smoking

[MacT]

You know what really grinds my gears?

people who buy such wonderful parrots and don't even do the basic research about them. Why would you get a parrot and not do weeks of research prior to owning one, its just plain cruel.

What really kills me is the people who spend tons of money on cages and parrots, but don't even give them any interaction expecting them to tame themselves.

damn idiots if you ask me!

-Kiwi sends his best wishes for you poor little bird.

[marie83]

On behalf of your new feathered friend i would like to extend my gratitude as well i am a smoker but the difference is i don't smoke in the house, and when my bird is in his cage outside i keep a minimum 15 foot distance while smoking. so ty on behalf of the birdie! ^_^

Right its completely up to you if you smoke or not but please do not smoke around your bird, even at a distance. Nicotine and other chemicals get on your hands, clothes and hair etc so even if you do go outside your still bringing nasties back inside with you.
By all means go outside and have a smoke if you want but before you go near your bird wash your hands, change your clothes, put a cap on over your hair when you go out to stop it getting in your hair etc. Birds are very very sensitive and there have been studies that show that even for children the parents going outside to smoke simply isn't enough to protect their children.

[Eric&Rebecca]

I have to agree with Marie83 even if you don't smoke around them they still absorb it through your hands, clothes and even your breath!

We had a rescue cockatiel many years ago where the owners had kept him in an outdoor aviary in the back and smoked in the front of the house which was a massive distance away. Poor thing had clicking lungs and he STANK of smoke. The owners themselves couldn't smell it and insisted we were making it up until I showered the poor thing. They were under the opinion he was a cinnamon because he was brown tinged... little did they know the poor thing was covered in a thin layer of nicotine and was really a grey! The water that came off was brown! It took 3 years to stop the smell and return him to normal colour.

Also the bird was strung out... he used to scream when he never did before and get really antsy and aggressive... poor thing was in withdrawal from nicotine...

I'm going to be really harsh and say please please just stop smoking. It's not good for you or the bird! No matter what you think you're doing to prevent it or make it better, wouldn't giving up all together just be better for both of you.

I know how hard it is to give up but when you're responsible for lives like your birds then you stop... I have never smoked or allow anyone to smoke around my birds. I even had my neighbours banned from smoking in their garden so my birds could be outside.... harsh but you know