AVIAN HOUSEHOLD HAZARDS - THE AIR THEY BREATHE 

NEW CARPET: The glue (and other smells that are very strong after the installation of new carpet) can be hazardous to birds. The glue used to secure the pad is the most toxic element. New carpet should be shampooed and vacuumed a number of times and the room should be thoroughly aired out before birds are brought back into the house after new carpet has been installed.   

Suggestion - another option to shampooing a brand new carpet, because it will break down some of the stain resistant properties and make it easier to get dirty:  have the carpet aired out at the warehouse a week before it’s installed.  Tell them you have a child that is severely allergic to new carpet fumes.  They’ll for sure do it then.

SPACE HEATERS: Some space heaters are manufactured with Teflon.  Be sure that any heaters you are using do not have a Teflon coating. 

CANDLES: any kind.  The ONLY brand of candle that is “possibly” bird-safe is Yankee Candles.  It’s safer to not use ANY type of candle around birds!

TEFLON COOKWARE!!!!!!!!  Throw it out and buy some stainless steel cookware!  No matter how careful we try to be, accidents happen and this is ONE accident that can be avoided altogether!!!!!!  This includes other types of cooking items also: stove-top grills, Foreman Grills (sorry George), waffle-irons, griddles, etc. 

Teflon can also be found on a variety of products from non-stick cookware to ironing board covers.  Once heated to 500°, Teflon will emit fumes that are deadly to birds.  Other products, including self-cleaning ovens, aerosol sprays, cleaners, and disinfectants can also be hazardous.  These products should be used with EXTREME care in homes that include birds.  Take care not to store cookware with non-stick coatings in oven drawers.

FREON FROM AIR-CONDITIONERS - have yours checked annually for leaks

SOME "COMMON SENSE" BUT OFTEN OVERLOOKED HOUSEHOLD HAZARDS

OTHER ANIMALS: Cats and dogs are instinctively predatory animals.  It is dangerous to assume that your cat or dog would never do anything to harm your bird, no matter how well behaved.  They are larger and stronger and can seriously injure or kill a bird in the blink of an eye.  Reptiles can carry salmonella.

SLEEPING: Never sleep with your bird.  Birds can be crushed or suffocated when their owners either sit on them or roll on top of them during sleep.  Whenever your bird is out of its cage, you need to be mindful of where it is at all times and when it's time for bed; the bird should sleep in its cage.

CEILING FANS: It's a good practice to make sure the fans are off when your bird is out of its cage.  A bird with clipped wings can molt in new feathers before you realize it and fly right into the rotating blades of a ceiling fan causing serious injury or death.