Are air fresheners bad for birds?

LiquidStarlight · 04-21-2008, 03:16 PM

Yesterday while me and my fiance were shopping, he pointed out the Glade plug-in air fresheners and hinted that we should get one...apparently our house smells like horses

. I went ahead and bought one, and got a refill thingy in peach scent which I think will smell amazing since I love peaches. However I completely forgot about the parakeet, and since the plug-in would be in the same room with the bird I don't know if it will be harmful or not. I know that birds are very sensitive to scents, but would the air freshener cause any harm?

BarnBum · 04-21-2008, 03:22 PM

Can you put the bird in another room ??

StefanieLeann14 · 04-21-2008, 03:26 PM

We have candles and stuff in the same room as our parakeet. It doesnt bother him one bit...I would think it would be ok but maybe call your vet or a small animal vet and ask?

horsemom4 · 04-21-2008, 08:54 PM

I have a parrot and I never use Glade Plug ins or anything like it...I think they are bad for birds and humans as well....

pasomystic · 04-21-2008, 11:32 PM

No personal experience, but every birdcare website I have looked at says no to air fresheners and birds. For instance:
http://www.parrotchronicles.com/departments/hazards.htm

Amy · 04-22-2008, 10:10 AM

Technically, I think the answer to this question is yes, but I have an air freshener in the same room as my quaker w/o any issues. But it is a large, open area...

**Orchid** · 04-22-2008, 10:41 AM

Glade Plug Ins and most other air fresheners are even bad for dogs (I read an article on it in Dog Fancy magazine) so I surely wouldn't use them around birds.

wildcat180 · 04-22-2008, 12:32 PM

I have to agree with Orchid. Air fresheners, while pleasant to us, can cause many problems for our pets. I can't use them anywhere in my house because my one dog is extremely sensitive to them. (His skin gets really bad.)

For birds, I've dealt with some customers who's birds starting pulling out their feathers after air freshener use, as well as some come up with respiratory problems.

Birds a very sensitive, even if they seem hardly. Did you know that the simple act of overheating a teflon pan can produce fumes that will kill a bird? (That's why it's best to keep birds out of the kitchen...)

I'd be safe and not use them. If your house has an odor, it would be better to shampoo the carpets and stuff with pet friendly shampoo. Or sprinkle a bunch of baking soda on everything and vacuum it up an hour later.

LiquidStarlight · 04-25-2008, 08:36 PM

Thanks everyone for the advice, the air freshener is a no-go. I plugged it in to one of the rooms across the house from the bird and even on the lowest level it was so incredibly strong that it made me sick. So it has been tossed out, and I definately won't be buying one of those again.

Wildcat, I just got through steam-cleaning all the carpets in the house and it already smells better and feels cleaner. I guess if we feel impulsive again we'll just stick with a small scented candle

.

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04-21-2008, 03:16 PM
LiquidStarlight Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 865	Are air fresheners bad for birds? Yesterday while me and my fiance were shopping, he pointed out the Glade plug-in air fresheners and hinted that we should get one...apparently our house smells like horses . I went ahead and bought one, and got a refill thingy in peach scent which I think will smell amazing since I love peaches. However I completely forgot about the parakeet, and since the plug-in would be in the same room with the bird I don't know if it will be harmful or not. I know that birds are very sensitive to scents, but would the air freshener cause any harm? __________________ There are times when you can trust a horse, times when you can't, and times when you have to.

04-21-2008, 03:22 PM
BarnBum Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 3,609	Can you put the bird in another room ??

04-21-2008, 03:26 PM
StefanieLeann14 Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 709	We have candles and stuff in the same room as our parakeet. It doesnt bother him one bit...I would think it would be ok but maybe call your vet or a small animal vet and ask? __________________ God created few perfect horses...then he colored them golden. Live to ride, Learn to fall.

04-21-2008, 08:54 PM
horsemom4 Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 238	I have a parrot and I never use Glade Plug ins or anything like it...I think they are bad for birds and humans as well....

04-21-2008, 11:32 PM
pasomystic Long Yearling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,470	No personal experience, but every birdcare website I have looked at says no to air fresheners and birds. For instance: http://www.parrotchronicles.com/departments/hazards.htm __________________ We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are.

04-22-2008, 10:10 AM
Amy Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chino Valley, AZ Posts: 271	Technically, I think the answer to this question is yes, but I have an air freshener in the same room as my quaker w/o any issues. But it is a large, open area...

04-22-2008, 10:41 AM
Orchid Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 9,853	Glade Plug Ins and most other air fresheners are even bad for dogs (I read an article on it in Dog Fancy magazine) so I surely wouldn't use them around birds. __________________ Be thankful.

04-22-2008, 12:32 PM
wildcat180 Seasoned Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,130	I have to agree with Orchid. Air fresheners, while pleasant to us, can cause many problems for our pets. I can't use them anywhere in my house because my one dog is extremely sensitive to them. (His skin gets really bad.) For birds, I've dealt with some customers who's birds starting pulling out their feathers after air freshener use, as well as some come up with respiratory problems. Birds a very sensitive, even if they seem hardly. Did you know that the simple act of overheating a teflon pan can produce fumes that will kill a bird? (That's why it's best to keep birds out of the kitchen...) I'd be safe and not use them. If your house has an odor, it would be better to shampoo the carpets and stuff with pet friendly shampoo. Or sprinkle a bunch of baking soda on everything and vacuum it up an hour later. __________________ My manner of thinking, so you say, cannot be approved. Do you suppose I care? A poor fool indeed is he who adopts a manner of thinking for others!-Marquis de Sade

04-25-2008, 08:36 PM
LiquidStarlight Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 865	Thanks everyone for the advice, the air freshener is a no-go. I plugged it in to one of the rooms across the house from the bird and even on the lowest level it was so incredibly strong that it made me sick. So it has been tossed out, and I definately won't be buying one of those again. Wildcat, I just got through steam-cleaning all the carpets in the house and it already smells better and feels cleaner. I guess if we feel impulsive again we'll just stick with a small scented candle . __________________ There are times when you can trust a horse, times when you can't, and times when you have to.