Please Help!!

[driven]

My dad is doing a lot of dry wall work downstairs and I am very worried now. It is hard for me to breathe it in let alone a tiny bird. As many of you know, I had to move Levi out of my room because of my allergies and his cage is right out in the open up here. It's kind of like this open hallway balcony thing upstairs if you know what I mean. I know you've seen it, it's just hard to explain.

Anyways, I came home last night from my boyfriend's house and I was coughing because the dry wall was so bad and I barely went to sleep. They aren't finished working on it and this morning I checked on Levi. Just to see how bad it was, I ran my fingers across his cage and not to my surprise there was a heavy layer of dry wall dust all over the cage.

I quickly moved him back into my room and that is where is at right now, but I am still worried about it. Even with my bedroom door closed the dust still makes its way in. I have the window open so I'm hoping that will help a bit for right now. I don't have a hepa air filter right now because the one that I got broke a couple days after getting it.

I am going to have to spend a few nights over at my mom's house because I can't handle all of this dust. I only have 2 options with Levi. I can either trasport him back into his smaller cage that he couldn't stand and bring him over to my mom's house with me and hope he can handle all of the stress of a different and much smaller cage and being in a house he isn't used to. Or I can just leave him in my bedroom and hope he is ok.

How bad is it for birds to breathe in this stuff? I know it can't be good, but I would realy like to know exactly how bad it is. Please help! I am not sure what to do!

[Jinx n Noodle]

I would say you should bring him with you to your Mom's. He may hate the smaller cage, but if you make sure that he has plenty of time out, I'm sure he'll be fine. It'll be stressful for both of you, but it's better than breathing in all the dust.

[LBTerry]

I would move the bird and yourself out of the dusty environment until the work is done and it has been cleaned up.

Here's a safety article on the hazards of gypsum board and joint compound dust:
http://www.cleanairamerica.com/dangers.htm

[BeakerLuvsBunsen]

I would say to move him to another environment as soon as possible
even if he has to stay in a smaller cage

[driven]

Ok. Even if the drywall work is almost done and he is in a closed room upstairs? I think my dad said that they will be finished today, but then they are going to start painting. So even with everything almost done, do you still think I need to bring him to my mom's house? I just hate to stress him out unless it's totally necessary, you know?

And hey, any advice on the drive in the car? He's been in the car once before and I had him in his cage on the passenger seat and I told myself I never wanted to do that again because he looked like he was terrified. The cage kept rattling really bad even when I put my hand on it to try to keep it still. And he was clinging to the side of the cage looking like he was horrified. What can I do to make it an easier ride over??

Thanks so much for all of your advice!!!!

[LBTerry]

I'd use a small travel cage. There's virtually no rattle to those. Partially covering the cage helps too, so he's not distracted and confused by the constantly changing surroundings.

[Petie's_Mom]

I would be moving my bird. The paint fumes won't be good for him either. You need to keep him at your Mom's for a few days after the painting is done too. Here is some info I found on the internet.

"New paint fumes and new carpeting can kill a bird. Be sure the room is very well aired out before bringing the bird back into the room. Fumes travel, so if new paint or carpeting is added anywhere in the house, keep the bird in a room away from the fumes, close the door and air out the house."

" New carpet backing, paneling, and particleboard contain formaldehyde, and fumes are LETHAL. Paint, varnish and wallpaper paste all contain toxic fumes. Arrange for someone else to keep your bird until you can no longer smell the fumes."

You just don't want to take any chances with your Fid.

[JackieRTP]

When I first traveled with my parrotlet in the car, it rattled too. I removed the grate the next time prior to taking the cage to the car and just brought the grate out seperately. It was MUCH quieter,

[Jinx n Noodle]

I use the seatbelt and wrap it around the cage to keep it in place; maybe that will help too.

[LovelySydney]

Yes, definitely get Levi out of there, those fumes can kill him. It will take a moment to get used to your moms home but he will become accustomed - better than breathing in the drywall dust.

[Amaranita]

Could you find a way to transport his regular cage to your mom's?

[raiven]

Yes, definitely get him out. You would be very sad and just blame yourself if something were to happen to him. Sadie traveled with me to my parents at Christmas and had to stay in a small cage for several days. She was okay with that. She is just happy to have her person or persons nearby

[Trice]

Talke Levi to your moms , the smells can be toxic to tiny birds. Including paint smells. Due to the toxic smells / fumes around him, he could be dead if you don't.


Teflon coating in pots and pans produce highly toxic fumes, parrotlets that are in the same room with someone cooking with pots and etc... coating with this end up dead due to toxic smells they produce.

[driven]

Thank you everyone. We are both staying over at my mom's house right now. We spent the night last night and will be spending the night tonight. Not sure how many days we will be here. I am still having a lot of trouble with anxiety and I feel more stressed staying over here. I think it is because it's different than my regular routine and anything and everything stresses me out right now. *sighs* Oh well... I don't know what else to do.

I put the seatbelt around his cage and that helped quite a bit on the way over here so that was good. The blanket over the cage is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that. I guess I thought he would enjoy looking outside, but if things are going by so fast I guess it would be pretty scary. So I will be putting a blanket over the cage on the way back home.

He definitely doesn't like the smallness of the cage and he does seem stressed by it, but you are right, it is better than breathing in those fumes. I try to get him out as much as possible too.

He does chirp and chatter sometimes. Does that mean he is happy? I guess I still don't really know how to tell if a bird is happy or not.

Something bad happened that really terrified him though. We have him in my mom's room on the nightstand because it is the best spot in the house for him because it is right by the window and it is in a closed room away from the dogs and cat. But I was away today for an appointment and my brother came home and went in there and left the door open and one of the dogs got in. He knocked down the entire cage from the nightstand to the ground.

My step dad was there after it happened to pick the cage up, but Levi was pretty scared afterward. He is even scared to come out on my hand now and won't let me pet him. Then he will fly from my hand to somewhere high in the room. I couldn't believe the dog would do that and I was very upset so I have moved the cage to the top of the entertainment center in the living room where nothing can get to him. But it is right by the speakers for the TV. We are trying to keep the TV pretty low though. I just really don't want him to be in reach of the dogs anymore.

So what are the signs of a happy bird? He hasn't chattered since the accident, but he does chirp...

Thanks!!!

[Jinx n Noodle]

Chattering is a good sign, even if it's the occassional chirp. It's probably a shocker to be knocked over and don't worry, things like that happen at my house, but they bounce back once things settle down.

I hope things settle down for everybody soon!

[Sally]

Make sure he is getting his favorite foods to comfort him. It is stressful for you both, but you have to have clean air. Hope you can go home soon, but the paint etc. has to air out for a few days.

[unpoquito]

Aimee,
I'm sorry that happened. It's good that you're keeping the cage up high. Levi may be scared for a short while or a long time from the dog knocking his cage over. The dog didn't do anything wrong - it's instinctual for dogs to want to chase birds. Just go by Levi's body language - you know him better than anyone, and will know when he's recovered emotionally.

[driven]

So guess what? Now I have another sinus infection. I'm thinking it could be from the dry wall dust that I had already breathed in a couple days ago. I can't believe this. As if I'm not already going through a lot as it is, now I'm sick. I'm taking antibiotics, so hopefully I will get better soon. *sighs* I am so sick of this. I guess I'm going to need to probably stay over here until I'm better. Because even though they are done with the drywall and painting now, the dust is still around. Ugh...

[Jinx n Noodle]

Ooo, that sucks! I hope you get better soon.

[lily]

You might try Rescue Remedy for both you and your bird. I love the stuff. It is available at your local health food store. Dilute it -- 4 drops into a one-ounce bottle of filtered or spring water. Keep in the 'fridge. You can take it four or more times a day--frour drops on the tongue is the usual recommendation. You can put several drops of the diluted solution into your bird's water to help him overcome the shock of getting knocked over and the stress of his new situation.

Rescue Remedy is non-toxic and the dose is not critical. However, because the solution in the original bottle is preserved in alcohol, you need to dilute it for birds, as I suggested.

I hope you are feeling better soon.