Air purifier for african grey

[Africangreylover2009]

Hello evryone, I just wanted to ask what is the best and cheapest air purifier for an african grey? By cheap, I mean really cheap. Like around 50 dollars. But even if it is above 50 dollars, please still post.

 

[kme3388]

Hi there, I have 3 large air purifiers. I got mine at costco for roughly $50 years ago when they were being discontinued. Usually the larger ones are more money. I needed them for the square footage. Mine all have the hepa filter. They work, and my filters are full or dust and dander. I am replacing the filters constantly.

Craigslist/facebook marketplace are other places to check if you want something for cheap.

 

[texsize]

HEPA filtration is what you want to look for.
And avoid air ionization that can’t be turned off.
Ionization is bad for birds.

 

[SailBoat]

The term air purifier and cheap is a bad to dangerous combination!!
As an example, read texsize Post above!
Why do you think you need an air purifier???

 

[Africangreylover2009]

The term air purifier and cheap is a bad to dangerous combination!!
As an example, read texsize Post above!
Why do you think you need an air purifier???

I need it because i researched and it said that air purifier are mandatory for parrots because they shed lots of dust. I dont know how true this is but i just want to be on the safe side of everything.

 

[SailBoat]

Gray's are dusty, but my 500+ gram Double Yellow-Headed Amazon is likely as capable, if not more capable of causing dust.

When one is looking at 'researching a subject, it is vasty more important to assure that your source(s) are not those that have a reason for their position, Example: If it is my job to sell air purifiers I would state that they are 'Mandatory'!

Have changed your filters for your heating/cooling system more than once a year? Have you considered upgrading that filter's abilities and changing it more than twice a year?

 

[Jcas]

I use a Honeywell air purifier and it’s still working well after several years. Depending on the size, it’s more like $100 but I use off- brand hepa replacement filters which work fine, so maintenance costs are pretty low. No ionization either. A member of my household is allergic to birds so an air purifier is a must. I really do think it helps.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

The HEPA Air Purifier I have, a Lancaster, was under $80, 13 plus years ago. It is likely in the 100 $ range now. But it's awesome. Still going strong all these years later! I vacuum out the filter and it's good to go.

 

[Scoots]

I’m so confused reading the comments. My African gray is mainly in the living room during day on his playground and when he shakes the dander flies all over. I’m looking for something to grab the dander that’s flying around and I don’t care if I have to vacuum it out change a filter I’m willing to pay up to 100 $150. Some can someone please point me in the right direction as to what to get that would really work greatly appreciate all your help.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

People ask if hepa filter units really work and I promise you they do, but they have to be large enough for the room and high ceilings require a larger unit than lower ceilings. A very small unit may be cheaper, and will catch dust well, but it won't have the capacity to filter a good sized room. I have 4 Honeywell units rated for large rooms and the pre-filters catch a staggering amount of budgie dust (I have 19 budgies). They cost about $275 each. I wish I could tell you that you could buy a decent HEPA unit that was large enough to filter the air in a medium to large room but unless you can get a used one I doubt it.
I vacuum the surface of the pre-filter every week and reuse them. I believe the pre-filter is the most important part when it comes to removing bird dust be

cause the particles are actually quite large. I don't replace the HEPA filters very often. They actually become more effective as they get used because smaller and smaller particles will get trapped as particles build up on the filter. Up to a point of course where there's so much on them that air can't easily get through. The manufacturer wants you to replace the pre-filter and HEPA filters because they are expensive. I buy off brand China made replacement filters for much less on Amazon.

People sometimes "upgrade" their air purifiers because the want the latest model so I would try to buy used and not be concerned that it's not brand new. As long as its large enough and the blower works to draw the air in and through the filter it's just as good as a new one. I've had some of mine for 10 years.

If you get an air filter you should position it as close to the cage as possible to catch the bird dust before it spreads around the room.

 

[Jcas]

I agree with everything DonnaBudgie said above! I also use a Honeywell purifier .

 

[rheashard2]

CAG's do have a bit more feather dust than other breeds. A good feather shake can look like a storm cloud. I had to have allergy testing. According to my allergist the good news is that that environmentally I am not allergic to my name and social security number. The bad news is that I am allergic to nearly everything else. For me rhe question isn't am I allergic but how bad will I react. He recommended air purifiers and no negative ionizers. I have room hepa air purifiers. There are a lot of inexpensive but not cheap purifiers on the market. Which ever you choose make sure that the filters are easily to clean, replace and purchase replacements. He also recommended placing a quality filter similar to furnace type over outflow areas of portable fans aka window or box type. Even bargain basement fans can become an air filter in this situation. Decades later I saw something similar on a video. His point was that insurance would often pay something for the unit. Then little or nothing for the replacement filers. He always stressed make sure replacements were available and affordable. If you are purchasing for a room, his recommendation was air flow to cover half again room size. Example a 300 cubic foot room, purchase 450. My CAG has a quiet filter. It's positioned at her favorite perch level and about 3 feet from cage. Air velocity is low so no worries about drafts. There's also a filter in each bedroom. As stated cleaning pre intake areas is as much if not more important than the post. If those aren't kept clean the unit won't function properly.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

My allergist told me that people can be skin test or blood test positive for an allergen without having a "clinically significant" allergy. He said it was because of cross reactivity and other factors not well understood. For example, I'm skin test positive to chicken and eggs but I'm not "allergic" to chicken and am very allergic to eggs. I'm also skin test positive to celery and pistachios but I eat don't react at all if I eat them. I'm skin test positive to both dogs and cats but I only get symptoms around cats. You have other animals too, Rheashard2, don't you? If you had clinically significant allergies to as many things as you tested positive for you would probably be an allergic mess, unable to have birds or any other pets. I have to be careful because I have severe asthma and allergies can trigger an attack that could be fatal. I think I tested positive to feathers. Fortunately, I've never had an allergic reaction to my budgies, but their feather dust can be an irritant, hence all the Honeywell hepa filters.

 

[rheashard2]

I am an allergic mess. My back and stomach was hives and a giant itch. I considered my self lucky. My brother had it done at the same time. He had mountains and craters. I rejected shots. I had to make a decision. Live like my sister; fear of the "attack", hives, respiratory problems, stay indoors, multiple filters on everything and more. She never eats anything new. She eats the same thing for fear of that allergy. She refuses to go out to eat at restaurants with us. Her reason is that one of us might order and eat something she can't have. It would make her jealous and sad. My motto is big deal. I try and do enjoy life. My personality won't let me do less. I observe and take precautions for environmental allergies. In my first winter here in South Central Texas I thought I was becoming psychotic. I go outside for work, wheezing, difficulty breathing, if I stayed out to long hives started. Back in house, I clear up. Rinse and repeat. I was actually crying that I was going crazy. I evidently didn't want to work. I thought I was becoming burnt out. My subconscious was sending me some serious messages. How could I support my pets? After several weeks I went to doctor. I told him I was going crazy. I was having respiratory attacks when I went to work. He laughed and asked me how long I had been in Texas and if it was my first winter. Not long and yes. I learned what mountain cedar was. I was also told that crazy usually state THEY think or say I am crazy. Very rarely I THINK I am going crazy. So I had to have a outside reason. I stopped counting medication allergies prescription and OTC. Those just get added to my list. In my reckless youth (35 yo) I had a major rebellion. I was tired of being asked how do you know that you are allergic? What makes you think that you are becoming allergic? That doctor didn't want to change that seizure medicine. I was showing signs of allergy to it. But I had to have it. By the time I got to office breathing was improved and often normal. Each attack was a bit worse, hives and turning lilac were added to the mix. I was a ICU/CCU registered nurse. I had an inkling of allergies and their consequences. So I went to office, showed nurse bottle. Took one in her sight. I sat down. I woke up on a respirator in an ambulance. I was given a variety of lectures afterwards. I told them that it wasn't the first and probably wouldn't be the last time a medication put me on a respirator. If I or someone says they are allergic listen. People can choose to live or exist. I woke up this morning to someone feathered insisting I play peekaboo and get her morning chop. Not to four walls and a moaning groaning morning. I take reasonable precautions. According to my sister that means none. But I am happy.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I have eosinophilic asthma. Last February I had a flare up at 4am in the middle of a blizzard, and I live on a 3 mile dirt road with a 250 foot dirt driveway. My husband called 911 because when my oxygen was dropping and my nebulizer wasnt helping. By the time they got to me my oxygen was 78% and I had no breath sounds in my lungs. They saved life. I give myself an injection of a biological once a month now plus all the other inhalers and high dose Prednisone in emergencies.

 

[rheashard2]

I have eosinophilic asthma. Last February I had a flare up at 4am in the middle of a blizzard, and I live on a 3 mile dirt road with a 250 foot dirt driveway. My husband called 911 because when my oxygen was dropping and my nebulizer wasnt helping. By the time they got to me my oxygen was 78% and I had no breath sounds in my lungs. They saved life. I give myself an injection of a biological once a month now plus all the other inhalers and high dose Prednisone in emergencies.

You and others like you are my inspiration! I have a tee shirt that said: not all life debilitating problems are visible. Don't remember where I purchased it. As Nameliss now spouts...You go girl!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I was pretty traumatized by the February '25 asthma incident but I didn't really get a chance to "process" it because my sister's husband suffered a fatal stroke the following day and we had to rally around her and I've been propping her up ever since. He was only 67 and was apparently healthy.