Home Safety Tips For Your Pet Bird

November 9, 2021

If you’re thinking of getting a pet budgie, canary or parrot, it’s important to safety-proof your home before you do. Several everyday hazards around the house pose a threat to pet birds.

While pet birds are usually caged and considered safe, every healthy bird needs a few hours a day to fly, walk and explore their surroundings. Here are a few tips to make sure your home is a safe place for your budgie, canary or parrot.

Walk around your house and with a bird’s eye view, make a note of all the places where Tweety could get into trouble. Birds love to chew, so any wires or toxic materials must be safely out of reach. Use tape to secure wires and keep all household cleaners in the cupboard and change to pet-friendly products.
Your non-stick fry pans and bakeware likely contain PTFE, which is released as a gas when heated. Pet birds have highly sensitive respiratory systems, so make sure your cookware is compliant and keep your bird out of the kitchen.
Be careful of indoor potted plants and fresh cut flowers. Poinsettias, ivy, African violets, tulips, daffodils, oleander, hydrangeas and dusty miller can be poisonous to your pet bird.
Window blinds can be a minefield to a bird. So many moving parts to get caught up in or trapped between. Better to roll them up during flight time and keep that string safely tucked away.
Use stickers or decals on windows and mirrors so your pet bird doesn’t fly into them.
To prevent drowning, make sure the toilet seat is down and other water sources are emptied before you let your pet bird out of the cage.

With so many household hazards, the best thing to do is supervise flight time. That way you can keep any eye on your budgie, canary or parrot. Plus it’s a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your new flighted friend and bond with them.