Smoke?

[Bugg]

Hi,
I live in a duplex, and lately my neighbor has been burning grass in our fire pit outside. The smoke comes into the room where we keep my GCC's cage (Ianto). (There is something wrong with our windows. We have to seal them with plastic in the winter because the air from outside gets in). It's bad enough that my clothes end up smelling slightly like the smoke. It makes me sneeze like crazy, so I am concerned that it may be a MAJOR health hazard for Ianto. I have asked our neighbor to stop as that is the obvious course, but I don't trust that his son will stop burning the grass when we aren't home. I have been moving Ianto's cage to another room while we are gone, and will continue to do so. I am just worried about what he may have already been exposed to.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[Michael]

There are fumes that we can't tell that can hurt/kill our birds... so if it's bothering you, must be hell for the bird.

[Polarn]

What Michael said, there's a reason they used to use birds to detect gas leaks etc in mines. When they fell to the floor of the cage miners still had time to get out. If I were you I would probably winter seal the windows AND move the cage to another room. Work to be done but if you doesn't trust them to stop it might be hours well spent...

[marie83]

I shouldn't worry about what he has already been exposed to unless he starts wheezing or anything, if your really concerned or you think they may have been burning anything more toxic you can take him for a check up but the chances are your bird would already be dead. That doesn't mean it is safe as an ongoing situation though.

In the meantime have a word with your neighbour anyway, ask them to move the location of the fire if they need to keep burning stuff so the smoke isn't seeping through your windows.


Have a word with your landlord if you rent and see if they can do anything about the windows to seal them up, if they can't afford to help suggest to them that it might be worth looking into grants as sometimes you can get help with keeping properties warm as it makes them more energy efficient.

If you rent or own the property see if there is any legislation restricting fires. In the UK you can only have fires between certain times of day. There may also be some laws on nuscience behaviour, I reckon burning fires reguarly could be considered a nuicience. If so report them annoymously if there will be no implications on your relationship with your neighbour (eg, anyone in the block could have reported them).

An air filter may go a small way to removing the smoke from the air but don't rely on it. Other than that just carry on with what your already doing (moving him to another room) but remember the fumes can linger even if you cannot see or smell it it may still be present.

[Bugg]

Thanks for the info. I will watch for weezing, but I haven't seen any so far. Unfortunately we do rent, and the landlord can't afford to fix the windows, but pays for the supplies to seal them. She actually just had them put in, but they were put in too tight and it is causing them to leak. I will look into nuisance and fire laws too. I think that is the route I will have to take because I just caught the guy's son doing it again. >:| So talking isn't going to work I guess. Sad because I have had a good relationship with him so far, but this is a deal breaker.

Again, thanks for all of the tips. I have extra plastic for the windows from last year it's really not much work to put up. Even if it was... totally worth it to keep my bird healthy.

[AnniePani]

Also, is burning grass even legal? o.O
I know burning leaves isn't... right? or am I thinking of something else...?

[liz]

You must be in the city or suburbs in which case it is illigal to burn such things. Unless you are his only neighbor do not talk to him. You can go to the police station and not give your name. Just tell them the situation and they will talk to him.

If you do it you might just p.ss him off.

[Bugg]

Hey,
Just wanted to give an update. Long story short, my neighbor stopped. YAY! Windows are still plastic-covered and Ianto stays in another room when we are gone (just in case), but we are smoke free!

Thanks everyone for your advice!

[marie83]

Glad to hear it.