Birds can make lovely pets for your family. Birds can be very intelligent and amusing. But it is important to keep your child safe around birds.
Birds could put your child's health at risk by:
- biting and scratching
- carrying germs that could cause illness
Health risks and pet birds
Germs pet birds carry can cause infectious diseases and illness.
Make sure you and your child wash your hands after you handle:
- a bird
- bird litter
- equipment such as a cage, bowl or toys
Hand washing can reduce your child's risk of catching a disease. Ask your child to tell you if a bird scratches or bites them.
The most common diseases birds can cause are:
- psittacosis (parrot fever)
- allergic alveolitis (bird fancier’s lung)
- salmonella
Psittacosis (parrot fever)
Psittacosis is also called parrot fever. But you can catch psittacosis from all types of birds.
You can get psittacosis if you breathe in dust that contains dried bird poo or mucus.
Psittacosis is especially dangerous for your child if they have:
- a poor immune system
- breathing problems
The infection is also dangerous for pregnant women and older people.
Psittacosis causes flu-like symptoms, usually a dry cough and fever. Watch out for any symptoms if you own a bird. Treatment for psittacosis is antibiotics.
How psittacosis spreads
Psittacosis spreads to humans most often by pet birds such as:
- parrots
- parakeets
- macaws
- budgies
- cockatiels
Poultry such as turkeys and ducks can also spread the infection.
Important
Children are more likely than adults to catch psittacosis. Make sure your child washes their hands after touching a bird, bird poo or equipment such as a cage, toys or feeding bowls.
Urgent advice: Talk to your GP immediately if:
- you think your child has psittacosis and needs treatment
Tell your GP that you own a pet bird or were in contact with a bird.
Allergic alveolitis (bird fancier’s lung)
Allergic alveolitis is sometimes called bird fancier's lung.
Allergic alveolitis is caused by breathing in particles from feathers or bird poo. The particles can make your lungs inflamed and cause coughing and problems breathing.
You can reduce the risk by avoiding bird dander (skin flakes) and feathers.
Contact a GP if you think you or your child has bird fancier's lung.
Salmonella
Salmonella is bacteria that causes a type of food poisoning. You or your child can catch salmonella from an infected bird or infected bird poo.
Preventing illness from pet birds
Tips to prevent your child getting an illness from a pet bird:
Do
-
wash your hands and your child's hands after touching the bird or bird equipment
-
bring your bird to the vet if they seem sick
-
clean your bird's cage regularly and wash your hands well afterwards
-
ask your child to tell you if a bird scratches or bites them
Don't
-
do not let the bird kiss you or your child
-
do not allow your bird near food preparation areas
-
do not wash any bird equipment in the kitchen sink
Bird bites and your child
Birds can nip or bite to defend themselves when they are afraid.
Birds can become frightened by:
- a screaming child
- being poked with a finger or a stick
- moving or disturbing the cage
Keep the bird cage out of reach of toddlers and young children.
If a bird bites your child
If a bird bites or scratches your child:
- wash the wound immediately
- clean the area with a disinfectant cream or solution
Contact a GP if you are worried or if the wound is not healing properly.
Teach your child how to interact with a bird
You can reduce the risk bird bites by teaching your child how to interact with the bird.
Tell your child:
- to use a soft voice around the bird
- not to make sudden movements around the bird
- not to prod or shake the bird cage
- not to make noise around the bird cage