I've been in a similar situation with a dry apartment during the winter months, and I also wanted the benefits of aromatherapy especially lavender for sleep. But when you have pets, especially birds like Levi, you're absolutely right to pause and research first. Their respiratory systems are extremely sensitive, and even a small amount of essential oil in the air can be harmful.

In my case, I ended up using a separate diffuser in a room completely closed off from my bird’s space. I only run it at night while my bird is covered and in a different area, and I make sure the scent is completely gone by morning. Even then, I stick to single-ingredient oils and use just a drop or two diluted heavily.

Also, not all essential oils are created equal. Some are too strong or contain additives not meant for diffusion. I’ve had the best results with oils that are specifically tested for air diffusion and purity. If you're looking for more guidance on that, this resource is worth checking out: https://aromaparadise.com. It has helpful info on oil quality and usage that goes beyond the usual sales pitch.

And yes using distilled or bottled water is important for both your humidifier’s lifespan and your health. Tap water can leave mineral deposits or even foster bacteria if not cleaned properly.

Hope that helps a bit! It’s great that you’re thinking ahead and doing your research, it makes a huge difference when pets are involved.

 

I would also caution against diffusing essential oils. You can opt for roll-on oils before bed instead.

 

Hey. I've recently bought a diffuser, and I really like it. though I feel lazy to clean it sometimes< haha. I'm using an electrosonic one, you can check it out here,http://natadviser.com/best-essential-oil-diffuser-2016-2017/ it's the fourth one in the top ten list. I usually don't buy ready-made mixtures and make my own blends, cause it's more fun!

 

There is a lot of divided option as to whether essential oils are safe for parrots to breathe. Unfortunately, the only definitive sign would be a sick or dead bird, which makes the risk unacceptable for me. Parrots have very sensitive lungs, and many things that are safe or even healthy for us are not safe for them. I would be careful about putting anything into the air you share with birds.

 

I love my humidifier. I have to get a new filter for it right now I have a friend who puts a tiny bit of essential oils in a diffuser but it would make me nervous too. There's a lot of divided oppinon on it.

 

I specifically chose to get one without a filter haha I knew I would be too lazy to replace a filter.

 

Thanks all - tried using the essential oil in the humidifier while Levi was staying at grandma and grandpas and we decided the scent was too strong for us anyway. Cleaned it out and now we have it running just as a humidifier. Hopefully it helps his molt as well as our sinuses!

 

It's not worth the risk. I have a small apartment and our parrotlet is in the living room. I don't diffuse essential oil or burn candles in my home at all. I do run a humidifier though and he loves it during the dry months.

 

Be careful! If you do not know the effects of lavender oil, I would not experiment with your bird ( watching him will not change the results if it they are bad results.) Birds can get one whiff of something and when you turn around to look at them, they are gone. That quick.
Also-----
Use bottled water to humidify in a machine. It is known to be safe. Candles usually have lead in the wax or wick. Christmas candles are the worst. Lead is deadly. + + +

 

Thanks for the feedback! In a one bedroom apartment there isn't much space here... but I'm thinking I might just do one drop of lavender in the 500mL tank during the day and put it on for an hour with it in the bedroom so I can watch him closely before I try at night.

 

I diffuse oils. But only in a room the birds aren't in. So I will diffuse lavender at night in my bedroom. It's upstairs. The birds are on the main floor and the bedroom door is always shut.