Bird dust can seem all but impossible to control. Some parrots like African Greys, Cockatoos, and Cockatiels are more prone to producing this white, powdery dust as a natural part of their growth and development. Since this dust can carry all kinds of other particles including bacteria and viruses, it's a good idea to minimize the amount in the air, thus the amount you and your bird inhale. Here are 3 ways you can keep bird dust out of your environment healthier for you and your bird. Research Bird Species--All birds are not created equal when it comes to the amount of bird dust they produce. The dustier species such as Cockatiels, Cockatoos, and African Greys produce this dust or powder as a by-product of building healthy wing structure. If you have not already fallen in love with a particular bird, do a little research on birds that produce less dust. There are many parrots that are less dusty such as Macaws, Amazons, Lorikeets and Budgies to name a few. Clean the Cage Regularly--Frequent cleaning of the cage by removing soiled paper, damp mopping the inside of the cage, and cleaning the area around the outside of the cage will help reduce the dust, feathers, and dander. Cleaning the cage regularly will also make the bird room a nicer place to be. Clean air will help keep your bird's air passages from becoming clogged by removing tiny particles of feathers and dust before they can be inhaled. These can clog your bird's air passages and cause respiratory problems as bacteria and viruses (especially psittacosis) attach to and enable transmission of respiratory diseases. Removing airborne particles of all sizes reduces that risk. The dust, feathers, and dander are also present in the wild but they are able to dissipate into the air. In captivity unless you actively filter the air with filters that can trap these often sub-micron size particles, you and your bird are forced to breathe pollutants that get thicker each day. Use an Air Purifier to Remove Bird Dust--An air purifier placed in the room with your bird is an excellent solution for removing airborne pollutants such as bird dust, and feathers, as well as sub-micron size particles like bacteria and viruses that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. The most effective type of filtration is HEPA or high efficiency particle arresting filtration. An air cleaner with this type of filter by definition must remove 99.97% of airborne particulates down to .3 microns in size. Fortunately, it will not only remove bird related particulates but normal household pollutants as well. This offers you and your family a huge advantage for removing dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, and dander from other pets. Removing these pollutants while they are still airborne means both you and your family enjoy cleaner air, a healthier lifestyle, with more time to enjoy your bird, and less time cleaning.
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