Can I provide a suitable home?

Hi all!

The past few months I’ve been thinking and researching about getting a cockatiel. I feel they’d be the perfect parrot for me.
However I have 2 concerns, I suffer pretty bad at the moment with hay fever. And I’ve read that cockatiels produce a lot of dander which some people are allergic to. I’ve never noticed that I’m allergic to any other pet hair etc so would the dander be likely to affect me? Sunny produced a little bit of course, I don’t remember that causing me any problems.
Secondly. I’m prepared to get all new kitchenware that is bird safe and non-toxic. But we currently live in a small cottage with only a bedroom, bathroom and large kitchen joined lounge room. Therefore the only room for a bird cage is the kitchen/lounge. And perhaps next to the fridge. My guinea pigs take up the only spare wall. And I don’t want those cages too close because of the dander. So is a parrot living in an open plan kitchen lounge room a bad idea? Because of the kitchen smells and appliances? ( The bird would be caged while cooking to prevent accidents)

There is a sweet looking tame 3yr old female on gumtree looking for a new home . But I want to make sure I can provide a safe home first.

Thanks for reading

Hi!
I have my birds in my eat in kitchen area, as also part of the open living great room

As I take as many cautions as I know you will, it has worked for me and the fids for several years..
Only once did I have a near fatal accident of plastic falling on a burner. Would have been bad anywhere in the house!!! I had them outside in seconds and they were falling off the perch but did recover. As soon as I saw the plastic fall I grabbed and shoved the cage outside might have been less than a second!!

O roll the cage outside if I need to do a big kitchen clean .

HannahandSunny said:

Hi all!

The past few months I’ve been thinking and researching about getting a cockatiel. I feel they’d be the perfect parrot for me.
However I have 2 concerns, I suffer pretty bad at the moment with hay fever. And I’ve read that cockatiels produce a lot of dander which some people are allergic to. I’ve never noticed that I’m allergic to any other pet hair etc so would the dander be likely to affect me? Sunny produced a little bit of course, I don’t remember that causing me any problems.
Secondly. I’m prepared to get all new kitchenware that is bird safe and non-toxic. But we currently live in a small cottage with only a bedroom, bathroom and large kitchen joined lounge room. Therefore the only room for a bird cage is the kitchen/lounge. And perhaps next to the fridge. My guinea pigs take up the only spare wall. And I don’t want those cages too close because of the dander. So is a parrot living in an open plan kitchen lounge room a bad idea? Because of the kitchen smells and appliances? ( The bird would be caged while cooking to prevent accidents)

There is a sweet looking tame 3yr old female on gumtree looking for a new home . But I want to make sure I can provide a safe home first.

Thanks for reading

Click to expand...

A decent mechanical HEPA filter would take care of the allergies for the most part. You have experience with a cockatoo, so won't be a issue as cockatiels do produced dust, but not as bad a larger cockatoo would. Cockatiels are smaller version of a cockatoo, but have similar personality and traits of their larger brothers and sisters, don't let size fool you. Mines get along fine with my Cockatoos and even copy them at times, they learn the bad habits as well as Baby my female U2 taught wylie my female cockatiel how to remove lid on temper proof food bowl and then how to chew wood when out and she even talks like Baby and they even flock call each other. Just be careful in the kitchen, like last comment above mines.

Great advice above!!!

Only have one thing to add: Assure you have kitchen fan that will pull the cooking and general kitchen air out to the great outdoors.

We have an Open Concept Home, a North American term for the same layout you have combining the living, dinning, cooking and the Amazon areas in one large area. Basic rules of cooking apply! No multitasking allowed and must have a kitchen fan!!!

Hope all works out for you and your's.

Great advice and info so far! Thanks everyone!
So it does sound like it’s do-able for me.. I recon I’d be paranoid every time I cooked though.
The only space I potentially have is where the bin (trash can) is in this photo.. don’t know where I’d put the bin mind you haha!


P.s excuse the mess

But do you think that’s too close to the oven?! Fridges don’t let off any dangerous toxins do they?

I will definitely look into a hepa filter, thanks for that suggestion, may even help with my hay fever in general? (As I have hay in the house for the g’pigs)

Sailboat, I don’t think I’d be able to get a kitchen fan unfortunately..oh no.

A cockatoo produces way more than a cockatiel---it is of course different with an indoor bird, but humidity and a solid (non-ionizing) hepa filter will do a lot for a cockatiel-sized bird.
Due to the potential for burned foods and fumes in general (not just teflon, but other stuff, like gas or hot oil etc) it is not a place I would keep my bird. There are a lot of fume risks and there are other dangers as well. If you are baking at high-heats etc, that can be problematic-- especially for things that require long periods of cooking or browning fat (such as a roast).
I am not saying it can't be done, but it just makes me nervous given all of the random kitchen issues that can occur (food falls on a hot burner and smokes etc etc).

noodles123 said:

A cockatoo produces way more than a cockatiel---it is of course different with an indoor bird, but humidity and a solid (non-ionizing) hepa filter will do a lot for a cockatiel-sized bird.
Due to the potential for burned foods and fumes in general (not just teflon, but other stuff, like gas or hot oil etc) it is not a place I would keep my bird. There are a lot of fume risks and there are other dangers as well. If you are baking at high-heats etc, that can be problematic-- especially for things that require long periods of cooking or browning fat (such as a roast).
I am not saying it can't be done, but it just makes me nervous given all of the random kitchen issues that can occur (food falls on a hot burner and smokes etc etc).

Click to expand...

I agree with you, I’m worried to that it isn’t a suitable place for a bird. Our oven is rubbish, old fashioned and burns easily. We only rent this cottage from our friends (which we are very grateful for). I could potentially purchase a new oven, which would be better quality and not have those stupid hot plate stove things. But it’s still an oven.. and accidents with burning happens (Even if I am a cook lol!)

I would love to get a feathered friend sooner rather than later. I should wait until we move out but I don’t know how long that would be

Is it possible for aviary birds to become very tame? As I do have a large outside aviary which is an option. I could bring the bird in to play with during the day when I’m not cooking? But Victorian winters are very cold.. I’d be too worried I think.

Do you have a living room where you could keep the bird (you said you do have one...)? A mammal would definitely be okay in the kitchen for the most part...The lounge room could be better, as it is not directly near the stove.

HannahandSunny said:

noodles123 said:

A cockatoo produces way more than a cockatiel---it is of course different with an indoor bird, but humidity and a solid (non-ionizing) hepa filter will do a lot for a cockatiel-sized bird.
Due to the potential for burned foods and fumes in general (not just teflon, but other stuff, like gas or hot oil etc) it is not a place I would keep my bird. There are a lot of fume risks and there are other dangers as well. If you are baking at high-heats etc, that can be problematic-- especially for things that require long periods of cooking or browning fat (such as a roast).
I am not saying it can't be done, but it just makes me nervous given all of the random kitchen issues that can occur (food falls on a hot burner and smokes etc etc).

Click to expand...

I agree with you, I’m worried to that it isn’t a suitable place for a bird. Our oven is rubbish, old fashioned and burns easily. We only rent this cottage from our friends (which we are very grateful for). I could potentially purchase a new oven, which would be better quality and not have those stupid hot plate stove things. But it’s still an oven.. and accidents with burning happens (Even if I am a cook lol!)

I would love to get a feathered friend sooner rather than later. I should wait until we move out but I don’t know how long that would be

Is it possible for aviary birds to become very tame? As I do have a large outside aviary which is an option. I could bring the bird in to play with during the day when I’m not cooking? But Victorian winters are very cold.. I’d be too worried I think.

Click to expand...

Not sure if it a gas oven, but if it is would be fine, electric depends as if they use a coating on coils that will off gas if overheated, most older ones didn't and usually safe? just be cautious when using it, so bird won't fly near it when cooking and leave a window open, just in case you burn something, or turn on vent when cooking, don't see one, but a fan in window will do the job as well. As long as your not using dangerous cookware and plastics around that can drop on burner by accident, you sure be fine. No fridge won't be a issue. Gas as not a issue if stove is working correctly and not letting off carbon monoxide, but you can buy a good carbon monoxide detector that has a read out about $50 bucks and keep it near area. You sure have one anyways as law in some states and carbon monoxide is dangerous to you as well. A IQ air multigas is the best purifier on the market as does most gases as well. I have both the health pro and multigas. Definitely down the road worth the investment as cut the Oder as well and if neighbors burn something outside, it good insurance.

I know most cockatoos can handle cold pretty well if adapted to it, as take mines outside during the winter for a few minutes no problem and never had them get sick and had Baby for years and Cooper loves snow as if he see it through the winter he begs me to go outside, they are well adapted to being outside. I won't recommend if they are not adapted to it. You do have to provide a safe heat source for them, or bring them in when really cold and at night so they can warm up as a friend does with his cockatoos he had for 12 years now, they do the same at the zoos for them. Cockatiels not sure as some species don't adapt well as most birds don't to the cold, you have to ask a vet, or zoo keeper, I use carrier with hot blanket for them not to take a chance if have to travel with them during winter months. My cockatoo's only when it really cold then carrier they go in.

I think with cockatiels it is approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit. At its warmest, it may be over 109 degrees Fahrenheit, so long they have shade and can cool down with water mist, but don't think they shouldn't be left outside for long periods of time in cold weather and you will have to bring them in.

noodles123 said:

Do you have a living room where you could keep the bird (you said you do have one...)? A mammal would definitely be okay in the kitchen for the most part...The lounge room could be better, as it is not directly near the stove.

Click to expand...

This would be also a good option, is switch them and keep the bird in lounge room instead

ParrotGenie said:

noodles123 said:

Do you have a living room where you could keep the bird (you said you do have one...)? A mammal would definitely be okay in the kitchen for the most part...The lounge room could be better, as it is not directly near the stove.

Click to expand...

This would be also a good option, is switch them and keep the bird in lounge room instead

Click to expand...

I meant that the living area is the lounge room which is joined to the kitchen so unfortunately I’m not sure if that would be much safer as it’s not a huge area.
Hmm

HannahandSunny said:

ParrotGenie said:

noodles123 said:

Do you have a living room where you could keep the bird (you said you do have one...)? A mammal would definitely be okay in the kitchen for the most part...The lounge room could be better, as it is not directly near the stove.

Click to expand...

This would be also a good option, is switch them and keep the bird in lounge room instead

Click to expand...

I meant that the living area is the lounge room which is joined to the kitchen so unfortunately I’m not sure if that would be much safer as it’s not a huge area.
Hmm

Click to expand...

It wouldn't be ideal, but somewhat better. Is there any sort of separation (like a half wall?---Or could you hang a tension rod when cooking? A tiel could easily fly into a flame or boiling water.

noodles123; said:

It wouldn't be ideal, but somewhat better. Is there any sort of separation (like a half wall?---Or could you hang a tension rod when cooking? A tiel could easily fly into a flame or boiling water.

Click to expand...

No unfortunately the only wall is what you see behind the fridge as that’s the bathroom behind, so to the left of the fridge there is no wall and thats where the sofa is and lounge area.

I’m happy for the bird to be firmly in the cage while cooking so no cooking accidents could ever happen. I’m more concerned about the toxic fumes if I burnt something.

Oh Sunny why you was the perfect Parrot, what have you done to me boy! You’ve given me the Parrot bug!!

Take the plunge, Hannah! The mere fact you are researching and questioning every issue bodes well for success. I think you've identified most every conceivable issue, and there is a way to mitigate them all.

Biggest issues seem to come from the kitchen. Proper cookware and maybe a newer stove should cure most anything. Just be careful with the cooking temps and avoid burning. (easier said than done!)

Your photo shows it very doable! Unless you plan on severely burning everything, cooking is fine! Major mishap? Always have a portable cage handy!

Based on what you've shared I'd say so Hannah. Enjoy many happy years together with Sunny! Keep learning and grow together.

Thank you everyone for the support!
My partner suggested another place the cage could go, still in the lounge/kitchen but further away from the actual kitchen part. May have to move the sofa over slightly.

dhraiden said:

Based on what you've shared I'd say so Hannah. Enjoy many happy years together with Sunny! Keep learning and grow together.

Click to expand...

Oh I wish!
Sunny isn’t around anymore, he flew off in August never to be seen again. But my time with him was valuable, He taught me so so much and certainly gave me the bird bug:07:

Mine probably aren't much further from the stove than your picture. But I do have an oven hood and fan.
Could you place a fan blowing out in the window by the stove?

Plus you can move him to a play stand in the living room while you cook.