Things That Are Harmful To Your African Grey Parrot
You may not realize it, but certain things that you might take for granted in your daily life can be fatal to your grey.
Below is a list of items well known to be harmful or deadly to African Greys (and most all pet birds, for that matter)
1. Certain Cleaning Products. The cleaning product Febreeze has been known to kill pet birds. Always exercise caution with any fabric or general cleaning product. The odors emitted can be very harmful to your bird. Other products that can emit harmful fumes include oven cleaners, toilet
cleaners, hair sprays,
nail polish remover, perfumes, pesticides, bleach, moth balls, floor
cleaners, spot removers and wax. We use only natural cleaning
products in our home. Generally, if it smells bad to you, it could
kill your bird.2. Non-Stick Cookware. Do NOT under any circumstances cook with any non-stick cookware product. The substance found in non-stick cookware emits a gas that is fatal to pet birds (not to mention harmful to humans as well)! If you are planning on purchasing a grey or any other exotic bird, then also plan on replacing all of your non-stick cookware with either glass, cast iron or stainless steel. This including any kitchen gadgets such as toaster ovens, waffle makers, electric skillets, etc. Teflon is definitely out when it comes to a pet bird.
3. Air Filters/Purifiers. Many air purifiers today contain a feature that will emit ozone in the room. Ozone is very harmful to birds. If you do use an air purifier in your home and it has a feature to turn off the ozone function, by all means make sure it is OFF.
4. Food Products. Never feed your African Grey chocolate, avocado, alcohol, products containing caffeine, fruit seeds or pits.
5. Certain Common Household Plants. These include; Amaryllis, Christmas Candle, Dieffenbachia, Hyacinth, Mistletoe, Philodendron, Poinsettias and all ivys. The best policy for a bird that may have a bit of freedom in your house is to make sure they do not go near any household plant in the area.
6. Other Pets. Exercise caution with your grey around other animals such as a pet dog or cat. The bacteria from a dog bite or even a cat scratch can kill your grey.
It can fun to watch a young African Grey interact with other pets in your household...just use caution if and when this occurs. Next >>
