Wood burning fireplace

[DexMom]

We have a fireplace that we used quite often in years before we welcomed Dexter into our family. Is it safe to use now that we have a resident bird? It is located in the room adjacent to the room that Dexter's cage is in - there are french doors that can be closed between the rooms if that makes any difference. I'm not so attached to using the fireplace and frankly wouldn't miss it at all, but my husband is going to be disappointed if I tell him it's not safe. Of course, Dexter's safety is paramount.

 

[Taw5106]

I am not an expert but I suggest you not use it till experts reply. I love a nice fire and it is upsetting and frustrating to me that my fids can't be around it. Like you said, "Fid" safety is paramount. I'm watching to see what is said. We are looking for a home with enough space for a bird room, a fire place would be bonus if it works.

 

[SailBoat]

Technology has changed greatly since the fireplace in your home was installed. With older designs, fresh air from inside the home is used and very minor changes in any part of the fireplace can result in a back flow into the home.

Although most States continue to allow the use of existing fireplaces, building code will not allow their use (non-current technology - 2015) in new construction.

Your choice to use or not use the fireplace in your home is clearly your choice. However, it would be highly recommended that you have it inspected and cleaned prior to use. Even if the fireplace is inspected, repaired and cleaned as needed, in and of themselves, they cannot assure safe use since the majority of older fireplaces allow 'user' adjustments.

 

[Puck]

If your fireplace meets the proper ventilation codes, it should be safe to use it with your fid in the other room. The warm air should take the smoke and fumes up the chimney and outside following the good old "heat rises" rule. However, if you have a ventless fireplace, you may be returning some fumes to the room. I wouldn't put my bird right next to a fireplace, but in the next room I would say he is fine. Of course, this is based off my understanding of fireplaces rather than proven experience with an actual bird, so the bird experts might have a slightly different answer than me.

 

[jasper19]

Every place i have been in that has had a real fire place....if you open the door to put more wood in, smoke would come into the room. Or if you adjusted the vent wrong, or at the wrong time....smoke would be in the room.

I would be wary at the very least. Make sure you know how to properly stoke the fire, when and why to open flues/vents etc. and when to and not to open the door. Tons of smoke can pour in from a fire if done wrong i believe. Or at least i have seen it happen even in a modern fireplace.

 

[dhraiden]

Interesting thread. I've an old fireplace I've never yet used, but whose chimney/flue etc has all been recently relined/cleaned and so on. It has a screen, and iron curtain in front of it as well. Bird's in an adjacent dining space with fresh-air by a window, but I'm quite curious to see how and whether I could put a log in there and get a cozy flame going.

 

[Hawk]

I have used a fireplace 3 years now with no problems. It's a more efficient
wood burning stove, and had no Problems with the birds. I also bought a hand held senser that can be used to monitor carbon dioxide in the air and oxygen depletion levels and gases. They are not cheap...you can get one for around $200 dollars and very well worth it if you have birds.

Keep in mind that running a gas stove oven and stove top in winter months with house closed up tight gives off just as much as some of the newer wood stoves. Very low.... but bear in mind that anything that burns any type fuel, wood, coal, will produce an some form of waste products into the air however small, so with birds, always monitor the air quality. That's you safe bet life line.

 

[DexMom]

I came home tonight to find that my husband had built a fire in the fireplace. Although we had 2 separate conversations about whether the fireplace was safe to use with Dexter in the house, he conveniently "forgot."

The door between the rooms was open and though it didn't appear smoky at all, I could smell the fire burning the minute I opened the door inside from the garage so there was certainly something in the air. I freaked the hell out and was not patient or kind when I barked at my husband to close the interior doors and ran into the sun room to pull Dexter's cage near the patio doors and open them for fresh air. It was not pretty. I was pissed and really made no effort to hide it.

Thankfully, Dexter seems no worse for the wear and I hope he stays that way. I will certainly not sleep very much tonight. I tend to have a very high level of anxiety about the health and safety of the people and animals in my care, and my anxiety manifests itself in insomnia.

 

[Nakiska]

Well, I am no expert either, however I have been owned by our happy, healthy fids for over 6 years now. We have used exclusively, our woodstove for heat during winter in our drafty old home with no problems.

My vet gives all our birds a clean bill of health every time I take them in.



Toni

 

[Hawk]

Well, I am no expert either, however I have been owned by our happy, healthy fids for over 6 years now. We have used exclusively, our woodstove for heat during winter in our drafty old home with no problems.

My vet gives all our birds a clean bill of health every time I take them in.



Toni

I have a wood stove as well, my birds have been fine over the years. Use common sense, be aware of flue on stove, monitor the air quality ( I have a hand held device), and you'll be fine. Really

 

[DexMom]

Thanks for the information and confidence that we can use our fireplace as long as we take precautions. I'm going to look into getting an air quality monitor, if only to ease my mind.

Dexter was no worse for the wear and I clearly overreacted. Not knowing if we had inadvertently put him at risk had me very scared. He's my first bird, I love him dearly and I'm so nervous that I'm going to make some rookie mistake that will effect his health that I'm a bit jumpy.