will fumes from refinishing wood floor be toxic to finches?

For concerns related to avian illness and wellbeing.
Post Reply
User avatar
alittlebirdy
Pip
Pip
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 12:54 pm
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana

will fumes from refinishing wood floor be toxic to finches?

Post by alittlebirdy » Wed May 01, 2013 5:10 pm

We are planning to refinish our wood floors in kitchen. My finches are in an aviary right next to the area. Do I need to take them to another part of the house while this is being done? I am thinking I should because of the fumes but the move will disturb my finches who are in the nest. It will be a chore because I will have to house them in temporary cages. The aviary is too large to move. I can't put off the project because we are planning a large party in June and we need to complete this before that time.
Sheryl

debbie276
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 14789
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
Location: WV

Re: will fumes from refinishing wood floor be toxic to finch

Post by debbie276 » Wed May 01, 2013 6:10 pm

Is there anyway of closing off the doorway with maybe a sheet and putting fans in the windows to draw out the dust and fumes?
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

User avatar
alittlebirdy
Pip
Pip
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 12:54 pm
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana

Re: will fumes from refinishing wood floor be toxic to finch

Post by alittlebirdy » Wed May 01, 2013 6:26 pm

I think I could put up a plastic tarp to block the kitchen from the family room. I could also open windows to ventilate and use fans. Thx.
Sheryl

User avatar
Ginene
Molting
Molting
Posts: 4333
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:52 pm
Location: Staten Island, New York

Re: will fumes from refinishing wood floor be toxic to finch

Post by Ginene » Wed May 01, 2013 6:32 pm

Poly is sooo strong... I would move my guys...better to be safe than sorry...

User avatar
30 Seconds to Bob
Weaning
Weaning
Posts: 1786
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:12 pm
Location: west central florida

Re: will fumes from refinishing wood floor be toxic to finch

Post by 30 Seconds to Bob » Wed May 01, 2013 6:43 pm

Depending on the VOC content in the product you use, it could be fatal to them if NOT properly ventilated. Bob
3 canaries
2 orange cheeked waxbill finches
2 java finches, 1 split to normal, 1 white
2 bourke parakeets
1 american staffordshire/american pit bull terrier
1 boston/jack russel terrier mix
6 adopted stray cats
2 adult, 1 young leopard gecko
4 fish tanks and 4 fish bowls
3 turtles
2 teenage kids and 1 wife

User avatar
cindy
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 18754
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:33 pm
Location: west central Florida

Re: will fumes from refinishing wood floor be toxic to finch

Post by cindy » Wed May 01, 2013 7:34 pm

If you have central air do not turn it on while redoing the floors...it will pull the fumes and dust through out the house. We had to move our 8x6x3 aviary, we used the long moving men pads to slide it across the room.

Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets


~ My Facebook groups ~

*Finchaholics ~ finches, hookbills, softbills & canaries are welcome here!
discussions regarding species, housing, breeding, preventatives, treatments

*Birdaholics ~ Avian Classified Ads Only

User avatar
Lisa
Weaning
Weaning
Posts: 1796
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:16 am
Location: White Plains, NY

Re: will fumes from refinishing wood floor be toxic to finch

Post by Lisa » Wed May 01, 2013 11:50 pm

We recently did construction work in our home and not only thick wooden doors dividing the birds from the room where the work was done, but also had the doors sealed with plastic also. We bought NO-VOC paint to use, and guess what? The birds still had a reaction (we think from the glues used).

I would not take any chances... move them to temporary cages. How terrible would you feel if you don't and something bad happens? Not worth the chance, imo.

Casper
Fledgeling
Fledgeling
Posts: 105
Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:34 am
Location: Adelaide, South Australia

Re: will fumes from refinishing wood floor be toxic to finch

Post by Casper » Thu May 02, 2013 12:04 am

When we redid our cork floor, the guys doing it recommended that i send my birds completely offsite, so they went on a little holiday to my sisters place for a few days!
Totally owned by a spoodle called Pepsi, 4 very cute zebra finches (2 fawn females, 1 ??? and 1 white male) and about 60 guppies! And loving every minute of it!

User avatar
Toddmin
Sisal Slave
Sisal Slave
Posts: 569
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:34 am
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: will fumes from refinishing wood floor be toxic to finch

Post by Toddmin » Thu May 02, 2013 7:28 am

When I had the interior of my house painted, I moved the birds to another part of the house. I had a hen sitting on eggs, and one new clutch that had hatched. I didn't take them out of cage, but rather move the entire thing. I've noticed when it gets dark, they get really sedated/mellow. I can even put my hand in their, close to them, without them getting all worked up, so waited until then and slowly moved the cage. They didn't stir a bit!

Perhaps if you seal that room off really well, turn off the HIVAC, and have fans in the Kitchen windows, pulling air OUT of the kitchen, they will be ok. That way, all the fumes and such would be drawn out of the house and away from the birds.
- Todd

User avatar
alittlebirdy
Pip
Pip
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 12:54 pm
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana

Re: will fumes from refinishing wood floor be toxic to finch

Post by alittlebirdy » Fri May 03, 2013 8:28 am

Thanks for all the good advice. I think I will try to move the aviary or put them in other cages and move them upstairs. I don't think I should take a chance. I will turn off AC too and use fans to direct the air. Hopefully it isn't too hot during those few days. Good idea to move them at night.
Sheryl

Post Reply