Incense is an aromatic substance often used in religious ceremonies and rituals. It is often burned during prayer, meditation, and other spiritual practices. Incense is also used in aromatherapy and perfumery, often used to freshen up the scent of indoor areas.
There are many different types of incense. Some are scented with essential oils while others use natural resins. The type of incense you burn depends on the purpose of the ritual. You might choose a particular incense for prayer, and another one for meditating.
If you are wondering whether burning incense is harmful to birds, then read on. We will discuss some facts about this topic and how it could affect your pet bird’s life.
The fumes from incense contain volatile organic compounds (VOC) which include benzene, formaldehyde, acetone, xylene, styrene, ethylbenzene, etc. VOCs have been linked to cancerous tumors in animals as well as human beings. Burning these substances indoors has been shown to be very dangerous for both people and pets.
Produces Carbon Monoxide (CO)
In addition, incense smoke contains carbon monoxide which is poisonous to birds. Carbon Monoxide is colorless gas produced by combustion processes like those found in fireplaces or stoves. CO poisoning occurs when levels get high enough inside the body. This happens because CO binds tightly to hemoglobin molecules in red blood cells.
We learnt in school that Hemoglobin carries oxygen throughout our bodies. So when CO gets bound to them, they cannot carry oxygen effectively. As a result, prolonged exposure to higher concentrations of CO make cause our birds to feel tired, dizzy, confused, nauseated, weak, short-winded, headache, chest pain. If left untreated, CO poisoning can even kill them.
Sensitivity to Pollutants
It is very important that birds have clean air to breathe; they don’t tolerate air pollution well. When exposed to polluted air, their breathing becomes more difficult. Their lungs and air sacs become congested and filled with mucus. Long term-term exposure may also lead to irreversible damage to bird’s lungs.
Birds also have a higher breathing rate than many other animals, giving them more exposure to particulate matter (PM). These PMs are small enough to wedge themselves deeply into the branches of their lungs and other areas of their respiratory tracts.
What If I Want to Use Incense (different room, adequate ventilation)
It is understandable that some cultures and religions take the practice of burning incense seriously. However, we must remember that incense is an irritant to birds. It should only be used outdoors where there is ample ventilation, or in a space or room that is far away from any birds.
Also, if you have to burn incense indoors, make sure to have adequate ventilation so that no one else suffers from its effects. If possible, you could consider and explore using natural scents instead such as frankincense and palo santo essential oils. They do not produce toxins nor harm anyone. Some essential oils are not recommended to be diffused around birds, such as tea tree, peppermint and citronella.
What About Scented Candles
Candle waxes are made up of paraffin, beeswax, soybean oil, mineral oil, fragrance, coloring agents, and additives. The scent comes from the fragrant materials added during manufacturing, which are often derived from petroleum products. Many candles emit toxic chemicals including acetone, benzene, toluene, phthalates and dioxins. In fact, candle emissions are among the most common sources of indoor pollutants.
The level of chemicals they emit may be too little to pose a health concern to humans, but they could be harmful enough to birds. Plus, the chemicals may linger long after the flame has been extinguished.
Can You Burn Sage or Smudge Sticks Around Birds
The practice of burning sage or smudging is for spiritually purifying the home and improving its energy. However, smudging creates a lot of smoke, which is really dangerous for your pet birds in any concentration. This should never be done when there are birds around.
If smudging was done recently, make sure the area has been well-ventilated and cleared of any remaining smoke. Your birds should not be exposed to even trace amounts of smoke at all. Birds have a very sensitive respiratory system afterall.
Can I Smoke Around my Birds (Cigarettes, Cigars, Pipes, etc)
If birds are being constantly exposed to secondhand smoke, their respiratory system and health will deteriorate over time. They may develop respiratory problems and infections. Birds are even more susceptible to the ill effects of secondhand smoke than humans.
If you find yourself needing to light a puff, be sure to do it at a distance away from your birds. preferably in a whole different area.
Are Cooking Fumes Bad for Birds
The fumes released from PTFE non-stick coating (Teflon) under heat is notoriously harmful for your birds. Many air fryer models are known to kill birds because they have components that have non-stick coatings.
Even if you get rid of all non-stick cooking ware in your kitchen, you should never expose your birds to cooking fumes. The fumes released from heating up oils and fats could cause serious harm to your birds.
Are Essential Oils Safe for Birds
It depends on the oil. Some essential oils fine, but several others are known to be harmful for your birds. You should only be diffusing essential oils around your birds, and not applying topically or orally without consulting your vet about it. Also make sure you are using 100% natural and therapeutic grade essential oil, and use them at a low concentration.
Here are some common essential oils that are considered generally safe for diffusing around birds:
Lavender
Ylang ylang
Geranium
Bergamot
Lemon
Orange
Grapefruit
Frankincense
Most floral and citrus essential oils
And here are some common essential oils that are not considered safe for diffusing around birds:
Peppermint
Tea tree
Citronella
Oregano
Cinnamon
Clove
Lemongrass
Our favorite and highly recommended brand of essential oils is Plant Therapy. They are a well-known company based in the United States, and they produce 100% pure essential oils. It’s important to go with a reputable brand that we can trust since we breathing them in and taking into our bodies. Plus, they are priced very affordably. Check out their delicious and amazing collection of scents they have.
What’s the Best Fragrance for Birds (fresh air, their natural environment)
Pet birds usually have very little odor, so long as you often clean up after them. However, if you feel like freshening up the air of the space, there are several safe ways for you to do so.
Fresh Air
If you feel the need to freshen up a space, why not just open up the windows and get the ventilation flowing. Fresh air is the best and safest way to freshen up a space for birds. Artificial fragrances are not part of their natural environment after all.
Fresh Flowers
Flowers are a safe way to add fragrance and freshness into a home with birds around. Not only are flowers 100% natural, they look pretty too and will spruce up your interior. Just remember to keep an eye out for any insects that might come along with the blooms!
Potted Indoor Plants
Indoor plants are another great option for adding scent and beauty into a room with birds. If you don’t want to go through the hassle of growing indoor plants, then potted ones work well too. Be careful though when choosing which type of plant to put inside – avoid those that are harmful towards your pets. Some common harmful plants include:
Daffodil
Foxglove
Lily
Mistletoe
Morning Glory
Nightshade
Oleander
Shamrock
You may find an extensive list of plants that are toxic to birds over here.
Citrus Peels
Another easy way to freshen up the air is by simply placing lemon and orange peels around the house. Citrus peels can help remove odors and stale smells from the air. They also provide a nice aroma while doing so.
HEPA Air Purifier
A HEPA filter air purifier may not be able to produce fragrance, but it can help remove odors from the air by trapping particles smaller than 0.3 microns. This means that even small amounts of dust and dander can be removed from the air. It also helps reduce allergens such as pollen and pet hair.
Depending on how many cubic feet per minute it’s able to produce, a good quality unit must be costly. But it’s definitely worth the money if you want an effective way to remove allergens from your indoor air.
Takeaway
I hope this article has helped clear things up regarding the use of incense around birds. There are plenty of alternative and natural fragrance options available today. The key thing to consider is whether or not the scent is going to harm your bird in anyway. And always consult your veterinarian before making changes to your bird’s diet or living conditions.
Other airborne toxins, such as incense, cooking fumes, spray cleaners and perfumes, may be irritating to the lining of birds' respiratory tracts and should never be used around them. As with aerosols, birds are acutely sensitive to cigarette and cigar smoke.
Sources: Gasses like carbon monoxide, smoke from tobacco products, and fumes from new carpets and furniture, air fresheners, scented candles, paints, glues, household cleaning products, mothballs, hair spray, and nail polish can all be harmful when they are in close proximity to birds.
The short answer is no, it's not bad for our pets and it is completely safe to burn in the presence of our cats, dogs, rats and rabbits etc. Burning incense is as safe for our furry friends as it is for us.
Yes burning incense can harm or even kill your parrot. Parrots have very sensitive respiratory systems!! Scented cleaning products, air fresheners and other scented products are harmful as well.
Let's all celebrate, but remember a few safety precautions: Incense and Candles - Scented candles, incense, carpet fresheners and air fresheners contain volatile oils which are poisonous to birds. You can enjoy your candlelight, but use unscented candles and supervise your birds when they are out.
If however, you have a pet with breathing problems, using a diffuser anywhere in the house is not a good idea. You may want to reconsider the use of an oil diffuser if your home has pet birds, kittens, or curious cats. Birds have a sensitive respiratory tract and are negatively affected by inhaled toxins.
One of the most common toxins that threatens pet birds is insecticides sprayed in the home. These should not be sprayed near cages or perches, nor in areas where your bird's food is stored. Other dangerous chemicals in the home include ammonia, bleach, oven cleaner, glues, nail polish remover, paint, and perfumes.
Because of the bird's extremely sensitive respiratory system, anytime a strange odor is detected remove your bird from the area immediately. It is strongly recommended you keep your bird in other rooms of the house beside the kitchen.
One of these studies observed that that 1h treatment of incense smoke on aerial bacterial population caused over 94% reduction of bacterial counts and the ability of the smoke to purify or disinfect the air and to make the environment cleaner was maintained up to 24h in the closed room.
Just like with cats, dogs can also be sensitive to the smoke and scents that comes from burning incense. Dogs with pre-existing respiratory issues and brachycephalic breeds (pugs, bulldogs, shih tzus, “smoosh faced” dogs) are more at risk. If you do decide to burn incense, pay close attention to your dog.
Yes, incense can be bad for cats. Not only can smells be much harsher to our cat's sensitive noses, but inhaling the smoke produced by the incense can cause respiratory issues like sneezing and congestion.
Can You Burn Sage or Smudge Sticks Around Birds. The practice of burning sage or smudging is for spiritually purifying the home and improving its energy. However, smudging creates a lot of smoke, which is really dangerous for your pet birds in any concentration. This should never be done when there are birds around.
Air Pollution. Birds have a very efficient respiratory system and are sensitive to pollutants in the air. Birds are also extremely susceptible to any source of smoke. Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and vaporizers should not be used around your bird.
Sources: Gasses like carbon monoxide, smoke from tobacco products, fumes from new carpets and furniture, air fresheners, scented candles, paints, glues, household cleaning products, mothballs, hair spray, and nail polish can all be harmful when they are in close proximity to birds.
Safest candles for pets and humans! Here are the world's first avian safe candles. Not only are these just safe to burn or melt right next to your precious pets, but they are environmentally friendly.
Fresh orange citrus magic is a Bird Safe Air Freshener. Eliminate odors on contact using 100% active ingredients made from pure and natural citrus oils. Citrus Magic sprays last up to 4X longer than conventional air fresheners that are mostly made of water, gas and a little perfume.
Apple Spice: 1 tablespoon of cloves, 3 cinnamon sticks, 1 apple sliced into wedges and 1 cup of cranberries. Winter Wonderful: Peel of one orange, 2 teaspoons dried nutmeg, I teaspoon vanilla extract, 3 cinnamon sticks, and two 1″ thick slices of ginger (for a variation, add a 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract).
Essential oil diffusers are safe for birds and don't adversely affect them the way aerosol sprays can. One exception is not to ever use Tea Tree Oil because it can be toxic for birds and pets. It's a wise idea to keep any sort of diffuser away from your bird's cage as well.
This method is not harmful to the birds, though it is highly efficient in deterring them. And though the scent of peppermint is irritating for the birds, this essential oil smells good to humans.
Wood chips and shavings, clay, cat litter, shredded or recycled paper, and corncob bedding are not recommended for many reasons: They are not digestible and can cause impaction or obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract if ingested by your bird.
Birds have a sensitive respiratory system, so it's best to avoid spraying most common household cleaners in their air space. And moving furniture, sweeping, or vacuuming can certainly send some birds into panic mode.
It's called "anting," and lots of birds do it. This article originally appeared on VICE Romania. I recently found out that some species of birds are known to have a drug habit.
Answer. The cassowary is usually considered to be the world's most dangerous bird, at least where humans are concerned, although ostriches and emus can also be dangerous. Cassowary (Queensland, Australia).
Pet parrots can eat ice cream in moderation. Be sure to only offer plain vanilla ice cream and avoid over-feeding them with sugary treats. As a pet bird owner, it's your responsibility to provide your bird with a healthy diet that is full of nutritious foods. You are your bird's only source of nutrition!
Through those bonds, they grow familiar with their birds' unique moods and emotions, from stress and loneliness to joy and excitement. That familiarity leaves no doubt that pet birds can and do feel emotions.
If our home life and relationships are stressful our birds will pick up on this and may feel threatened and start exhibiting negative behaviors. The emotional health of all members within the human flock can influence a bird's sense of security.
Few birds develop an emotional relationship with human beings, instead of attachment with other animals. They often return their feeling of love to a human. This is not a materialistic but an emotional attachment.
Incense was very common in the old testament and even up to today, some denominations still burn incense. Since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the veil of the temple has been removed so it is no longer necessarily to burn incense as explained in Hebrews 9:11-24.
Incense burning emits smoke containing particulate matter, gas products and other organic compounds and causes air pollution, airway disease and health problems. When incense smoke pollutants are inhaled, they cause airway dysfunction.
According to the EPA, exposure to the particulate matter present in incense smoke has been linked to asthma, lung inflammation and even cancer. In fact, long-term exposure to incense smoke was found to be related to an increased risk for upper respiratory cancers as well as squamous cell lung cancer.
An incense stick, on an average, burns for 60 minutes. But it leaves behind the aroma to last for few hours. So if you're burning incense in a small-to-medium sized room, one incense stick a day is ample. If your space has more than 2 open windows with a constant flow of air, you can light upto 2 incense sticks a day.
Candles, reed diffusers, room sprays and even fragranced cleaning products normally have no adverse effects on cats. The levels of exposure are very low and do not result in any harm.
While smudging can have great benefits for us humans, Quinn says that it can be harmful to our four-legged friends. "Sage is considered a nontoxic herb. It is safe for your dog to consume in their diet, but burning it around your pup is not a good idea," she shares.
Basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon and thyme all do well when grown on a sunny window sill. These are all safe for our parrots and will add flavor, variety and nutrition to their meals.
Vaping around your birds can be just as dangerous as smoking around them. In addition, the nicotine solution is far more concentrated than the nicotine in cigarettes, so if your bird were to swallow any of it, there is a high risk of rapid death. Simply put, do not vape around your birds.
Smoky air harms birds in much the same way it does people, says Olivia Sanderfoot, a University of Washington ecologist who studies smoke impacts on birds. It damages avian airways, impedes breathing, can contribute to infections, and, at high enough levels, leads to carbon monoxide poisoning and death.
Those that are able, like some birds and mammals, will use smoke as a cue to leave an area, but that means they forgo finding food and mating, expending energy to escape a fire that might never come near them. Other animals respond to smoke not by fleeing, but by reducing their energy use.
Perfumes, nail polish remover, hairspray, spray deodorant, scented candles, and air fresheners can all be dangerous to use around birds. Other hazardous household items include strong glues, permanent markers, space heaters, and paint.
Here we have a list of some of the most commonly used oils which you can consider safe for birds: Lavender essential oil. Lemon essential oil. Orange essential oil.
Incense. Though it's a popular way to add a pleasant scent and feeling of zen to many homes, incense combines many of the worst qualities when it comes to harm to cats. Cats can be extremely sensitive to smoke, which is a major factor in worsening, and perhaps even causing, cat asthma and other respiratory conditions.
At Parrot Safe Candles, we are pleased to be able to offer candles and wax melts that are safe for parrots, as well as other birds and other animals. They are even a better option for the humans in your household, as they are clean-burning and free of toxic chemicals.
Fresh orange citrus magic is a Bird Safe Air Freshener. Eliminate odors on contact using 100% active ingredients made from pure and natural citrus oils. Citrus Magic sprays last up to 4X longer than conventional air fresheners that are mostly made of water, gas and a little perfume.
It is not safe for cats. Cats are very sensitive to smoke. Burning incense in the home could cause your cat to have upper respiratory symptoms, such as sneezing, congestion, and watery eyes.
The gas products from burning incense include CO, CO2, NO2, SO2, and others. Incense burning also produces volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes, as well as aldehydes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which mostly are absorbed on particle matter.
Like citronella and peppermint scents, you can also use these oils in candles or incense sticks to give off a strong scent that rats will avoid. This is great because it will repel not only small rodents like mice and squirrels but larger ones like rats as well!
A study of thousands of children followed over time found that exposure to household incense burning was associated with impaired lung function, reduced lung function growth, and increased risks of respiratory diseases and symptoms.
What about other pets? Our candles and wax melts contain non-toxic ingredients that are safe for parrots and other birds living in your home, including finches, canaries, toucans, and more. They are also suitable for use near other pets, such as cats, dogs, small mammals, and reptiles.
' " Although scientists have traditionally thought of birds as lacking in the olfaction department, they have proved that many detect aromas and use them-to varying degrees-to select mates, forage, and locate nesting spots.
WARNING: Febreze products & other brands are toxic to pet birds! From the Febreze website: "Our products are safe to use around children and pets. But when it comes to pet birds, their tiny lungs make them uniquely sensitive to what's in the air around them.
Sources: Gasses like carbon monoxide, smoke from tobacco products, fumes from new carpets and furniture, air fresheners, scented candles, paints, glues, household cleaning products, mothballs, hair spray, and nail polish can all be harmful when they are in close proximity to birds.
Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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