Candles, Febreze, and a stick?

[jaimmorr]

Hi, sorry if I am posting a lot, just trying to get all of my questions answered! :]

Firstly, I have been reading a little bit about how you aren't supposed to use anything smell-goody in your house when you have a bird... Is this true for all birds or just certain types? I love smell goody stuff like candles, candle warmers, febreze, air fresheners, plug ins, etc. Of course, if they are lethal to a bird I would never use them. Is this true? Or only for certain birds/certain things?

Also, I've been seeing a lot of posts about target training with sticks and saw a video of it being done. Should you really train a bird to bite the stick? I feel like that would only encourage biting at all. Should you instead train it to just touch the stick with its beak? My dog knows the 'Touch' command where she touches anything with her nose. Surely if a dog can learn it, a bird can!

Thanks! :]

 

[Karigan]

It's not so much that they're being trained to bite, as they're being trained to literally 'target'. whenever a sennie climbs onto something, they reach with their beaks before gaining their footing, so 'target' is both a beginning way to have your sennie to step up on your finger without sustaining bite marks, and the command can also be used later if you're trying to introduce something new and want to familiarize the bird with it. My understanding is that over time the bird understands not to bite but only touch, but at first it may not be able to differentiate.

I'm not sure on scents around your house, but as long as it's mild and not something your bird seems irritated by, it should be fine.

 

[suebee]

DO NOT USE CHEMICAL AIR FRESHNERS, INCLUDING CANDLES ETC find a bird safe product as in all natural!

and yes birds can be trained, if they want to! lol

 

[Spiritbird]

If you google bird safe candles you will find some made from soy wax. That is the only thing I know of besides going natural for good smells.

 

[Pedro]

You could go for the natural things like boiling lemon skins & cinnamon sticks.

I myself have an electric warmer thingy that i put a few drops of essential oil. All my doors & windows are always open so it never causes problems with my birds at all. I also burn scented candles with no ill effect to the birds at all. I have been doing it for many years. Although i don't think i would use these things in a closed up house.

As far as target training go i guess it has its place in training some birds but i don't think it's necessary for all parrots. I don't find a need for it with any of my birds, all mine are given heaps of praise & i find that works well for me.

 

[kitt]

I use to just love the glade plugs in and frebreeze and my candles....I got rid of all that stuff...all species of birds have delicate respitory systems so please be careful....to me it isn't worth the risk or the guilt I would feel if something happened to my birds over using those products....I do however have a couple of soy candles that are natural that I keep on hand for emergencies....

 

[kerry]

Yes, I love vanilla scented candles, so the soy ones are ok.
Good, thanks for the info. I need to get my scented ones out of the house.

 

[Spiritbird]

Regular candles are not really good for people either. The paraffin is the problem. Kerry: Bees wax is a safe wax to burn, as well as soy.

http://www.avitec.com/articles.asp?id=132

 

[HRH Di]

Regular candles are not really good for people either. The paraffin is the problem. Kerry: Bees wax is a safe wax to burn, as well as soy.

Avitech Exotic Birds - Supplies, Equipment and Nutritional Supplements for Birds!

And bees wax has a natural, mild honey scent.

 

[fagin]

i have just bought an apple-cox orange pippin tree, is it ok for my parrot to play in it and can he chew the bark and leaves. can any one help with this information please

 

[Rio Mom]

If you google bird safe candles you will find some made from soy wax. That is the only thing I know of besides going natural for good smells.

So the scent in a soy candle is ok?

 

[Spiritbird]

Avitech Exotic Birds - Supplies, Equipment and Nutritional Supplements for Birds!

 

[jaimmorr]

Thank you, all! I won't get beeswax candles as I am vegan hehe but soy candles sound super! Thanks for being so great! :]