Cat Bird Flu Information Center

Steps to Keep My Pet Bird Safe From Bird Flu
by Polson Enterprises

  This page is part of the Pet Bird Flu Information Center.

First, you can't positively keep your pet bird safe from Bird Flu, but you can take steps to reduce their exposure to the H5N1 virus. With Avian Flu rapidly spreading around the world, steps to help keep your pet bird safe depends on where you live. those in countries and regions where Bird Flu has been detected in wild birds and/or poultry face more difficult situations and need to take the most drastic steps. Areas not yet infected are still in the preparation stages and can take more modest steps to reduce their exposure should Bird Flu arrive in their region and to be more prepared for the more serious steps to take if it does arrive in their region.

Next, exactly where you live has a bearing on the risk of your pet bird. Those living near domestic poultry face risks of poultry becoming infected and passing it on to other birds or cats, increasing the number of carriers in your area. Your personal conduct will also effect the safety of your pet bird. Those directly exposed to poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, etc), bird shows, aviaries, handling/cooking uncooked chicken), increase the probability their pet bird will be exposed.

Lastly, introducing a new pet bird to your pet bird(s) creates a major risk of transferring H5N1 and/or other avian diseases.

Suggestions below will not positively protect your pet bird, but reading them will make your a more knowledgeable pet bird owner and better prepared to make the best decisions for your pet bird's safety. See our Disclaimer.

If you have not yet read our What is Bird Flu page, it would be a good introduction before reading this page.

We have two groups of suggestions below depending on where you live.

Bird Flu HAS BEEN detected in Wild Birds, Poultry or Humans in My Region

These regions are the ones of greatest risk to pet birds.

The primary task for those with indoor pet birds is to carefully control the animals (including people) coming in and out of your house. Do not let in people who have direct exposure to poultry or wild birds. Do not let in cats, dogs or other pets that may have been exposed to the disease. Wash your hands carefully after processing chicken for cooking.

Limit visitors to your house in general and do not let them near your pet bird.

For those with outside pet birds, the primary task is to eliminate contact between outside pet birds and wild birds or poultry, their feces (poop) or other body secretions.

Do not allow outside wild birds to infect the feed or water of your pet bird.

Several of regions experiencing bird flu are issuing policies at this time concerning pets. We strongly suggest you follow any policies issued for your area and any advice from your veterinarian.

We have several groups of suggestions for those living in infected areas below.

We also suggest you read the suggestions in the Bird Flu HAS NOT yet been detected in Wild Birds, Poultry or Humans in my Region and apply them as well.

The following suggestions are from parrotparrot.com

  • Quarantine new birds for six to eight weeks before introducing them to birds in your home. Do not let them share the same air space as established birds. Feed and clean cages of new birds last so you do not carry contamination to the established cages. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the new bird or its toys.

  • Do not handle birds in pet stores or bird marts. If you have been around other birds, you should change clothes and shower before handling your bird.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) suggestions below were written specifically for cats and have been slightly modified by us for pet birds below.
  • Report to the local veterinary authority any evidence of significant bird mortality both wild and domestic

  • Be especially vigilant for any dead or sick cats and report such findings to the local vet

  • Make sure contact between pet birds and wild birds or poultry (or their faeces) is avoided and/or keep pet birds inside

  • If cats bring a sick or dead bird inside the house, put on plastic gloves and dispense of the bird in plastic bags for collection by local veterinary animal handlers

  • Keep stray cats outside the house and avoid contact with them

  • Do not touch or handle any sick-looking or dead cat (or other animal) and report to the authorities

  • Wash hands with water and soap regularly and especially after handling animals and cleaning their litter boxes or coming in contact with faeces or saliva

  • Do not feed any water birds

  • Disinfect (e.g. with bleach 2-3 %) cages or other hardware with which sick animals have been transported or been in contact with.

Additional Suggestions from the Pet Bird Bird Flu Information Center & Our Readers

  • If poultry share space (yards, fields, barns) with your pet bird, immediately separate your pet bird from them. Pet Birds can contract bird flu directly from infected poultry or from their feces (poop) or other body secretions.

  • Walk your yard after storms to make sure no young birds have blown out of nests. If birds are found, use rubber gloves to put them in a trash bag and keep the disease from your yard.

  • Keep the grass mowed down in your yard so you could spot dead birds if they are there.

  • Trim the trees back in your yard if they have grown wildly and often attract large flocks of birds.

  • Run off flocks of birds near your house.

  • Be aggressive about running off stray cats to prevent their interaction with other pets in your area.

  • Check our H5N1 Pet Store for any products you may need to keep your pet bird safe.

  • To reduce potential for transmission of the disease either way (pet to human or human to pet) stop kissing your pet bird.

  • These suggestions were found in an "H5N1 & Pets" thread on CurEvents.com.

    • Store water for pets in case water supply goes off

    • Scare off birds with scarecrows, tin pie pans

  • If you have more than one pet bird or other pets, if any do become sick, especially with respiratory problems, immediately separate the sick one from the other cat(s).

  • Cleanliness is very important, especially for outside pet birds. Try to keep the areas your pet bird(s) frequent clean or debris, trash, junk and other materials that might hide smaller carriers of the disease or provide surfaces that could be contaminated by infected birds or animals.

  • Bird Flu is an digestive tract and respiratory disease. Litter represents a potential transmission points. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning cages and immediately put the litter in a trash bag, tie is off, and take it outside.

  • Use caution if replacing a perch with wood from outdoors. Make sure it has not been contaminated by wild birds.

  • Make sure your cage has a wire barrier in the bottom above the litter catching area to prevent direct contact with the bird(s).

  • Steps taken to combat Exotic Newcastle Disease in pet birds will also generally be beneficial in combating bird flu. Specifically,

    • Keep visitors to your property to a minimum
    • If your pet birds are outside, cover their feeding and watering areas
    • Remove free ranging poultry from the neighborhood
    • Clean and disinfect all equipment coming in contact with the birds
    • Remove your shoes after being outside and disinfect the soles
    • Wash hands with soap and water for 10 to 20 seconds before handling your birds

  • Do not buy pet birds from bird smugglers. Know where your pet birds come from. Do not buy birds from countries we have banned bird imports from.

If you have any suggestions you think might be helpful to add to this list, please email them to us.

Some things may be in your favor as you try to protect your pet bird. First, waterfowl are the most frequent carriers of the disease and pet birds rarely interact with them. Second, poultry are becoming infected around the world, but many pet bird owners do not own poultry. Third, the disease is receiving tremendous attention due to its possible human consequences. Some of those efforts may identify additional ways to keep your pet bird safe. When and if they do, we will post them here.

Good Luck.

Bird Flu HAS NOT yet been Detected in Wild Birds, Poultry or Humans in My Region

At the moment things are much easier for you because you are in the preparation stage. You can begin to accumulate any items you may need, and make some changes in the environment around your home and yard to reduce your pet bird's exposure to Bird Flu if it comes to your area.

  • Items You Might Wish to Accumulate if You do Not Already Have Them
  • Changes You Might Wish to Make to the Environment Around Your Yard and Home
    • Become more aware of birds in your neighborhood. Especially any waterfowl or poultry. Also keep a lookout for dead birds along the road that may have been hit by cars. Learn the patterns, times and types of birds in your area.

    • If trees have grown ragged in your yard, trim them back to help prevent large groups of birds from resting or roosting in your trees.

    • If birds frequently rest or roost in certain areas of your property, try to make those areas less comfortable to them. Transparent Needle Strips from Bird-X can make roof ledges, signs and window sills much less friendly to birds.

    • Board Up and Seal Up any holes in garages or barns on your property to keep out wild birds, especially at night.

    • Do Not feed or water wild birds near your home.

  • Behaviors of Your Pet Bird You Might Wish to Begin to Modify

    • Its a good time to make sure your pet bird's health concerns are in order (no mites).

    • Is your pet bird in shape? Just like humans, if they do get sick, they are more likely to recover if they are healthy. If you pet bird is a bit heavy you might want to put them on a diet and give them some more exercise by giving them some new toys to interact with.

    Don't go to extremes to run off all birds at this time. Robins, Barn Swallows, Purple Martins, Humming Birds, Scissortails and many other birds serve useful purposes and beautify the area. Much remains to be learned exactly which ones are good birds and bad birds in terms of bird flu. For the moment, concentrate on water fowl, poultry, pigeons, sparrows, starlings, crows and other birds that are already undesirable in most neighborhoods.

    Once you begin to make these changes, you might want to also read the Tips for Areas Where Bird Flu HAS BEEN Detected and begin thinking about how you might implement them if you need to.

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