Last week I listed some of the dangers to birds during Thanksgiving. This week I will talk about dangers to birds in any household that can happen at any time.

While you need to be extra careful around the holidays, you should also bird-proof your house during the rest of the year. One big concern to your bird's safety may be other pets in the household. While your other animal may seem to get along with your bird, don't forget that the other animal can still view your bird as potential prey. If you aren't keeping an eye out, things can happen quickly. Your dog or cat may see your bird run or fly across the room and immediately jump for it. Sadly these types of situations happen all the time. Whenever your bird is out, learn to supervise with your other pets around. This can help prevent potentially dangerous situations for your bird.

Birds like to peck at things and food is no exception. Make sure you keep your bird away from toxic food you might have laying around. Be aware of foods that are toxic to birds such as chocolate, avocados, onions and alcohol. Keep these foods in a cupboard or pantry if you can. If the food must be out, make sure you put your bird in its cage to keep it safe.

A ceiling fan can be a dangerous household appliance to your bird. If your bird is outside of its cage, make sure all ceiling fans are turned off. That goes for other appliances around the house such as heaters, ovens and even toasters.

If you take extra care to make sure dangerous objects are away from your bird, you can ensure a safe household for all.