Winter can conjure up images of having fun in the snow, warm cocoa (for humans not birds)  and the holidays but for bird owners it can also bring a fair amount of stress trying to provide our birds with a warm, yet safe environment for them to remain comfortable in.  

Depending on your home's heating system, you may find that additional heat is necessary, particularly in rooms where your birds spend most of their time.

Introducing a space heater into a bird's environment requires some careful consideration. Parrots are naturally curious, and their powerful beaks make short work of exploring electrical cords, controls, and unfamiliar objects. Beyond the obvious risk of burns or electrical injury, certain heating appliances can introduce dangerous fumes into the air.

The goal is to provide a comfortable environment without creating additional hazards.

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Harlequin macaw

Our parrot’s respiratory systems are entirely unlike our own or that of other mammals. It is unique in design and far more efficient. Because of this fact, their sensitivity to pollutants in the air is heightened and can cause them suffering and death long before we would ourselves be affected.
We have all heard the stories about the canaries used in coal mines back in the day. Miners would place a cage of canaries in the mines. This was to determine if there were emissions of natural gases, which ...

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Rose Breasted Cockatoo

Consumers have fought a won a small battle with the manufacturers of the products we buy.  We have demanded that products be safe for the environment and safe for us in our homes.  In today’s market, there are a variety of products labeled as “green”. But what does “green” mean exactly? The color green suggests a healthy environment.  A “green” product claims to be ecologically responsible. Green is also the color of money, which is exactly what retailers make using this term.

Regardless, it’s a step forward.  It is ...

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White Budgie

Recently, a parrot that I had never met, but had heard countless stories about was lost to the emissions from non-stick coated cookware. The loss hit hard. This rescue bird had just found a new home.

The morning following bringing home their new bird, a couple brought him into the kitchen while they prepared breakfast. They knew about the dangers of cooking with a teflon coated pan, but they were under the impression that it was the food cooked in these pans that was toxic to parrots. This turned out to be a ...

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