upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

hello

does anyone know if a person can develope an allery to just one kind of bird or bird dust? i have had a pair of tiels for over three years with no problems, but i adopted a goffin about 8 months ago and for at least the last couple of months i'm coughing alot and my chest is tight. i did also get another pair of tiels during the same time i got the goffin. so a total of five dusty type of birds. any info would be helpful.

thanks michelle

Yes, it's possible... However, I don't know of anyone who hasn't been allergic to cockatiels but allergic to cockatoos (they are, after all, in the same general family and closely enough related to hybridize) or vice versa... I have heard of people being allergic to toos but not to african greys...

You may need to get a couple HEPA air filters (NOT "Like HEPA" and NO ionizers UNLESS you can turn the ionizer off), make sure that any filters in your house are changed every couple of months (furnace filters, or any others), maybe look into getting a HEPA vacuum, and if it's warm enough opening up some windows (especially if they have screens on them... can even put some window fans to bring in fresh air).

When cage cleaning, spray the papers with water a little before changing them out... and be extra vigilant about making sure everything around the birds cages are kept clean. Also, be sure that ALL birds get bathed daily. This will greatly help keep the dust down... Even if they don't like it...

Try bathing them with a spray bottle, with a plant mister (these tend to be quieter, and produce a finer mist), in the shower, giving them a shallow dish of cold water, cold water with ice, or cold water with some foot toys... if they have a shallow dish of water then try running the vacuum (yes, I know, this sounds crazy... but just try it! Works for some people! They thought I was crazy until they tried it and their birds bathed! But not all birds will bathe with a vacuum running)... or if there is any rain where your at, take them outside in their cage while it's raining, or even take them outside in their cage, and use a hose with mist or shower on and spray above them!

Of course you could also take allergy meds to help, if you aren't already...

we use to breed cockatiels and had about 20 pair, I have also been around many Mollucans and have never had a problem. When we adopted our goffin I have started having reactions to her. After about 30 Min. I start to get a head ache then my throat starts hurting, I put her down for about 30 Mins till it all goes away and then pick her back up for about 30 Min. so if you work with it you can still have a good relationship with your bird.
Jack