Birds are especially susceptible to household hazards. Common household items you would never consider dangerous to humans can quickly become life-threatening to birds. Their complicated breathing apparatus makes them especially sensitive to inhalants, some of which can be deadly within minutes and some build up over time. The need to chew and taste everything makes them susceptible to metal toxicity and poisoning. Flying has it's own inherent risks as well. The detailed list below should be reviewed thoroughly to ensure your pet bird is always safe:

Unscreened windows and doors, mirrors
Exposed electrical cords
Toxic houseplants
Tobacco, tobacco butts & ashes, matches
Tobacco smoke, incense, scented candles
Lighter fluids, kerosene, gasoline
Venetian blind cords and ceiling fans (always turn fans OFF when your bird is out of it's cage)
Sliding glass doors, the top of an open door
Open washing machines, dryers, freezers, ovens, refrigerators or dishwashers
Open toilet bowls, sinks filled with water, fish tanks without covers, open cooking pots - drowning hazard
Open trash cans or trash cans with lids that open easily
Cooking fumes, self-cleaning oven fumes, oven cleaner, hot stove burners
Leaded stained-glass items or inlaid jewelry
Crayons and permanent markers
Pesticides, rodent killers, snail bait or herbicides
Hunting animals (dogs, cats, ferrets)
Overheated non-stick surfaces (pots & pans, cookie sheets, drip pans, irons, ironing board covers, waffle irons and other appliances)
Dishwasher detergent
Endust and other aerosolized household cleaners
Febreeze , Pet Fresh and other carpet deodorizers
Ammonia, Pine Sol and other household cleaners with strong fumes, window cleaners
Bathroom bowl cleaner, drain cleaners
Fabric softeners, spot removers, spray starch
Metal cleaners, furniture polish
Paint fumes, paint thinner, paint remover
New carpet & particle board (offgassing for the first week or so is not good for you either)
Acetone, nail polish, nail polish remover
Hair dyes and sprays, permanent solutions
Corn and wart removers
Boric acid
Suntan lotion
Deodorants, perfume
Rubbing alcohol
Mothballs
Antifreeze
Epoxy, model cement and super glue fumes
Linoleum (contains lead salts)
Wax (furniture or floor)
Wood preservatives

Sources of zinc (metal toxicity): galvanized cages, powder coatings with zinc, galvanized metal (cheap bird toys, toy hangars, washers, nuts), snap fasteners, pennies minted after 1982, paint, varnish, adhesives (including duct tape), twist ties, cage “chrome”.

Sources of lead (metal toxicity): air rifle pellets, antiques, bases of light bulbs, batteries, plastic parakeet toys with weights, curtain weights, bullets and buck shot, costume jewelry, dolomite, fishing weights, hardware cloth, foil from wine and champagne bottle seals, mirror backing, lead- framed doors and windows, old paint, sheet rock, old plaster, putty, solder, stained glass ornaments and lamp shades, unglazed ceramics, some types of zippers, long-lasting candle wicks (have silver threads visible).

Household Bird Hazards