Can owning a Canary bird have a bad effect on moderate asthma for a 71 year old?
It can have a partial effect because of the dander – the loose fluffy feathers and the general ‘flaky dry skin’ that can sometimes come from birds kept in captivity. The same can be said for budgies & cockatiels. Most of this can be overcome by providing water for them to bathe in – most birds in cages require to bathe at least once a day – or, you can spray them with water from a fine mist spray bottle – but do not soak them – especially in winter months as a cold draught could kill them if they caught a cold. The dander problem if bathing is not easy every day will result in fine dust or ‘dust bunnies’ on the floor – which can be kicked up and cause problems for asthmatics or people who suffer from sinus problems. A daily hoover or wipe down with a damp cloth will cure this. These are just the main problems but are easily overcome with proper care of the bird. Remember also that bird seed DOES NOT contain enough vitamins and minerals, even if obtained ‘fresh’ from a pet shop. Diet of
