woodlandtreespirit
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A Parrot Friendly Christmas
A few members were asking which Christmas trees are safe for parrots (the cost of being resident tree hugger) - sadly not an easy answer but the following may help you and your feathered ones to have a safe holiday - I know its early but then again I know some people will be getting prepared.
Kate x
We love Christmas and I’m sure we all want to have a great holiday with our feathered friends too but some things to consider
Incense and Candles - Scented candles, incense, carpet fresheners and air fresheners contain volatile oils which are poisonous to birds. You can enjoy your candlelight, but use unscented candles and never have them lit when your birds are out. To give your home that holiday aroma, try boiling herbs such as cloves, mint or cinnamon.
Lots Of Cooking In The Kitchen - Check all the seldom used appliances you are going to use for teflon - the electric frying pan, wok, the bread maker, cake pans, hot food servers and warmers. If you must use them, BE CAREFUL! Don't let any of them overheat, be sure there is ventilation and keep your birds away. Also be aware that fumes from self cleaning ovens have killed birds. Hand clean your ovens with a safe product instead.
Holiday cooking is a time for lots of sauces, gravies and goodies - many cooking and being mixed at the same time. They will smell as good to your birds as they do to you. Watch out for inquisitive birds who will fly or jump into a pot or bowl of hot food or a container filled with liquid. Smaller birds can get trapped in a container of liquid and drown. Cover your pots while cooking. Be careful when using electrical mixers and beaters. And keep the drawers closed. A small bird can be trapped when an open drawer or cabinet door is shut. Better yet, this is not the best time to bring your pet bird into the kitchen with you.
Holiday Plants - Poinsettia plants, Christmas cactus, Holly berries and Mistletoe berries are dangerous to birds. Poinsettia stems have a milky sap which irritates eyes and the digestive tract. Holly tree berries also irritiate the gastrointestinal tract. Mistletoe berries are toxic.
Trees And Decorations - Keep your birds away from your Christmas tree as there are many ways that our feathered friends can be hurt from them. Do your best to make your tree bird safe.
Pine and fir trees are not toxic. However, the needles from pine trees and artificial trees are sharp and can cause trauma, if ingested. Cedar contains irritants and should not be used.
Decorations made of plastic such as some angel hair, tinsel, spray snow and ornaments are non-toxic. However, ingesting pieces of them can cause blockage of the intestinal tract. Some angel hair is made of fiberglass which is very dangerous if eaten. If you use a spray-on decoration, keep your birds away while you spray. Some of the propellants contain freon.
Glass and metallic ornaments and lights hung on Christmas trees can be broken. The sharp edges can cause cuts, both externally and internally. Bubbling light fluid contains a toxic solvent which irritates eyes. Consider using wooden ornaments and edible garlands made of things like popcorn, cranberries or even coloured paper. Electrical cords are another source of danger.
Avoid metallic wrapping papers which can contain heavy metals. Eating any kind of wrapping paper should be avoided to prevent the possibility of intestinal blockage.
Ideas for a completely Parrot friendly Christmas tree – and an edible and chewable one for your parrots.
Decorate your Java wood stand if you have one
or
Get a nice shaped branch or a number of smaller branches from any of the safe tree list below. Ensure there is no signs of mould and wash with a bird safe cleaner and allow to dry.
Get a solid plant pot/bucket of a suitable and stable size and place stones for ballast in the bottom then sand or clean soil. Use this to secure your twigs/branches in.
Then decorate with:
Trees and Bushes safe for parrots
Source: Gillian Willis
Apple, Arbutus , Ash, Aspen, Beech, Birch, Citrus (any), Cottonwood, Crabapple, Dogwood, Elm, Eucalyptus, Fir, Guava, Hawthorn, Larch, Madrona, Magnolia, Manzanita, Norfolk Island Pine,
Nuts (except chestnut and oak), Palms (areca, date, fan, lady, parlour), Palms (howeia, kentia, phoenix, sago), Pear, Pine, Poplar, Sequoia (Redwood , Spruce, Willow
Some state that pine needles are poisonous so please be cautious in your choice. Ash may be best avoided with current concerns of disease.
Ensure trees are not sprayed with any non-drop chemical or fire retardant substances
A few members were asking which Christmas trees are safe for parrots (the cost of being resident tree hugger) - sadly not an easy answer but the following may help you and your feathered ones to have a safe holiday - I know its early but then again I know some people will be getting prepared.
Kate x
We love Christmas and I’m sure we all want to have a great holiday with our feathered friends too but some things to consider
Incense and Candles - Scented candles, incense, carpet fresheners and air fresheners contain volatile oils which are poisonous to birds. You can enjoy your candlelight, but use unscented candles and never have them lit when your birds are out. To give your home that holiday aroma, try boiling herbs such as cloves, mint or cinnamon.
Lots Of Cooking In The Kitchen - Check all the seldom used appliances you are going to use for teflon - the electric frying pan, wok, the bread maker, cake pans, hot food servers and warmers. If you must use them, BE CAREFUL! Don't let any of them overheat, be sure there is ventilation and keep your birds away. Also be aware that fumes from self cleaning ovens have killed birds. Hand clean your ovens with a safe product instead.
Holiday cooking is a time for lots of sauces, gravies and goodies - many cooking and being mixed at the same time. They will smell as good to your birds as they do to you. Watch out for inquisitive birds who will fly or jump into a pot or bowl of hot food or a container filled with liquid. Smaller birds can get trapped in a container of liquid and drown. Cover your pots while cooking. Be careful when using electrical mixers and beaters. And keep the drawers closed. A small bird can be trapped when an open drawer or cabinet door is shut. Better yet, this is not the best time to bring your pet bird into the kitchen with you.
Holiday Plants - Poinsettia plants, Christmas cactus, Holly berries and Mistletoe berries are dangerous to birds. Poinsettia stems have a milky sap which irritates eyes and the digestive tract. Holly tree berries also irritiate the gastrointestinal tract. Mistletoe berries are toxic.
Trees And Decorations - Keep your birds away from your Christmas tree as there are many ways that our feathered friends can be hurt from them. Do your best to make your tree bird safe.
Pine and fir trees are not toxic. However, the needles from pine trees and artificial trees are sharp and can cause trauma, if ingested. Cedar contains irritants and should not be used.
Decorations made of plastic such as some angel hair, tinsel, spray snow and ornaments are non-toxic. However, ingesting pieces of them can cause blockage of the intestinal tract. Some angel hair is made of fiberglass which is very dangerous if eaten. If you use a spray-on decoration, keep your birds away while you spray. Some of the propellants contain freon.
Glass and metallic ornaments and lights hung on Christmas trees can be broken. The sharp edges can cause cuts, both externally and internally. Bubbling light fluid contains a toxic solvent which irritates eyes. Consider using wooden ornaments and edible garlands made of things like popcorn, cranberries or even coloured paper. Electrical cords are another source of danger.
Avoid metallic wrapping papers which can contain heavy metals. Eating any kind of wrapping paper should be avoided to prevent the possibility of intestinal blockage.
Ideas for a completely Parrot friendly Christmas tree – and an edible and chewable one for your parrots.
Decorate your Java wood stand if you have one
or
Get a nice shaped branch or a number of smaller branches from any of the safe tree list below. Ensure there is no signs of mould and wash with a bird safe cleaner and allow to dry.
Get a solid plant pot/bucket of a suitable and stable size and place stones for ballast in the bottom then sand or clean soil. Use this to secure your twigs/branches in.
Then decorate with:
- Any parrot foot toys or rattles you have
- Thread dried fruit on parrot safe string
- Wrap up nuts in circles of brown paper and tie around the top so you have a little bundle with an interesting frilly top
- Unsweetened or unsalted popcorn threaded to make strings to wrap round the tree, Or string together to make shapes. (do not allow parrots to eat the string)
- Make baubles out of scrunched up paper – cover with strips of paper with flour paste glue – you could use the flour paste (just flour and water) to stick parrot friendly treats.
Trees and Bushes safe for parrots
Source: Gillian Willis
Apple, Arbutus , Ash, Aspen, Beech, Birch, Citrus (any), Cottonwood, Crabapple, Dogwood, Elm, Eucalyptus, Fir, Guava, Hawthorn, Larch, Madrona, Magnolia, Manzanita, Norfolk Island Pine,
Nuts (except chestnut and oak), Palms (areca, date, fan, lady, parlour), Palms (howeia, kentia, phoenix, sago), Pear, Pine, Poplar, Sequoia (Redwood , Spruce, Willow
Some state that pine needles are poisonous so please be cautious in your choice. Ash may be best avoided with current concerns of disease.
Ensure trees are not sprayed with any non-drop chemical or fire retardant substances
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thanks Kate!
