paint fumes.

[kq_fan]

Hello! I hope you and your fids are all are doing good! Anyways, we are on step one of remodeling the bird room! and we painted the walls a week and a day ago. The birds have been down stairs. So my question is, can I put them in the room again? It doesn't smell to fumy in there and I have had the door and window open for a while. Is it ok for them to go back and if they can, should I leave the door open for a while? Thanks so much! And btw, I don't know what kind of paint we used but I am pretty sure it was the kind you use for a Childs room so its supposed to be kid safe and pet safe. I don't know though... sorry.

 

[Dinosrawr]

Do you still have the paint can? If it's meant for children, chances are it's low VOC, meaning it's fine for birds to be around after about a day of airing out and drying. If it's not low VOC, a week of being away from it should be just fine.

 

[kq_fan]

I did see it today and it said on the can low VOC. Ok good! It smells a little bit but it has been a while since we painted Thanks!

 

[kyanite]

I am unsure of your specific paint, but I have heard by a vet that it's good to wait a full three weeks before putting the birds in the room. This may be erring on the side of overly cautious, but that's pretty much how I am in general.. the vet says three weeks, I wait four or five. If the paint says a few days, I'd still wait a few extra. Remember little birdy lungs are more sensitive than even a child's!

 

[Dinosrawr]

If the paint is high gloss, then generally it isn't low VOC and it should most definitely be around that time because of the fumes. But high gloss paints are used for kitchens, accent walls, and bathrooms, which birds generally aren't in, though it certainly would help keep the walls clean! Low VOC paints emit such a minute amount of fumes that they do little harm to anything, despite the smell (and they generally are low odour to begin with too). I painted my room with low VOC and the next day my birds were in it... a year later and their lungs are just fine. They are sensitive, but they're far more resilient than we give them credit for

EDIT: and I guess one thing I want to add is that the fumes are only released while the paint is drying. Once it's dried, it's no longer dangerous. If it's aired out properly while drying and after drying (which I forgot to mentioned it was, and my birds were in a separate room that was also well ventilated), the birds shouldn't have any problems going back into it IF it's low VOC.

 

[Dewfield]

After reading this thread, I don't see any mention of the paint was latex(water based) or oil based. When you were done painting, did you use paint thinner or water to clean your hands, equipment etc.
if it was water based paint, your kids can go back in there as soon as it drys. Oil based paints do not dry, they oxidize! This can take months to happen.
Our bird room is painted with latex (as are most homes these days) and I touch up the walls in there all the time. I move the cages away from the walls, do my touch up and slide them back.
I'm a little OCD, that's why to frequent touch ups!:32:
Dewfield

 

[Dewfield]

Another thing that should be watched out for after a remodel!!!! Do you carpet the room? SOME new carpet is actually treated with formaldehyde and the fumes coming off of it could be deadly to birds.
Before we relocated to our current home, new carpet was installed. We asked the owner to leave the windows open and the central fan running for us. We waited a week to move in just to be safe. Not all new carpet is treated this way but if you DID carpet, you should find out from the manufacturer if it is! Better safe than sorry!
Dewfield