for making them fresh food, and taking care of yourself too!