Venting options...?

[Paralor]

I know it's not wise to have a bird subjected to an open window... but it's not good to have him in a stuffy room either..

Is there any way that I could have a window partially open without risking their health? Nights here in L A can be brutal in the summer.

Of course, part of the cage would be covered, but even then I wonder if it's safe. And if a bird sneezes once, does it mean it's sick? (I've been tld many things.)

Oh yes, unfortunately, due to living arrangements my room is the only place I can put him in, so it's not well vented unless a window is even partially open.


Any info helps, thanks!

[SDavid]

Welcome to BirdBoard.

Your not "subjecting" the bird to the open window because it's not a bad thing. Stuffy rooms are worse because all birds give off dust and it's unhelathy for them to breathe it as well as our human airborn irritants. They don't breathe these things in the wild because obviously they're outside. As long as the draft/wind chill doesn't bring the temperature down suddenly and too much your'e ok. If the draft doesn't bother you it wont bother your bird. It's summer so a bigger concern should be your bird overheating. Drafts would be a bigger problem in the winter. Your house will most likely be heated and at a stable temperature. To open a window then could chill your bird and cause health problems. Birds can tolerate low temperatures as evidenced by birds outside in the winter. But there needs to be a gradual transition to cold (like the seasons) in order for a birds bio-system to acclimate to it. This is why in our homes the sudden drop of temperature (opening a window in winter) can be fatal. Just like if there's a sudden cold wave there will be a large die-off of wild birds.

"And if a bird sneezes once, does it mean it's sick?

No. Your bird may be clearing his sinuses. They do this sometimes when entering a different room or going outside. Or for the same reason you might sneeze. Someone sprays hairspray, or there's some other irritant in the air.

[shosh]

Oh my gosh! Open the window!!!
Birds love fresh air, as do any animals.....And it is important to air out a room or it becomes stagnant and stale and nobody likes that.
Think: cold drafts are bad....warm winds are good.
Summer is a great time to have our little feathery friends enjoy the great outdoors, even if they can't get out there and, as a bonus, they get to hear their wild friends chirp.
By the way, even if you open a window a bit in winter for some fresh air, as long as there isn't a major drop in room temperature, you are ok, but always keep a bird out of line of a direct draft.

[Paralor]

The window is open. Moreso at day than at night. Thanks!

[huntress]

Allot of people dont understand that a draft and a breeze are two different things. A breezy window in the summertime is a good thing!