Do you know these steps for keeping birds safe in your home?

How many of these hazards are you aware of? We're used to thinking of our homes as a safe haven - but bird owners know there are hidden dangers for pet birds.

An obvious hazard to watch for is household poisons, which may be stored on a high shelf in a box, neither of which is a barrier to an investigative parrot. 

Some of the household poison hazards which are a danger to companion birds include rat poison, fly sprays, moth balls, pesticides and herbicides. Be wary of having your house sprayed for spiders or ants, using borer bombs, or leaving rat bait out anywhere a bird can get to.

Make sure to secure them in tough containers and close them safely into a bird-proof cupboard. Remember, many poisons have a residual effect and can be dangerous even weeks after they are used in the house.

Natural substances can be poisonous to birds to - even plants, fruits, and vegetables. Watch out for avocados, garlic, and onion in particular.

Because whatever birds breathe in gets absorbed into their bodies very quickly, and they are so small, they are very sensitive to air contaminants. This means that birds are also highly sensitive to fumes from cleaning products, paint, air fresheners, scented candles or incense, aerosol sprays, non-stick cooking sprays, spray starch, perfumes, smoke, self-cleaning ovens, and natural gas.

Companion birds should always be kept out of the kitchen! If you are a bird lover, always turn the exhaust fan on or open a window to ensure your kitchen is well ventilated before cooking. Even if your bird is outside the actual kitchen, fumes and gases can spread enough to be a hazard to them. Unattended hot pans are a physical danger to birds also, as they have been known get severe burns from landing in a pan of hot oil.

Protect your birds from extreme weather. If your aviary or cage is exposed to the weather, it must offer an area which is well protected from wind, rain and direct sunlight that the birds can shelter in together. 

Birds need good ventilation as well as protection from wind, draughts and fumes. For indoor cages, make sure at least half of the largest side is open (netting, bars, a grille or mesh). A solid cladding on the roof and walls of outdoor bird enclosures is ideal to protect against exposure, but at least three quarters of at least one wall should be open-weave mesh for good ventilation.

On cool days below 4°C (or with wind shear), birds may need increased energy in their food, for example by adding nuts and seeds. Make sure they are protected from wind and if required, consider moving outside birds into an uncovered cage in your home temporarily.

On hot days especially, take extra care to provide birds with extra water available, and if species appropriate, consider a water misting system to cool the air, or a very gentle fan. If they need extra shade, a temporary cover or tarpaulin over the enclosure roof may help to keep the birds cooler.

The very dry air created by many home heating systems can remove the humidity that birds need, leading to brittle feathers, dry skin, preening problems and respiratory issues. To counter-act this you may need to provide extra water to raise the humidity levels or even gently mist your birds.

Birds should be kept away from the sights and sounds of predatory animals and high-traffic areas of the household, and should not be exposed to loud or sudden noises.