SMOKE!!! Very concerned

Gizmomania

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Aug 25, 2012
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San Diego
Parrots
Duskies: Gizmo & Niko, hatched 3/12 & 5/12; pineapple GCC: Skittles, 5/10/13; Pan Am: Harley, 1/27/13; CAG: Maalik, 7/27/13; Eclectus: Ziggy, 4/4/04; BHC: Walter 6 y; baby Jardine's: Bogart-May!
A wildfire just started close to our home and the smoke is getting thicker by the minute. I'm extremely concerned about how this will affect all my birds. I've closed up the windows and have fans on.

What's going to happen to them if they breathe in this smoke for very long? I'm frightened for their health and well being.
 

henpecked

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Dec 12, 2010
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Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
I had the same problem several years ago with a fire that lasted weeks. We sealed up the house as best we could. Hung wet towels and blankets and used fans to try and "clean" the air. Restricted going in and out. We had our evacuation cages all set up and ready to go ,but driving them out though the even worst smoke(at like 2 mph) wasn't possible. it got pretty bad at times and we where very worried.We survived but knowing what i know now i should have got them out sooner. The only reason we didn't leave when they had mandatory evacuation was because there was only 1 way out and i didn't think they would survive it, heck i almost could survive the drive and had to sneak back in around the police.I'd have travel cages set up and ready to go, leave if you think it will get worse.
 

JerseyWendy

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Jul 20, 2012
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Oh my gosh! I am so sorry! Yes, please leave if you smell smoke. Our fids' respiratory system is so delicate.

I hope you and your loved ones, including pets, stay safe!!!
 

ShellyBorg

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Apr 8, 2013
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Redding, CA
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TAG Spirit,RLA Danny,Senegal Damon, Parrotlet Opal, B&G Paris
Do you have friends and family that is close but out of the smoke that can watch the fids for a couple days? This is wear having small spare cages come in handy!
 

MonicaMc

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Sep 12, 2012
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Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
Those dang California fires!!!!

Even though I'm in Nevada, we've been suffering for 3 weeks from the fires in California! End of this week will make it 4 weeks...

http://www.rgj.com/article/20130903...air-quality-improves-moderate-range-afternoon
http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013130827018
http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013130827007

View attachment 8519


I really can't suggest much more than what's already been said. I live in a bad situation in regards to the smoke.... the house is cooled via a swamp cooler, which draws air in from the outside and cools the house down via evaporation. This results in a very smokey smelling home... Don't use the swamp cooler, the house gets into the 80's, if not 90° temperatures...

Have had to close the windows and run an air cleaner. I don't have anywhere I could move the birds to that doesn't have smoke, and I've got the option of two other houses! (friends and relatives)


My bourke parakeet with sinus issues seems to be getting worse in regards to her sinuses (been doing extra flushes - also in the process of getting her to an a-vet to get checked out), and my tiels haven't been eating nearly as much food as they normally do. That aside, they are doing fine.



Hope you and your fids remain safe!!!!
 
Last edited:

Featheredsamurai

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Aug 24, 2011
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I've been very lucky since bringing Rosie into my life that no large fires have happened near me. My plan would be too keep my room sealed up and use a air purifier. If it's really bad I would try to relocate temporarily.
 
OP
Gizmomania

Gizmomania

Banned
Banned
Aug 25, 2012
599
0
San Diego
Parrots
Duskies: Gizmo & Niko, hatched 3/12 & 5/12; pineapple GCC: Skittles, 5/10/13; Pan Am: Harley, 1/27/13; CAG: Maalik, 7/27/13; Eclectus: Ziggy, 4/4/04; BHC: Walter 6 y; baby Jardine's: Bogart-May!
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Thank God, the fire department did a great job in extinguishing it before it got out of control. The fire was only 2 miles away, but the wind was blowing the smoke and huge flakes of black ash in our direction. I brought out all of their kennels, thinking I needed to get away for a bit, but didn't end up leaving. I did the wet towel thing (thanks, Henpecked, for the recommendation), along with the fans and closing up the house.

I'm so grateful this didn't turn out to be worse than it was. Think I sprouted a few extra gray hairs worrying about my fids' lungs.
 

henpecked

Active member
Dec 12, 2010
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Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
Glad it worked out OK. It's good you have to get everything out and think about evacuating. maybe next time you'll be ready and have a plan. Most of us don't realize we're not ready until it's too late.
 

JerseyWendy

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Jul 20, 2012
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I'm so relieved that it's all been taken care of. :)

Monica, I truly hope your fids will be all right. That is one nightmarish experience you are going through. :(
 

MsPony

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Aug 14, 2013
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Santa Barbarian here! I've had evacd birds in my house, as well as my own during fires and I'm always across the 101 from the fires :/ I know the one in 2008? We were watching the flames crest the valley top as we were grabbing my horse trainers barn cat, green cheek conure and somehow her aviary, wild caught conure flew straight into her hands so we nabbed her too. All birds did wonderfully and none suffered side effects. I always keep the house closed up.

Now however, the fids owner *here* has not weathered all these fires as well, wear your respirator if you go out!! *lets out an asthmatic wheeze cough*
 

MonicaMc

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2012
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Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
Glad they got the fire taken care of!


Except for my tiels who aren't eating quite as much as I'd like, they seem to be doing fine. My bourke has seemed to "improve", at least in the respect that her right nostril is enlarging again. It was swelling shut, now it's opening up a little. I have to pick her nose open (clear liquid dries it shut) then do a nasal flush. Left nostril is clear, normal size, no liquid. I was supposed to receive a call back from the hospital, so going to have to call them back.... see if they got the records and make an appointment.
 

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