13/04/2021
TAKE A BREATH- AIR QUALITY & WHY IT MATTERS
Birds are not like any other pet, you can't simply bring them into your family & continue to do everything as you always have done. It can be hard for owners to understand, but the very air they breathe can kill them or make them sick. Many homes have air fresheners, candles, strong scents etc that are incredibly harmful to their Bird's respiratory health. Some Birds will take longer than others to become sick, but eventually these respiratory toxins will harm them. If we want to share our life with Birds, we need to accept that things have to change.
Birds can seem very strong & resilient, but they are actually incredibly sensitive to their environment. This is due to their unique respiratory system that passes air through their system in a very efficient manner. Birds not only have lungs, but they also have a series of (typically 9) air sacs. Any toxins in the air are passed throughout their body far more quickly than other species due to this flow of air. Fresh air is vital to Birds due to the efficiency of their breathing, for 1 breath a Bird takes, us humans would need to take 2 breaths. Any toxins in the air, even the tiniest level, really gets into their system due to the way Birds breathe. These toxins then either cause respiratory irritation or toxicity.
Symptoms of Birds breathing in toxins like candles, air fresheners, sprays etc. can range from mild irritation ( eg. slight tail bobbing, wheezing) to sudden unexpected death. Some Birds have been exposed to air fresheners, cigarette smoke, teflon etc. for years with no apparent ill effects, this makes owners believe that the Bird is fine & removing toxins from the home is an over reaction or lie, but the Bird is being damaged slowly. Other Birds are far more sensitive & only need to enter a home with respiratory toxins for a few moments before severe symptoms manifest. The important thing to understand is that both types of Bird are being poisoned, it may just take us longer to notice. All Bird species need to be kept away from respiratory toxins at all costs.
THE CLEAN AIR RECIPE
I have a simple & easy to remember 3 step recipe for good, clean air that we use with my flock: Toxins out, Fresh air in, purify. Below is each step in detail. This recipe should be used at all times with no allowances. Our Bird's right to breath should come before anything.
TOXINS OUT- Remove all respiratory toxins from the house. There are safer replacements for almost all respiratory toxins. It isn't enough to just not use them in the room, air travels & so do toxins. When you walk past a smoker who isn't smoking but can smell ci******es, when you walk past unlit candles & get a strong scent, when the washing powder isle in the supermarket takes your breath away- they are not 'just smells', they contain the toxins that (even in tiny levels) are harmful to Birds. If at all possible, we need to eliminate the toxins from our home, not just the room. The less toxins we have in our home, the safer they are.
SAMPLE SWAPS
Strong perfume, aftershave, sprays// Mild roll on made of all natural ingredients.
Teflon cookware & heaters// Switch to glass & stainless steel cookware, contact heater manefacturers & ask if Teflon or similar is used.
Strong washing powder & clothes scent boosters// Mild, scent free washing liquid made of natural ingredients.
Air fresheners & essential oil// hang up bunches of dried flowers (eg. lavender flowers), boil dried herbs in teflon free pan (away from the Bird).
Cleaning products// Use natural cleening methods (eg. lemon & bicarbonate of soda) or avian specific disinfectants (such as F10) wherever possible. Only use avian disinfectant anywhere your Bird will come into contact with & potentially lick, stand on or chew.
FRESH AIR IN- I always ensure that my flock have a flow of fresh air all year round. Just be careful to ensure that all windows & doors are closed to the outside when the Bird is out of their enclosure. Many people wouldn't want to do this, but it is an option- we have built an aviary panel over opening windows so that fresh air can still flow when they are having time out of their enclosure. Fresh air is very important.
PURIFY- Bird safe air purifiers (not all are Bird safe) are not miracle workers. They won't eliminate all respiratory toxins from the air or replace fresh air, but when used in conjunction with fresh air & a toxin free airspace, they are an asset. Bird safe air purifiers will lower high levels of feather dander/dust (but again won't eliminate it alone). It helps to build good air quality, turning toxin free air that combines with fresh air from outside into an even better quality of air that will be wonderful for your Bird to breathe.
People often view this as an over reaction or waste of time, but air quality & elimination of toxins is absolutely essential for our Bird's respiratory health. We have had to give emerganty vet care & intensive nebulization to Birds (some of whom were under 6 months old) due to owners exposing them to these toxins. When you have to watch a Bird fight for every breath simply because of respiratory toxins, you wouldn't ever think it to be over the top. Some Birds get better, but others pass away & some are left with lifelong respiratory scarring which means their breathing will always be laboured & they will be at higher risk of infections.
It may seem daunting, but we can't overlook this. Their life & ability to thrive counts on it. If your Bird isn't sick yet, then that's the perfect time to change. Why wait until it's too late? Just remember the 3 steps: Toxins out. Fresh air in. Purify.
Breathing safe air is a right, not a myth.
