Bird safe candles?

[Eric&Rebecca]

Odd question:

When we got out birds we automatically gave up ALL candles. However we do have the odd garden party with them outside which is well away from the birds at the end of the patio area. However, I was wondering are there any candles I can buy that are bird safe?

I would never ever use them when they are out of the cage and I know to stay away from anything scented but I was just wondering if such a thing even exists?

I've seen beeswax candles, however I don't know if these are completely safe either.

[marie83]

Anything that burns gives off smoke/fumes. Stick to the garden ones outside and I'm sure you know to keep doors shut as much as possible. Another benefit is it will help your lungs to from not burning them.

[cml]

I can't see ordinary candles that are non-scented to be a problem. Its just stearin. I'm just curious what sources do you have that suggest that its bad for our birds? Because if it is I really would like to know .

As long as the door is closed to the bird room, I don't think the minimal fumes from candles is a problem?

[marie83]

Well known fact that Nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide are by-products of combustion, as for the actual amounts I don't know.

Also burning candles can release fine particles which we cannot see as well as soot, again its unlikely to be seen unless you burn a ton of candles, heavy metals or other fumes from certain added ingredients (if any) and the cores.

Why take the risk?

**edit** I would agree that the 100% beeswax candles with cotton wicks supposidly burn cleaner than other types of candle but I still wouldn't risk it. How clean is "cleaner"?

[Eric&Rebecca]

Yeah we usually use candles outside with the doors shut right at the bottom of the patio which is the opposite end of the apartment/house to the bird's room and NEVER in the house. Unless they aren't there for a few days in which case we might have them on in the house as a treat. But not 24 hours before they are returned. At the moment we are using them in the house because the birds are NOT with us and are with my parents and with the building smells its helping the smell. I will of course stop using 24-48 hours before the return of the birds and air the rooms throughly.

Same as Marie83: I've heard that even non-scented candles give off high levels of harmful fumes which we can't smell but are harmful to our birds. I've heard it from many places. The other concern is also birds who fly into the candles but I don't think anyone is silly enough to have birds out when you have candles burning openly.

It's more a wonderment than something I would actually consider doing...

[cml]

EDIT: Ive removed some of this post as some statements were inaccurate.

If I told my aunt about candles being dangerous she would laugh in my face and call me stupid, she's had a cockatiel for 16 years and she doesnt know much about birds at all. She cares for it, loves it, plays with it and it has massive amounts of out of cage time, all day in fact, but she got it so long ago that people werent educated in how to care for birds.

She is absolutely oblivious to such things as candles, teflon-cookware etc, wood types, plants etc, and the bird is fine. I am not by any means saying that this is a good a approach, I actually believe the contrary, that you should always educate yourself, and do the best you can to eliminate dangers BUT, this discussion got me thinking a little bit; maybe we're overdoing it sometimes?

(And I know that some of you will say that its better to be on the safe side, and I do agree with you ).

Ive NEVER heard of any other pet owners being so paranoid as we as bird people are, be it dog, cat, rodents or whatever. Do we really need to be so overly protective?
(I am still going to, but lets think about it shall we?)

I believe that you should educate yourself, learn the dangers and avoid them, but unless there is nothing that suggest there is a danger, should we really refrain from our ordinary habits?

I am on rambling here...but my main point isnt that you should light candles, I hope you all got that, but rather that we should try and evaluate if our behaviour as bird people is justified, do we really have to worry as much as we do? I strongly believe in educating ourselvs though!

And on the candle note, EDIT: they are dangerous to birds!

[cml]

Heres' a few links from quick googling:

http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/04/ ... -true.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8211543.stm

http://lifeholistic.com/2006/01/06/dang ... y-candles/

The sources arent up to academic standard, but still, I believe you are right. Candles are indeed bad for us, and thus worse for birds and should be avoided.

Using them on a balcony etc though should be harmless (ie outside).

But my ramblings are still relevant, do you guys think that we are overly protective as parronts ?

[Eric&Rebecca]

It's a thing I think about a lot actually. I think sometimes we are over protective but because its always better to be suspicious of everything than nothing. I have family members who have had 12 year old budgies who grew up only on seeds and cockatiels live between 19 to 28 and again on an all seed diet, mainly because they had so much exercise I think! I'd never do this myself and as much as I still try to convert my birds to pellets I feel comforted that providing they are eating their fruits and veggies it's not completely the end of the world if they don't eat them all.

The PFTE/teflon thing only applies when teflon goes above a certain temperature. Again, I would never use them in my house. I have ALL stainless steel cookware. I know bird owners who don't do that, a couple who even have their birds in the kitchen. None of them have ever had a problem. That doesn't mean you should take the risk but I don't think its a case of if you have a teflon pan your bird will die. Although personally i'd never have the risk in the first place.

I also know someone who smokes around their birds.... I cannot in anyway condone this... but again none of her birds have ever died young. When checked out by vets they have always been in good condition. I would never subject my birds to this EVER but it proves they aren't as sensitive as we think.

I think the bottom line is tha yes, we are over cautious... but all we are doing is removing the risks. If it poses a risk and its easy enough to change, like not using candles in the house. What's the sense in taking the risk... even if that risk was 1 percent.

My avian vet did make a point at our last visit though that parakeet type birds are somewhat like small children. They need to be exposed to a certain amount of things so they can harden up... this doesn't mean you should overheat a teflon pan in front of them or give them a cigar but if the room is occasionally cold because you leave the window open or you accidentally forget to clean the grate for a couple of days... it won't kill your bird. They do need to build up a certain form of tolerance like building up an immune system. Birds drink and eat bacteria filled things in the wild adn while you shouldn't deliberately expose them, we don't need to become obssessive over sterilizing every 10 seconds.

However, things like candles and stuff...It's unknown so I will remain the paranoid parront on that one

It's always better to be safe than sorry and if you know better you should do better. People that aren't educated did't have the knowledge to change it.

[KimberlyAnn]

For garden parties, I actually started using the battery candles, the kind that are deep and you can't see the wick. This makes it so if there are accedents, they are not a danger. They also don't blow out lol. I used to LOVE real candles and hated the electric ones, but they are looking more and more real. They even flicker realisticly now. Lol

For a cool look...Get cheap couldy glass cups/tea light candle holders/some other small glass thing like a vase. Turn it over on top of a cheap battery candle and use it on tables. My friend has even gone into a thrift store and bought round house lightbulb covers around her plants for her brother's wedding. It was so unique and beautiful! She found them in white, cream and amber...Americans, remember the outside lights from the 70's/80's?

[Utoomom]

I read this on a non toxic DIY website.

1 TBS baking soda
2-3 drops of essential oils (optional)


pour baking soda in a small dish & add drops of essential oil. Mix well.
pour all into a spray bottle and fill up to top with water.

Shake & spray. No fumes no toxins. It has worked well for me and the vet said that would be safe for Elvis. I'm partial to Jasmine myself. But have tried others and luv the results.\




PS: I gave all of my scented candles (which I ADORED away to my daughter) & everything which is toxic, once again, gave away~~~~I luv Elvis more than all of that stuff...