Painting your house can be a challenging task if you have a parrot. These birds are curious and can fly into walls or damp surfaces or swallow paint. Moreover, you need to ensure that the fumes and vapors are not harmful to your parrot.
Whether used for decoration or leisure, many paints contain hazardous compounds that are toxic to parrots. If you need to paint your house or birdcage, temporarily relocate your parrot until the paint is dry and the room is ventilated. Once dry, acrylic or spray paints are safe for parrots. Avoid latex paint, as its fumes can be deadly.
Parrots live a long time, so you won’t be able to avoid painting throughout your pet bird’s life. Therefore, you need to tackle a DIY project safely. Paint and parrots do not mix well, but you can paint your house safely.
Is paint safe for parrots?
Most of the paints you buy at a hardware store are deadly to a parrot if ingested. The biggest issue is a cocktail of different components, including zinc, formaldehyde, and lead (even though its use is banned in France since the early 1950s, not all countries have such restrictions…).
Ideally, a parrot should be kept away from paint for at least two weeks after application. This is the only way to ensure that your parrot is not exposed to harmful chemicals. Even in this case, you’ll need to use appropriate paint.
You will need a second home for your parrot before attempting a painting refresh or creation project. Ideally, move your parrot to another place. If that’s not possible, place your parrot’s cage in another room for at least a week – ideally two – after the project is completed.
Pecking and nibbling on dry paint is less likely to make parrots sick. Once paint has dried on a surface, the hazardous components are no longer active. The fresher the paint, and the more recently it has been opened, the more dangerous it will be for your parrot.
Unfortunately, parrots can still peck and bite paint. There are many reasons for this, including boredom, a desire to escape the cage, curiosity, and seeking more calcium. Provide your parrot with an engaging environment.
Are paint fumes bad for parrots?
Even if you keep your parrot away from damp surfaces, many paints contain volatile organic compounds or VOCs. These create the fumes associated with paints, many of which are toxic to your parrot.
VOCs are organic chemicals that vaporize when exposed to standard ambient temperature. The term “volatile” refers to the fact that these chemicals have an extremely low boiling point and quickly disperse into the air, allowing your parrot to breathe them in.
Not all VOCs are necessarily a bad thing in the animal kingdom. For example, olfactory behaviors that lead to the release of pheromones are considered a natural use of VOCs. As explained by the American Journal of Plant Sciences, many edible plants also release VOCs.
Unfortunately, just as many VOCs are dangerous. Those found in paints are often lethal to our feathered companions. To be able to fly, parrots have extremely efficient respiratory systems. This also means that any toxins inhaled into the atmosphere spread rapidly throughout the body.
Today, you can find a range of low and zero VOC paints available. If you have a parrot, only the latter will suffice. Even then, consider investing in an air quality monitor. Only reintroduce your parrot into a room that has been clear and well-ventilated for several days.
Are interior paints safe for birds?
To be honest, no product can be considered 100% bird-safe paint. All products are dangerous for parrots when wet. However, some types of paint are better than others.
Always look for paint that carries the following labels: NF Environment, European Ecolabel and Excellent. This means that the product has been deemed safe for humans and the environment. This does not automatically mean it is suitable for parrots, but it is a step in the right direction.
As mentioned, you will still need to take a closer look at the paint you wish to use. Let’s examine the most popular paints available on the market and their suitability for parrots:
Acrylic paint
Most bird experts recommend acrylic paints if you must use such materials. Indeed, acrylic paints do not emit any odor in the air, which means there are no harmful fumes.
Acrylic paints are versatile, making them useful for any owner. For example, if you need to touch up or redecorate a cage, acrylic is just as beneficial as applying broader layers to larger surfaces.
Ceramic paint
Many people enjoy painting ceramics as a hobby. Parrot owners, in particular, may seek to decorate food or water dishes in a birdcage. However, this hobby requires special paints – simple watercolors or oil paints will not suffice.
Fortunately, most ceramic paints are acrylic-based. This means you’ll need to take the same precautions as above. Allow the paint to dry before reapplying the decorated ceramics to a cage, and check the label of any paint to see if it contains hazardous components before buying it.
Latex paint
Latex paint fumes and parrots don’t mix well. Therefore, you should never use latex paint if you have a pet bird. More than any other type of paint, latex paint is full of VOCs. Even water-based latex paint should be avoided.
This might seem confusing since latex is a popular material for parrot toys and perches. This is due to the flexibility offered by this material. The difference here, of course, is that a latex toy, for example, is completely dry. This means there is no risk of VOCs.
However, some cheaper latex materials can emit a distinct odor. In these cases, it’s better to keep them away from your parrot. The paint may be of inferior quality and prone to chipping, increasing the risk of toxicity.
Milk or casein paint
Milk paint may seem unappetizing, but it is an odorless and VOC-free alternative to traditional paints. Many people use milk paint to meet decorative needs without causing environmental hazards.
The product is not made from milk as we know it. Instead, casein – a protein found in milk – is the base, along with lime. This means that milk paint should still be kept away from parrots, who have difficulty digesting dairy products.
The reason for these complications is that parrots are mostly lactose intolerant. On paper, milk paint does not contain this ingredient – it is a sugar found in dairy products, while casein is, as mentioned, a protein. However, traces of lactose may remain, leading to gastric distress.
Oil paint
Oil paints emit significant fumes that are harmful to birds, so these materials should be kept away from parrots. It is possible to find oil paints that claim to be non-toxic (potentially made from flax seeds), but it’s still not worth taking a significant risk.
If you enjoy using oil paints for art, do so away from your parrot. If this must be done in the house, set up in an art studio where your parrot will never venture. Additionally, never leave a canvas or other material created with oil paint in sight until it is completely dry.
Watercolor paint
If you wish to apply a new color to a cage, watercolors are the closest thing to bird-safe wood paint. This does not mean that your parrot can interact directly with the paints. Watercolors dry quickly, do not emit fumes, and contain fewer hazardous ingredients.
Watercolors are also commonly associated with amateur painting. If you enjoy creating works of art, do so in a separate room from your parrot. Better yet, complete any painting – and store all paints – outside the house.
Parrots are attracted to bright colors. Since watercolors are available in various shades and tints, a bird may become curious and start pecking at the paint pots.
What happens if a parrot eats paint?
We have emphasized that parrots should never consume or inhale paint. Such an event rarely ends well. Can we always be certain that a bird has come into contact with wet paint?
Don’t rely solely on catching your parrot in the act, and don’t wait to notice a beak stained with paint. Instead, be alert for any signs of toxicity in your pet. These signs include:
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
- Lethargy and depression
- Seizures and convulsions
- Blood in the stool
If you spot these symptoms, ventilate the room immediately and call a veterinarian specialized in birds. Your bird will need urgent medical care, as the consumption or inhalation of untreated paint is often fatal.
Our final advice: Keep your parrots away from paints!
After establishing that parrots should be kept away from paints, you want to ensure your parrot’s safety. Although parrots can be strong-willed and find trouble, let’s reiterate the measures to take to ensure your parrot’s safety:
- Use water-based paint rather than oil-based paint.
- Only use VOC-free paints and never use products containing heavy metals (zinc, lead, etc.).
- Apply paint when your parrot is not in the room (or, better yet, in the house).
- Open the windows (while the cage is closed) before bringing the parrot back, to fully ventilate the room.
- Get an air quality meter and ensure the atmosphere is free of VOCs.
- Ensure all paints are completely dry to the touch.
- Store paint safely, away from any potential interaction with your parrot.
If you follow these basic guidelines, there is no reason your parrot should be poisoned by paint. If you cannot commit to taking these safety precautions, consider avoiding paint altogether. Wallpaper is a safer option.
If you have a parrot, assume that all paint can harm your animal. If you need to apply a new coat of paint to your home, take the necessary steps to protect your parrot.
Always adopt a preventative and safety-focused attitude, keeping paint and your parrot as far apart as possible…
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