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  • #983960
    CoolArtiste
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        Anybody know if oil paint fumes will harm cockatiels or other parrot family birds? How about turpentine, kerosine, mineral spirits, spray fixative, or acrylic paint fumes? I’m thinking about getting a cockatiel.

        #1024845
        cheekyerica
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            Anybody know if oil paint fumes will harm cockatiels or other parrot family birds? How about turpentine, kerosine, mineral spirits, spray fixative, or acrylic paint fumes? I’m thinking about getting a cockatiel.

            Well, I can’t say for certain but I am sure that they wouldnt be too good for them. I figure if they are meant to be used in well ventilated spaces and there are still warnings for humans (who have huge lung capacity compared to poor little chirpers or miaow-ers) then you might want to make sure that you have some kind of good air filter or circulation going on.

            I work with turpentine (with my oils) and I have 3 cats in a medium sized apartment. I make sure that when I am working (or in progress) that there is always a window (or screen door) open to allow fumes to disperse so that the kittens (or myself) don’t get headaches and potentially worse issues.
            I know birds need to be kept warm but other than that I can’t say…? :confused:

            Good luck!

            erica

            #1024834
            MS_Triple
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                I’m glad someone remembered the threat of Teflon. This is scarey knowing how prevalent and seemingly harmless these things can be. I don’t have a bird and could not remember the material myself. Good call!

                Any fumes can’t be good for animals because of their hyper sensitivity. Even burning foods (mainly the oil) bother me. I get stuffed up. A dog must feel really bad.

                #1024843
                Underdog
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                    It never occured to me that my two cockatiels might be especially sensitive to the odors/fumes related to my painting. I have been painting for maybe a couple months, now, in my 2-bedroom efficiency apartment. They spend most of their time in a cage in the living room, near a sliding glass door that leads to a balcony. Across the room and in an adjoining dining area(no separate doorway) is where I paint. I use mostly odorless thinner and Turpenoid, although I have been using some natural mineral spirits, lately, for brush cleanup. So far I have not noticed any adverse effect on the ‘tiels, but I’ll certainly keep an eye on them from now on. I may have to come up with a new situation in order to protect them.

                    I also noticed that that article previously mentioned said that Teflon will give off a poisonous gas if overheated. Any other information on that? I wasn’t really aware of that danger.

                    #1024829
                    artbabe21
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                        Good information & question……many might not think about this…but ventilation is such a key for humans so it stands to reason a small animal would have even MORE difficulty with turps…just because they took the odor out doesn’t mean it isn’t harming you!

                        Cathleen~

                        [FONT=Times New Roman]~Be COURAGEOUS, It's one of the few places left still uncrowded~

                        [FONT=Times New Roman]~Life is not measured by it's length BUT by it's depth~

                        #1024835

                        It would make sense that birds are a lot more sensitive to harmful fumes. Remember, they used to use canaries in mines to warn people when the air was getting bad… :(

                        My friends call me lame.

                        #1024836

                        I would have also had to toss out pans that I cook with as they are teflon coated. No teflon, either.

                        I still want a gray parrot. :crying:

                        I have heard bad things about TEFLON….

                        #1024837
                        Ant Carlos
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                            Animals want to be close to you. They want to watch you and they feel safe when you are at their sight. No fume would cause them more harm than be left alone in another room (assuming you spend a lot of time painting). I don’t think cockatiels are that weak. If you survive, they will survive. Besides, what is life, really? When does it start? Where does it end? Isn’t living to be happy and together with your beloved? Let it last… untill…

                            :)

                            Ant

                            #1024828

                            My Cockatiel has helped me paint for years. He sits on my shoulder and sleeps or he tries to catch the end of my brush handle till I pet him. Don’t worry so much. I also cook with Teflon and his second cage is near the kitchen… the thing you have to be worried about a bit is if you burn your food then Teflon can be released into the air otherwise its not a problem.

                            Now how bout we talk about the dangers of driving a car…god lets not get into crossing the street that’s real scary….enjoy life, its to damn short.

                            An art which isn't based on feeling isn't an art at all. Paul Cézanne :)

                            #1024844
                            Duende
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                                I have no information on the effects of teflon on birds etc., I just wanted to say to Dana, please do a lot of research before you buy an African Grey. They are not the easiest of birds to handle. They are extremely destructive and have to be provided with “toys” that they can destroy or else they will turn to your paint brushes and WIP’s :) Paddy

                                Paddy

                                #1024833
                                CoolArtiste
                                Default

                                    This page has a pretty good article on household dangers to pet birds:
                                    http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-512.html
                                    It didn’t mention oil paint, which is why I asked. The article mainly said if you had a “tightly sealed” house and you used insecticide or overheated teflon, it’d kill birds. My house is never “tightly sealed” when I oil paint, and I don’t use insecticide or overheat teflon. I like what Doug said. I wanted to hear from someone who actually had a Cockatiel around regularly when they oil painted. I think maybe I’ll go ahead and buy a Cockatiel. I had Budgerigars before. None of them ever died from illness or poisoning. One died from drowning in a glass of water and another died because its mother killed it.

                                    #1024841
                                    Eisenhower
                                    Default

                                        This page has a pretty good article on household dangers to pet birds:
                                        [url]http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-512.html[/url]
                                        It didn’t mention oil paint, which is why I asked. The article mainly said if you had a “tightly sealed” house and you used insecticide or overheated teflon, it’d kill birds. My house is never “tightly sealed” when I oil paint, and I don’t use insecticide or overheat teflon. I like what Doug said. I wanted to hear from someone who actually had a Cockatiel around regularly when they oil painted. I think maybe I’ll go ahead and buy a Cockatiel. I had Budgerigars before. None of them ever died from illness or poisoning. One died from drowning in a glass of water and another died because its mother killed it.

                                        Well, I paint with my dog in the same room, but I open at least 2 windows. It could be my ignorance but turps evaporate pretty quickly and then all I smell is linseed oil which is not toxic. As long as the cap is on, I don’t smell turps. So just don’t leave the top off when your not dipping into it.

                                        Birds are created for air, their bone structure is very hollow and light and thier lungs very delicate. They are not hardy at all. If I got a birdie, I’d keep the windows open while painting and put her cage near the window.

                                        This is the first i’ve heard of teflon being toxic at high heat. I tossed all mine because of the aluminum in the teflon creating alzheimers. Now I have my copper pots and LOVE them, but then I read a book on cancer lately and it said to get rid of copper because cancer patients have an abundance of copper in their body. Oh well. Stainless Steel inside them can’t hurt – yet… until they come up with something else. Maybe I should become a raw foodist…

                                        My first roomate had a cockateil and it was so nervous it plucked it’s own feathers out… It was completely bald. They are sensitive creatures so if turps effect the nervous system, hopefully your birdie will not pluck out its feathers….

                                        Kelly

                                        #1024838
                                        dcorc
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                                            I didn’t know there was aluminun in teflon!!

                                            There isn’t! Teflon is Polytetrafluoroethylene.

                                            The metal part of the pan, however, might have been aluminium. It’s certainly the case that aluminium exposure has been associated with Alzheimers, and aluminium cookware is not recommended.

                                            Mineral spirits is not non-toxic, but is less toxic than turpentine.

                                            Dave

                                            #1024839
                                            dcorc
                                            Default

                                                All “organic” (that is, carbon-based) low molecular weight solvents are to some extent neurotoxic. Mineral spirits (white spirit) is a mix of different chemicals from petroleum fractionation – “Odourless” preparations remove some of the aromatic molecules (that includes the smellier ones, but the term “aromatic” as used by chemists means that the molecules have circular rather than linear structures – in general these also tend to be more toxic). Turps is also toxic by skin absorption.

                                                For all of them, minimise your exposure by keeping tops on containers as much as possible, ensure some ventilation by maintaining some airflow, and avoid getting the liquid on your skin. (that doesn’t necessarily mean wear gloves, just don’t splosh it about!)

                                                Dave

                                                #1024830
                                                artbabe21
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                                                    Turpentine is a known sentizer while Gamsol or mineral spirits is not…even though I use safe studio practices I noticed a difference when I switched from turpentine as I was developing sensitivites…:)

                                                    Cathleen~

                                                    [FONT=Times New Roman]~Be COURAGEOUS, It's one of the few places left still uncrowded~

                                                    [FONT=Times New Roman]~Life is not measured by it's length BUT by it's depth~

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