Birds Review

Bird Allergy – A Three-Pronged Approach to Effectively Managing Bird Allergy

Bird allergy is the result of your body’s over reacting to protein found in bird dander, bird dust that is a by-product of wing formation for many species, feathers, saliva, and even feces. The allergy can be triggered by inhaling small (in many cases sub-micron sized) particles that are constantly being produced by preening, wing flapping and other normal bird activities. You have about as much chance of stopping allergen production as you do of grabbing hold of a speeding train. So how do you mange a bird allergy and keep your pet birds too? Here are 3 ways to keep your bird and keep your bird allergy under control.

Clean the Cage Daily
Frequent cleaning of the cage will remove feathers, dander, dust, and feces-all of which contain thousand of allergens. Regular cleaning limits the number of contaminants that can be sent airborne, and will also improve your bird’s health by eliminating pollutants that cause your bird’s respiratory passages to become congested. Use a mask if you are allergic or ask someone else do the cleaning.

Clean the Floor around the Cage
Vacuuming the floor around the cage is as important as cleaning the actual cage. Vacuuming creates less dust, and does more to remove the particles as opposed to sweeping which often simply moves the pollutants around. Vacuuming also cuts down on the number of particles that are carried from one place to another in your home on the bottom of shoes, on socks, or even bare feet. Socks end up with other clothes, bare feet end up in bed or on a sofa, and suddenly you have tiny bits of bird dust, feathers that are hard to escape.

Use a HEPA Air Purifier to Filter Your Air
A high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) air purifier is designed to remove those allergens that are light enough to remain airborne and which therefore can be inhaled by you and your bird. Filtering the air constantly will remove both seen and unseen allergens before they collect in the cage, the floor, or in your lungs, or your birds’ lungs.

An excellent resource for a HEPA air purifier to remove bird allergens and other pollutants from your air is offered by PurerAir.com– the Bird Dander Purifier at http://purerair.com/bird_dander_air_purifier.html

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Austin Air Allergy Machine Jr. Air Purifier (HEGAJR) - Sandstone

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The Birds and the Bees Guide to Allergy-Free Living

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Choosing a Pet Bird – 5 Things to Consider Before You Adopt a Pet Bird

If you’re a bird lover, a beautiful bird is hard to resist. But before you buy a bird on impulse, careful consideration of all that is involved with the specie before you choose will insure a long and happy companionship in the best possible home for the bird. Consider the following before bringing a bird home to be a part of your family.

Initial Cost Parakeets and Cockatiels can be had for less than $100 whereas Macaws and Parrots sometimes cost thousands. Factor in the cost of the cage, toys, and veterinarian fees as part of the initial cost. Do your research first, and then give yourself permission to fall in love with a bird that fits your budget.

Life Expectancy With proper care many pet birds live for many years. When choosing a family bird remember that the time investment, and the costs for food, supplies, and healthcare will last for years. Make sure that you project a monthly budget. For instance, if you’re planning to retire soon you may have added time to care for a bird, but decide if your finances will allow you to take care of an expensive bird over an extended period of time.

Diet Some birds can eat pre-packaged bird food with occasional supplements of fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables, while other birds like Lorikeets need a special diet of nectar and fruits rather than seeds. And of course a larger bird will need more feed than a smaller bird meaning more expense to you.

Socialization Some birds seem to need less human interaction than other birds such as parrots who are very social and will not do well unless they interact with people. Your lifestyle should dictate which sort of bird you choose. If you have the time, a more social bird might be the perfect choice.

Maintenance Some birds have a reputation for being messier than others when eating and defecating. Other species such as African Greys, Cockatoos, and Cockatiels create more powder from wing dust. This may not be the best choice for those who suffer from allergy and asthma. Regardless of the bird you’re considering, make sure you are aware of their traits as these will not change. Birds such as these will need to have their cage, and surroundings cleaned more frequently to insure that you and your bird stay healthy.

An excellent way to help you and your bird stay healthy is with a HEPA air purifier for birds offered by PurerAir.com– the Bird Dander Purifier at http://purerair.com/bird_dander_air_purifier.html