I have a cold, should I worry?

[PaperLantern]

So I guess the trip back from Jamaica really wore me out (2 plane rides, a bus ride, and a car ride). I ended up arriving at my friend's place at 4am and had to wake up and drive the four hours home at 7am. So yeah, my immune system is shot and I caught a cold.

I have a headache, chills, stuffy/runny nose, cough, sore throat, and slight fever. It also seems as though a lot of my friends caught this cold as well. I've been treating it with tylenol and Buckley's cough medicine.

I'm worried about Chubby, can he catch the common cold? I've been handling him to change his food, water, and clean his cage. I also forgot I had a cold today and kissed him on the head a couple of times and cuddled him. Now I can't sleep because I'm freaking out about him getting sick, and I really need my sleep. Can someone ease my mind here? Or should I be worried?

 

[ShellyBorg]

MOST human ailments can not be given to our fids. That being said always wash you hands before, touching, feeding and changing water. My self I choose to stay away and will not cuddle while I am sick.

 

[PaperLantern]

I'll stop cuddling until I feel better. I'm just worried because I already DID cuddle him today without thinking I feel like a bad bird-mommy, lol.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Whenever I have cold symptoms or fever, I have my kids change the food & water and take the fids out to play. I'm mostly afraid to breathe on them or near them. Avian flu is a virus and the common cold is a virus as well. Plus viruses undergo mutations all the time (hence the need for the CDC to issue a new type of flu vaccine each year for the public).

Anyhow, what I'm trying to say is, although the odds of me passing on a contagion to my birds is minimal, I still take the approach of "I'd rather be safe than sorry later". As Shelly stated, good handwashing before handling the bird's items and not cuddling with the bird right now, are both good ideas. I hope you feel better soon.

 

[Gizmomania]

If you suspect that you have something like strep, please keep away from your birds. There's a strain that can actually harm or even kill them.

Good hand washing before handling them and trying not to breathe, cough or sneeze in their direction is the best first line of defense in protecting them.