Candles

Question
QUESTION: I was just given a beautiful Cockatoo by my daughter as a surprise gift! I LOVE him! But I was somewhat un-prepared as it was a surprise. We have a really nice cage ,very large and safe toys,the food and treats that the pet store said he had been eating etc. My question is that I use tart warmers in my home for the fragrance. I know not to burn candles,but can I still use my tart warmers? I have removed them from his room ,which has a door that will always remaimn closed,we have cats also and they live in the other rooms unless we are all in the living room with the bird. We have put him in our main room as we are told he will want a lot of attention. Do you think it ok about the warmers? I use Old Virginia Sweet Lilies.Thank you very much.
June

ANSWER: I'm glad you asked about this.  Yes, some of these scent systems may release toxins into the air that can effect a bird's sensitive respiratory system; however, just as threatening is that they tend to reduce the oxygen in the air.  

Chances are these won't be terribly harmful as long as they're burned far away from your 'too and you have a healthy air circulation (perhaps crack open a window nearby without allowing him to be exposed to a chill or draft).

Take a look here for more about how to care and feed your new friend
    www.4AnimalCare.org  (copy and paste to your address bar)

Let me know if you need anything else.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much ,I will follow your advice .I will only use my warmer in my bedroom which is several rooms away and that way I still have the best of all worlds! I am addicted to my tarts as silly as that sounds,just love the scent. Now another question. I am looking into putting a air purifier in his room and my funds are pretty limited. I have been researching on line and not getting great reviews on many. Most also have Ion features but I think that might have a fume. Do you know a good one that is under 100.00?
Thank you again
June

Answer
 The air purifiers are tricky.  I started using the 'HEPA type' versions, which are not 'HEPA' - and no matter how much they say 'type', they don't do it.  

I ended up not using any at all and just vacuuming twice a day.  Much easier, quicker and it works like a charm.  Of course to start it takes a lot of work, washing down windows, blinds, curtains, etc. - but once that's all done, maintaining it is only a matter of maybe 5 minutes on each end of the day and the right attachments to keep up on the blinds if you have them.

 During winter months I put on a vaporizer (not a humidifyer) to really pump warm, steam into the air - it weighs down any dander, helps keep their feathers, skin and respiratory systems healthy - and the bonus is that it's good for humans too.

Summer is not much of a problem for me in California - very dry air.  

 I'm sorry I can't be more of a help with the filter advice, other than save up for the real HEPA and do lots of vacuuming in the meantime .  

 At least you've got your tarts :)