Birdkeepers lung or allergic alveolitis

[2manypets]

So I just read about birdkeepers lung or allergic alveolitis and I have never heard about this before. Is it common? Do conures have a lot of dust? I was really hoping to get an African grey one day but that kind of freaked me out about them having a lot of dust and causing this. Is there any way to prevent this while owning birds?

 

[Rio Mom]

As far as I know, conures don't have dust. Cockatiels, Cockatoos, and African Greys are the dusty ones. You could get an air filtration system to help cut down on the dust, along with daily baths/showers for the bird.

 

[kerry]

I had a cockatiel, a Yellow Naped Amazon, a Citron Crested Cockatoo, an African Gray , a Blue & Gold macaw & a Rosebreasted cockatoo for over 10 years. I had spots on my lungs that I had to go in annually & have MRIs done on. I did have an aircleaner in the room with the birds. I cleaned the cages daily. I sold the birds when I got back with my ex-husband because he didn't like them. I filed for divorce years later anyway. The spots on my lungs didn't change over 5 years or so, so my Dr. stopped watching them. I had 4 dusty powder parrots, the cockatiel, the Citron, the Rosebreasted & the African Gray. At this point I will not get one or more of the powder dust parrots because I don't think that it is worth giving up my health for. It is a personal choice.

 

[Spiritbird]

Many of the air filtration systems on the market are ineffective. RabbitAir is specifically for birds. It has 6 different filters and they get changed one time a year. Yes, you have to pay the price to get one but in the long run it is well worth it.

 

[kobe629]

Wow this is good to know I never new that..I just bought a cocktail for my sister too..

 

[2manypets]

Do all birds have a lot of dust or is it just the larger ones? Or just a couple birds?

 

[Mayden]

Wow this is good to know I never new that..I just bought a cocktail for my sister too..

Don't panic, it's not likely to kill her ^^

 

[JensFlock]

Kerry, do you think it's as dangerous if I have 4 birds, but the only dusty one is the cockatoo? I have an air purifier next to the cage.

 

[Mayden]

Do all birds have a lot of dust or is it just the larger ones? Or just a couple birds?

Mainly just the cockatoo's/tiels and African Greys.

 

[Netty]

I have always loved me my air purifiers, I have one next to my side of the bed and whenever i have caged animals - birds or rats mainly, i put one in the same room as close to the cage as possible.
I have some pretty rocking allergies to dust(I HATE THEM HATE THEM HATE THEM!) and my sinuses are set off bad by dust BUT I have never had a problem as long as the purifier is there, small amounts i can handle but large amounts don`t do well with me. (IE i found grey`s to be one of the dustier birds BUT i am going to do EVERYTHING i can to minimize dust - higher humidity in room, palm oil on their food, palm nut treats, aloe-water misting and random water misting, as well as the purifier are in the regime for when i get my own)

I bird sat for a while for my friends aunts 2 greys and they weren`t that bad but she also had a good regime for them so that they weren`t that dusty.

 

[2manypets]

I guess if I get one I will have to get an air purifier and try some of the things like palm oil, mistings, etc.

Also I read you inhale most of the dust when cleaning the cage? I would think if would be when handling the bird?

 

[Netty]

no when cleaning the cage you are stirring up the dust from the bird being in the cage which you tend to be right in your face with.

I found that if i mist down the cage before i clean i don`t have a problem, if my sinuses are acting up really bad i go cowboy and put a bandana over my face LOL

 

[2manypets]

That would make sense lol.