Cockatiels cage placement

Question
This is our first bird... ever.  We've had everything else.  We want the cage in the kitchen... thats the best place for it... but will dander get in the food if its 2 feet from the table?  I know about the teflon thing and have GREEN pans only....What do you think about the bird being too close to the table?

Answer
I wish I could tell you that 'green pans' are ok, but unfortunately, they're not.  In fact, with a small bird like a 'tiel - overheating anything can cause enough respiratory distress to become life threatening.  It's the overheating that is the most common problem.

The heat produced by cooking normally will decrease the oxygen in the surrounding air, also a potential hazard for a bird.

Drip pans must never be the coated kind - these are highly toxic and heat to far higher heats than pans or pots do.

When it comes to your own health, you're right, a 'tiel is very "dusty" with a powder like underlayer that can coat everything.  During molts it's even worse with big and little feathers everywhere!

Just one more reason to avoid a 'tiel in the kitchen.

 I love cockatiels - they were the very first caged bird I started my rescue and consultation efforts with.  These days I am focused on larger birds like macaws and they tend to be allergic to the 'tiels and other dusty birds, so I can only enjoy them in other people's homes.

 Take a look at my site for pictures and more about ideal bird care.  Let me know if you need anything else.

  www.4AnimalCare.org