Caged Bird
Housing Considerations
 |
 |
|
|
Pet birds may be caged or allowed to remain on perches while the
owner is home to supervise their activity. Birds should be confined
to cages while their owners are away to avoid accidental injury and
other misfortune. Unsupervised pet birds allowed "the run of the
house" often get into trouble. Not only can they be terribly
destructive to the home and its furnishings, but all homes contain
objects that can be harmful (directly or indirectly) to pet birds.
These include mirrors, windows, walls, house plants, electrical
cords, and items containing harmful chemicals.
Birds resting on open perches are usually content to remain
there, and usually take flight only when frightened by a sudden
movement or loud noise. Unfortunately, these "impromptu" flights are taken without a flight plan and birds usually wind up crashing intowalls, doors, windows or mirrors because of their confusion and poor depth perception.
The major source of poisoning of pet birds is lead found in
curtain (drapery) weights, curtain pulls, leaded and stained glass,
fishing sinkers and ammunition carelessly discarded in ashtrays or
dropped on the floor, costume jewelry, and in the lead wrapping
around the tops of wine bottles, to name the most common sources. Most caged birds seem to have an affinity for this soft metal and love to chew on it. Poisoning results from eating even a small amount of lead. Lead poisoning can be successfully treated if
diagnosed early enough.
Caged birds allowed unrestricted freedom in the home may eat
house plants or chew on electrical cords, resulting in illness and
injury. Some unsupervised pet birds chew on macramé, carpet and
other similar fabrics and often swallow these materials, resulting in
crop and intestinal impactions. Free-flying birds are also more
vulnerable to injury from ceiling fans, hot stoves, and attack by pet
dogs, cats and ferrets sharing the same household. It is wise not to
underestimate the aggressiveness of our 4-legged friends, and to
restrict contact between them and pet birds as much as possible.
Birds allowed unrestricted freedom and flight within the home may escape through open doors and windows. Most bird owners have the mistaken notion that their bird would never fly away and leave them. Unfortunately, birds that have escaped the owner's home easily become disoriented when outdoors. This confusion makes return or capture of the escaped bird very unlikely.
The location of the cage and/or perch in the home is important.
Some birds thrive in areas of heavy traffic, where they receive lots
of attention and are part of all of the "goings on." Others seem to
prefer more privacy and solitude. A pet bird should never be kept
in the kitchen. In addition to the obvious gas fumes and occasional
smoke from cooking food, there is another, much more dangerous,
threat to birds in the kitchen. Superheated Teflon and related
brandname nonstick pan coatings emit fumes that are deadly to all
birds. This "accident" happens most often when someone inadvertently leaves a pan, coated with a nonstick surface, on a lighted gas or electric range burner. The pan becomes hot and the non-stick coating overheats, emitting toxic fumes. Birds that inhale these fumes die quickly.
There are several other considerations when allowing birds
unrestricted freedom and flight within the home. Birds flying about may end up in the toilet bowl or in an uncovered pot or pan cooking on the stove. Free-flying birds tend to assume a more dominant posture in their relationship with people, and often become intolerably aggressive.
CLICK HERE for more Bird Articles
CLICK HERE for some Vet notes on avian diseases
CLICK HERE to see Kids Spot Fun
© Copyright 1999-2005 registered trademark TalkToTheVet ®
All Rights Reserved
No duplication without written permission |
|
|
|
|
|
|
