How to Keep Your Bird Safe at Christmas!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! So let’s make sure it’s safe for all family members, including our feathered friends.

Candles: We all like a cosy vibe during the colder months, however it’s best not to use candles, wax melts or anything else that burns or gives off a scent. Parrots have very sensitive respiratory systems and breathing in these fumes will cause them significant distress. Opt for fake candles that can be reused, and for a bird safe air freshener, simmer citrus peel, cinnamon and cloves in a pan!

Poisonous plants: Holly, poinsettias and mistletoe are all typical plants to find around Christmas time, but sadly these and many others are toxic for parrots. Its best to keep these out of your home and opt for fake ones instead that can be reused every year!

Guests: It’s exciting to host friends and family over the holidays, but it can also be stressful for our feathered companions. If there will be a lot of commotion, it might be best to temporarily move your bird to a quieter part of the house. It’s also important to inform your guests of bird safety, for example not letting them out of the cage or feeding them anything without permission, not leaving doors or windows open, and not putting their fingers through the cage bars!

Toxic cookware: Many items commonly used for preparing Christmas dinner can pose a threat to our birds. Non-stick cookware is lethal to birds unless it is PFOA, PTFE and Teflon free – if you aren’t sure if your cookware is bird safe, don’t use it. Cooking your turkey in a bag or using the self cleaning function on your oven are also lethal to birds as they have a very sensitive respiratory system. The other major danger to your bird during Christmas dinner is having them out whilst you are cooking. Scalding hot ovens and boiling pans are a recipe for disaster if birds get spooked and land in the wrong place.

Toxic foods: Many festive treats that we enjoy are toxic to parrots. Avocado, chocolate, alcohol and sweets are all foods which can harm your bird or worse. There are plenty of other festive foods they can share with you which you will find in the video below!

Christmas decorations: If there’s one thing we know about parrots, it’s that they are very curious. The novelty of Christmas decorations may interest your bird to explore them with their beak – this is particularly dangerous with indigestible materials like plastic, but also with wires from Christmas lights. Never leave your bird unsupervised around Christmas decorations.

Keeping warm: The cost of living crisis is affecting families across the world, but we still have to consider our health and the health of our birds by keeping the house warm. We recommend keeping your home at a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius/64 degrees Fahrenheit over winter to keep everyone healthy and to avoid the potential for mould and mildew growth in colder homes.