newbie here

[imported_Laura]

Hi All,
I just found this site and looks like I could learn alot here! I live in N.J. by the shore and have a WC Pionus Zoey who I adopted about 6 mo's ago. boy am I glad I did!! she is such a joy! i really did not know much about her spcies when I got her, but through forums like this am learning. I also resuced two tiels about a week ago, the poor things had not been out of their cage in over 6 months and I don't thnk the cage had been cleaned in as long. i did this for my son, but unortunitly have discovered that I am highly allergic to them, so we are trying a couple of things to see if I can live with them or not. I would hate to have to rehome them as they are just starting to come out and explore.
besides the birds we have many other pets as well, not to mention 4 kids, so i am pretty busy all day. One day I would love to have an Ekkie or a Noble macaw (if I could ever find one)
I have lots to learn and am glad to have found a site with so many experienced people.

[imported_David]

Laura
When you say 'allergic', do you mean allergic as in Emphysema, Asthma, Chronic Bronchitis or you do mean allergic as in 'allergic to chocolate or cheese etc etc?
If it's a breathing disorder, check out this link. This company as well as many others supply items that can help or reduce breathing difficulties----Dave

www.oreck.com/ air-purifiers/

[imported_Laura]

well it's more like my sinuses, and my eye swelled up like I had been punched in the face. As long as I don't handle them i am okay, so i will have to see how well my son takes care of them. since cleaning the cage might give the same result.
thanks for the link I will check it out

Welcome Laura.

David has asked some good questions when it comes to what you consider to be an allergic reaction. It might very well be the dust from the birds that is causing your reaction. Air cleaners really do reduce dust and dander caused by birds.
I know you new ones are afraid and introverted right now, but have you tried offering them bath water or giving them a good shower or spray with a water bottle. This can be very frightening to traumatized birds, but if you can condition them, you can greatly reduce the dander that they produce.
Good luck with them and I hope you get to keep them. You sound like exactly what they need.

We're having a photo contest beginning Oct 1st, so if you have any pictures, please consider posting them! Even if you don't want to enter the contest, we love pictures just the same.

Michael

[imported_David]

Laura

I'd like to add something concerning what Michael said. It also has to do with spraying. The next time you're about to clean a cage take that same water mister and mist the tray contentsin the cage. It wets the loose microscopic dust and light feathers and makes it heavy and less likely to be airborne. Also, when you put the tray contents in a garbage can/bag mist the contents of tray that are now in the garbage. That keeps feathers and dust and other things from floating around when you decide to put another piece of refuse in the can/bag.----------Dave

That's a good idea. When I clean a lot of cages on one day, I wear one of those paper masks that you can buy when you paint or do some dusty work. It really helps me to breathe better. It might work for you, too?

[imported_Laura]

Wow thanks for all the ideas!! I will deinitly give them a try. We have put them in on my father's side of the house, so see if my eye would get better (which it did) and they seem to be taking to him. I dont think he expected this!! but I notice when i go in the room it's almost like I can taste the dust and dander, when it gets really bad like it did the other night when one flew onto my shoulder, I feel like i am coming down with the flu. but a shot of benedryl, helped alot. I will definitly get the masks, and as for misting them, I am trying to do that but they do not seem to like it, at least not like my Zoey who will spread out her wings, and lean into it, they try to get away from it. Maybe it's just that they are not used to it. I will also check into air cleaners, and mist before changing the cage ( I never would have thought of that!)
thanks again or all the advice
Laura