Birch tree branches?

[Tangie]

Hey guys! So, I realized that I needed to redo my room a little, add a few bookshelves, rugs, and ect. I found this cool bookshelf idea online that included birch tree branches. Now, Kiko would not be in contact with the branches ever(but there is always a chance for anything to happen), and for the most part it looked like everything would be fine, but the reason why I am asking this is because I heard different reports on if birch bark had fumes. They say that the bark could emit fumes, but I want the bark still on the branches. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Flboy]

Safe..
From: Bird; Birds: Safe, Toxic Trees, Woods. Safe Tree Wood. Parrots. Parrot cages.

Birch The following comments are a PARAPHRASE from Gillian Willis - author - with clarification:
Birch is Betula species. LEAVES & BARK contain salicylates and a few substances ... . The low concentration ... Birch should be considered safe for natural wood perches. The seeds inside the cones are a special goodie safe for birds to eat. (end of paraphrase) Think: Automobile fumes can be damaging. We don't want to be enclosed where the fumes are trapped. But walking down the street where those fumes are in the air at low concentrations, we feel safe to breath. As noted, Birch should be considered safe and the risk of leaving bark is inconsequential.

 

[SailBoat]

NOTE: If you live in a 'new' home that was built using tight seal technologies, the rules regarding low toxin contamination levels have changed.

'Sick Home' is a term that 'had' applied to homes with black mold or other specific toxic based problems. Today that term also applies to 'new' tight seal homes that do not have the proper fresh air exchange system. Where there are building codes, those codes are based on healthy adults with 'normal' levels of foot traffic in and out of the home.

Homes with seniors, adults with limited lung capacity and/or parrots (no available studies) need a filtered, positive pressure air exchange system, which is incorporated into the heating/cooling system.

 

[Dinosrawr]

I built my entire bird stand out of birch after thoroughly cleaning it and debarking most of the branches. I disinfected it before debarking and after (used a small amount of bleach water then sat out in the sun for a day). I've had it for around 8 months now and I've had zero issues. But I also got branches that were far away from lots of emissions from vehicles and the like.