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Pet Birds And Teflon

If you own a parrot, cockatiel, canary, parakeet, budgerigar, macaw, cockatoo, african grey or any other bed bird, you need to know that pet birds and teflon don't mix, as this article explains ... 

A warning for owners of parrots, cockatiels, canaries, parakeets, budgies, macaws, cockatoos and all other pet birds ...

Did you know that pet birds and Teflon don't mix? In fact, Teflon in overheated cookware can quickly kill your feathered friend! This has happened to all too many canaries, parakeets, and even the large parrots like cockatoos and macaws.

The problem with Teflon is that when it is over-heated, a toxic gas is released. This doesn't mean that carefully cooking with Teflon cookware at low temperatures is unsafe; it is the temperatures resulting from cooking on medium-high or high settings that can release the gas. Even if the pet birds are in another part of the house, the toxicity can get to them quickly.

Remember that miners used to use canaries as safety devices inside the mines. Canaries were taken underground with the miners and if the bird died, the miners evacuated to safety quickly because toxic fumes or gases has been released into the mine. Applying that same logic to pet birds and Teflon, it seems that this gas can't be good for humans either. If it will kill a bird, enough of it might harm people.

Do you have any idea how many products in your home may contain Teflon? And pet birds can die from any of these. There are non-stick under-eye stove burner catch pans that can quickly overheat. Products that make dirty release in the bathroom contain Teflon. Often carpet cleaning services offer a product that can be sprayed on carpet to make dirt not stick to it; this product is Teflon based. The fumes from these products can harm your pet birds even though heat is not involved.

So how do your live with Teflon and pet birds. It's easy. Don't use Teflon products except where absolutely necessary. Bathrooms were cleaned for centuries using soap and water so Teflon is not necessary there. Carpets don't have to have Teflon spray. If you choose to cook with some Teflon pans for those messy, sticky jobs, then supervise the cooking closely and cook at low temperatures.

Protect your pet birds from Teflon so that you can live together happily for years and years. Your birds will thank you!

For more information about pet birds, bird training and bird aviaries, see the "resources" section of this website, or go to articles about pet birds.