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Hi everyone - I've not posted on the board for a very long time. I have a male normal cocatiel, Taz, and a silver pied female, Angel. They mate quite often and she lays eggs all the time it seems, but since they are caged and I'm not interested in additional cockatiels I've always taken the eggs away after about a week.

Anyway, the reason for my post is that I have developed horrible sinus issues. My ENT says I will likely need surgery and they dust from the cockatiels is just too much for my sinuses. He believes I've developed an allergy to them over the years. I've had cockatiels for nearly 30 years. I also have an African Red-Belly, but she is not dusty like the cockatiles. I purchased a large air filter and placed it near the cage, but that hasn't helped.

I've considered purchasing a small aviary and putting them outside. Unfortunately, since someone found the female and brought her to me my male is no longer tame. He's social, but not tame. I don't know if an aviary would be the best solution or not. I live near hills and often have racoons, skunks and other night visitors. I have a koi pond which is covered and a motion-sensored sprinkler keeps that pretty safe at night. I live on the California central coast so the weather here is relatively mild.

I've also considered finding a new home for them with someone who is interested in raising baby cockatiels, but how would I know if it would be a good home? I take good care of them, feed them Harrison's pellets and some other treats they enjoy. Turning them over to a stranger worries me.

I'm not sure what would be in their best interest. Any Suggestions?

How sad. I am sorry that you are sick and sorry your doctor said this was the thing to do.
Anyways, you might want to contact a local bird club that may be interested in finding homes for your tiels.

Mickaboo is in central CA. While they cannot accept any birds at this time, their site has great suggestions on how to properly rehome a bird. Take a look.

What type of air filter did you get? Have you thought about purchasing a HEPA vacuum? Giving the tiels frequent bathes, at least 3-7 times a week? Lightly spraying the cage papers before cleaning them, and making sure the cage is kept cleaned daily? Allowing fresh air from outside to help "freshen" the inside?

Although an aviary may be a great idea, you do have to worry about predators such as racoons, dogs, cats, birds of prey, snakes.... and of course other pesky creatures such as mice. If you can build a pretty safe aviary (double wired for extra protection, concrete bottom or up off the ground, with bottom 2' surrounded by wood, plexiglass, sheet metal, etc) then it may be ideal... although the aviary would need a place for protection from the elements, as well as ways to keep warm, or perhaps even cool down, such as having a sprinkler system come on when the temperature reaches a certain degree.

However, if your allergies have gotten too severe to care for your birds/tiels, then rehoming them may be your best option... ask for a rehoming fee (whether or not you charge one is up to you, just put it in the ad), vet references, perhaps doing an in-home inspection to make sure the environment they are going to is clean, ask them what diet they feed, etc. Or, try going through a bird club or rescue instead.

Thank you all for your responses. It sounds like the aviary idea might be too much for me.
I do have a $400. HEPA vacuum and a $500. HEPA filter system. I spray my birds at least 3 times a week and offer them a bath each week, though they don't always bathe.
Mickaboo is quite a ways from me - I'm close to Santa Barbara - but they do have some good ideas for re-homing.
I guess I just have to make up my mind what the best option is. I've never let one of my pets go before and I feel terribly guilty about even considering it.

Thanks again for your responses.