Hand sanitizer

May 17, 2020
306
7
So I definitely put hand sanitizer on today just cant remember when I did and I went to change my birds cage liner and I touched the budgies cage to remove any stuck seeds. I didnt touch the birds, thier food or water they are alseep now. I cant remember if I washed my hands before I did all this but my hands I'm pretty sure where dry so no sanitizer left.
Should I be concerned or do you think I'm over worrying
 

bug_n_flock

Well-known member
Jan 2, 2018
1,371
207
Isolated Holler in the Appalachian Wilderness
Parrots
B&G Macaw, Galah, 5 cockatiels, 50 billion and a half budgies. We breed and do rescue. Too many to list each individual's name and age etc, but they are each individuals and loved dearly.
I think they will be totally fine. :) I hate the stink of hand sanitizer, but it has never harmed any of my birds, and they have been around it for ages.



When I was ten years old my mom had a bone marrow transplant for her lukemia. She started using hand sanitizer all the time at that point. Every time she got into the car for any reason she immediately used it. One of those ingrained habits like putting on a seatbelt and checking her mirrors. She would often accidentally use hand sanitizer in the car with my birds in the car if we were taking a road trip. She would immediately open the windows and maybe step out of the car until it dried, but none of my birds have ever suffered ill effect. One of the birds exposed was Alex, my now 18 and a half year old cockatiel. He went on every road trip ever with me as a kid, so was exposed the most of any of the birds. Don't sweat it, your fids will be fine.



Do still try to wash hands before handling them, but certainly the occasional slip up like you are describing will not harm them. :)



From phone, with glorious typos and spelling errorz
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
if it's dry, you are fine (unless is it that crazy perfumey kind, but that has more to do with the lingering scent--by that, I mean "cucumber melon, ocean breeze, fresh linen" etc.).I know it all smells, but some have a ton of perfume that stays on your hands even after washing). I would suggest washing hands after use in the future--before touching the bird if you can (mostly if you plan to touch feathers a lot etc), but don't worry about it. You are fine. I should be a spokesperson for hand-sanitizer, given the amount I use. I have definitely touched Noodles with dry hand sanitizer on.

It does leave a residue, so if you have it on and haven't washed, I wouldn't touch their wet food or their water, because it could wash off into wet stuff...But I bathe in the stuff all day at work and have had to apply it in the car with Noodles and she has survived.

I wouldn't apply it in close quarters with your bird if you can help it (because of the alcohol) BUT, like I said, in a pinch, I have used it in the car with Noodles and just opened the window. I've had to do it on pretty much every trip we have taken, so that's over 50.
 
Last edited:
OP
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May 17, 2020
306
7
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Okay another quick question I had to use it today and washed my hands with soap and water when I came back and than changed thier waters is washing it once good enough to remove any residue.
 

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