Random Questions . . . .

[KoacNation]

1) If I wanted to repaint two of my walls, would the paint smell hurt the birds? If I put fans to blow the fumes away from the aviary and opened the windwos would it be okay?

2) My fireplace is on the opposite wall of my aviary. About 25 feet or more apart, can I use the fireplace?

3) To hide the smell (I think the eggfood with kelp causes the smell) I have been trying droping pet carpet cleaner around the base AFTER vaccuuming so it has time to absorb before I vaccuum again a few days later and I bought smelling crystals. Are either of these bad ideas? The smell isnt bad, but I dont want any visitors thinking, "ewww! if sometime there is a "scent")

4) Once a week I use a wire brush and break off the poop on the wire mesh base of the aviary, then take a bowl of hot water, and wet a few rags set them on the base of the aviary, to soften the poop then it wipes away quite easily. I dont notice that bad a smell afterwards seeing as wet poop smells worse, but does anyone have any other or better ideas for cleaning? Im happy with this, but just wondering

5) I bought kelp from a vitamin shop, and crushed it and added it to their big seed box, a few random feathers seem to have popped back up on the one balding goulds head, but I'm not sure if that was the best way to give her the kelp. Would anyone suggest just crushing a pill and placing it in the water bottle they drink from?

6) I had a ceramic heat lamp I put on the top of the aviary, wire mesh top, and it didnt seem to matter, I thought for sure they would sit under it, any thoughts?

thanks everybody!

[Sally]

1. I would use one of the low-odor paints, like the ones that are child-safe. It would be best to move the birds out of the room till the painting is finished, but that isn't always possible. With lots of ventilation, I'd think it would be OK.

2. I don't have a fireplace, so can't help you there.

3. You have to be careful using 'scented' anything around birds. If you think it might be the kelp w/eggfood, why not just feed plain eggfood, and have the kelp in a separate dish like a finger tray?

4. Don't have any better ideas, because I take all grates out of my cages.

5. I wouldn't place any kelp or vitamin supplement in the water. That way, they are forced to take in the supplement whether they need or want it or not. Much better to offer it free choice, so the birds can help themselves.

6. How hot is the ceramic bulb, and how close is it to the perch? It may be too hot, so they are avoiding it. Or the temp in the rest of the aviary is just right, so they don't feel a need to get warmer.

[bluebutterfly213]

Bicarbonate of soda is really good absorber of smells. As my birds are outside I can drop some aromatic oils (water soluble) in the bicarb and sprinkle this across the carpet leave for a little while then vac up. Maybe a bowl of PLAIN bicarb somewhere near the birdcage would work for you.
I also use a bowl of Bicarb in the fridge as a smell absorber

[Ursula]

I'd say if the fireplace is clean and the chimney works as it should (meaning ALL smoke and fumes go up the chimney and not into the room), and if it's not too close to the birds, you should be ok. I'd get an inspection of the fireplace before using it, not only for the birds' sake but for your own. You don't want to inhale fumes either or burn down your house.

We have a fireplace in the combined living/dining room and when I had the budgies in a cage they were about 20 feet away from it, and they were ok.