Animal Connection: St. Patrick's Day Dangers to Pet Birds

Saint Patrick's Day is a fun time full of celebrations for many people, but bird owners must take care to make sure that their pets are protected from the many common safety hazards that arise as a result of the holiday itself. While many St. Patrick's Day customs may seem harmless on the surface, they can be disastrous for curious birds if steps aren't taken to prevent accidents. Protect your bird by acting to reduce these seasonal safety risks. Check out the tips below for help with "parrot-proofing" your St. Patrick's Day celebrations, ensuring that both you and your pet have the happiest holiday possible.

Alcohol

Beer is frequently enjoyed among those who celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and like all alcoholic products, it is a well known toxin to pet birds of all kinds. Failing to make sure that all alcoholic beverages are kept out of the vicinity of your bird will put your feathered friend at great risk for exposure. Unsupervised drinks left sitting around can quickly become safety hazards if a bird decides to investigate and ingest them. To protect your bird, keep all drinks in a central "bird-free" area and secure him or her in a cage while alcohol is being served.

Guests

Even if you go to great lengths to separate your bird from all the most obvious risks during the festivities, your bird is still in danger if you allow uneducated guests access to your home. In order to make sure that the party-goers don't inadvertently create hazards for your pet, make sure that they all know that you have a bird secured in an area of your home, and that you'd appreciate it if they would consider that area "off-limits". If you don't think to ask your guests not to bother your feathered friend, a well-meaning person might accidentally let your bird out, or worse.

Doors/Windows

Both you and your guests should be aware that leaving the door to your bird's area open is a bad idea -- even if your bird is caged, many are able to learn to open their cage doors when left to their own devices. Carelessly leaving doors and windows open can lead to a fly-away risk, and can cause stress for birds who aren't used to the sounds of lively party guests. Making sure that the doors and windows in your home stay closed will help prevent escape and injury to your pet.

Snack Foods

If you will be serving snacks at your gathering, it's a good idea to secure your bird in his or her cage some time ahead of when you expect guests to arrive. This will give you time to prepare your snacks without having to worry that your bird may get into them if you turn your back for a moment. Not only would such misfortune ruin your appetizers, the food could have ingredients that can poison pet birds. Make sure that all your party guests know that if they do peek in to see your bird, they should not offer him or her any food.

Decorations

Your seasonal decorations, especially if you put them up early in anticipation of the holiday, can be a big safety risk for your feathered friend. Shamrock plants, commonly kept in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, are known to be a plant that is toxic to birds, and other decorations such as garland and lights can pose choking and electrocution hazards. Candles, tabletop decorations, and other items can contain glitters, sequins, or buttons that could harm your pet, or be made with harmful dyes or glues. Always supervise your pet closely if he or she is allowed in an area where these decorations are on display. By Alyson Kalhagen Source

Source: http://animalconnectionblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/st-patricks-day-dangers-to-pet-birds.html

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