Why Board at birdStuff South American species in New World Room (notice how the birds are unconcerned by their "neighbors" and completely secure) Also note pet records on each door; your bird's medical history, diet, preferences and other information are stored in our database, and weights are recorded here each day. Donna is a Certified Avian Specialist (CAS) and trained in Pet CPR and first aid who has owned parrots for 25 years. She has worked in an avian veterinary hospital for over eight years and currently assists with avian microsurgical procedures two-three times per week, making her very observant and knowledgeable about symptoms of illness. All staff are directly supervised with her on-site and currently consist of college biology students and other CAS-certified personnel. We designed special acrylic and melamine cages and had them built to spec in Canada. These cages are better suited to boarding than traditional barred cages for the following reasons: Solid walls and back create a sense of security, especially good for nervous birds or first-time boarders.

Birds are comfortable enough to eat and rest from the first day of their stay. Birds perceive solid acrylic door as a safe barrier yet do not feel confined since they can see out, and they are protected from accidental bites from other birds. Solid, smooth surfaces can be completely disinfected between guests and white bottom paper allows for inspection of food consumption and monitoring of droppings. Birds from the same household can be placed across from each other to face each other. No bird at birdStuff™ is stuck in a cage all day. Birds come out to exercise on a stand for a minimum of 15 minutes twice a day. Most birds use this time to preen and stretch. Even flighted birds can come out safely since the acrylic doors protect them from the other birds. If you wish for your bird to have additional time out, it is available for an additional fee. In addition to your bird’s regular diet, he will receive warm, cooked vegetables at lunchtime. If you would like him to have other vegetables that you bring or want him to sample the “Crazy Corn du Jour” that is an available option.

birdStuff™ employs several levels of air filtration for the health of your bird. First, the "dusty" Old World birds (such as Cockatoos, cockatiels, and African Greys) are kept in a different room than the New World species (conures, Amazons, etc) which may be sensitive to the dust. Secondly, each room contains a high-efficiency HEPA air purifier running 24 hours, and each room as well as the retail area is on a separate HVAC system. quality air duct cleaning albany nyAll rooms are ventilated to the outside, with no recirculated air. ionizing hepa air purifierThirdly, the building’s primary filters are changed twice-monthly as a backup and also use HEPA filters.cleaning a paasche airbrush The water supply is filtered via a two phase filter system prior to entry into the building.

This process removes sediment, macrominerals, chlorine, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, carcinogens and other contaminants. There is no need to bring water for your bird when he stays. Every cage is cleaned daily using an avian veterinary disinfectant called Avinol, (available for purchase at birdStuff™ ) that kills a broad spectrum of avian pathogens, including molds, bacteria, viruses and fungi. Stainless steel dishes and PVC perches are sterilized in the hot water cycle of the dishwasher. Every bird is weighed in grams upon arrival, and again each day before breakfast and weights recorded on its chart. Diets are adjusted based on weight if necessary. Donna is a Certified Avian Specialist and has trained as a veterinary assistant and is proficient in giving oral and injectable medications if your bird is under treatment for a non-contagious illness. When you drop your bird off for boarding, you will be asked to sign a statement that you have not exposed your bird to other untested birds since having your bird tested for disease, and you will be asked to direct us in the case of a medical emergency.

birdStuff™ is adjacent to The BIRD Clinic and our staff has access to Dr. Nemetz 24 hours a day in the event of a medical emergency. This is an assurance you do not have if you leave your birds at home. If you choose your bird can end her visit with a spray bath and sun dry. Birds are heavily sprayed with warm water in a stainless steel cage on our partially covered patio, and dry for 30 minutes in the sun’s rays (cage is partially covered to prevent overheating). We can even teach reluctant birds to enjoy bathing! Contented 'Too in four foot wide suite for room to exercise!While bird flu is caused by a viral infection rather than an allergy, we have had so many customers ask about bird flu prevention that we decided to set up this bird flu information page. offers the N95 respirator masks and HEPA air purifiers that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends to healthcare workers for bird flu protection. Avian Influenza is the proper scientific name for bird flu, which is a disease caused by a flu virus that naturally occurs among birds.

Wild birds around the world carry the virus, and most of them do not get sick from it, but the highly contagious virus can wreak havoc when transferred to domesticated birds like chickens, turkeys, and ducks. Infected wild birds transfer the virus through their saliva and waste products. Domesticated birds may become infected after direct contact with infected birds or indirect contact with contaminated materials like dirt, water, cages, or food. Normally, bird flu is strictly for the birds - that is, it does not infect other animals; however, certain types of bird flu viruses can infect humans during a bird flu outbreak. A human may become infected through direct contact with infected birds or through indirect contact with contaminated surfaces. At this point, bird flu infection normally does not spread beyond one person. Nonetheless, since 2003, bird flu infections have killed over 100 people. The bird flu outbreak that began in Asia in 2003 is the largest and most severe on record.

Bird flu symptoms in humans may include human flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches), eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases, and other life-threatening complications. The H5N1 virus is the type of bird flu virus that has caused the most disease and death among humans. The H5N1 bird flu virus is highly contagious, highly pathogenic, and appears to have a unique capacity to cross the species barrier and cause deadly disease in humans. In the recent H5N1 bird flu outbreaks in Asia and Europe, over half of all people infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus have died. Most cases have involved previously healthy children. So far, bird flu infection normally does not spread beyond one person, but scientists are worried that the H5N1 virus may mutate and gain the capability to easily spread from human to human. The bird flu virus may also exchange DNA with human influenza and create a whole new type of virus; this is known as genetic re-assortment.

If either of these scenarios occurs, we will find ourselves amidst a deadly bird flu pandemic. The human immune system is not equipped to handle the bird flu virus. A pandemic is a worldwide outbreak of disease. Scientists around the world are watching the H5N1 virus and preparing for the possibility of a bird flu pandemic. A bird flu pandemic could happen at any time. In 1918, a major influenza pandemic spread around the world in less than 6 months, killing more than 40 million people and infecting one-quarter of the U.S. citizens. Julie Gerderding, head of the U.S. CDC, has stated that we are probably in a historical period equivalent to the time right before the 1918 influenza pandemic, when the virus was quietly mutating into a deadly strain. Currently, there is no bird flu vaccine; however, scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) are experimenting with possible bird flu vaccines. Read this NIAID article for more information about bird flu vaccine experiments.

Note that seasonal flu shots do not provide protection against bird flu. The H5N1 virus is resistant to some standard antiviral medications. Other medicines used in treating human influenza viruses should work for treating bird flu in humans, but more studies are needed to test their effectiveness. Plus, the bird flu virus can easily mutate and become resistant to these drugs. Disease prevention is the key to avoiding unnecessary deaths from the bird flu virus. Travelers should avoid all contact with poultry especially in Africa, Asia, and Europe and all places where infection may be present (farms, markets, etc.). Do not eat raw or undercooked poultry under any circumstances. Wash your hands frequently; this simple act is extremely important in the prevention of disease. According to the CDC, you cannot get the bird flu by eating properly cooked poultry and eggs. Most human cases of bird flu were caused by direct contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces. Proper handling and cooking methods will destroy the bird flu virus.

To be safe, always wash your hands with soap and hot water before and after handling eggs and poultry. Wash egg shells with soap and warm water before cracking. Be sure to wash cutting boards, utensils, and counter tops to prevent raw poultry from contaminating other foods. Cook poultry to a temperature of at least 165° Fahrenheit or higher, and cook eggs until whites and yolks are firm. There is currently a U.S. ban on the importation of birds and bird products from H5N1-infected countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The CDC states that there is a risk involved in handling feather products from infected countries. In addition to birds and humans, the bird flu virus has also infected pigs, tigers, leopards, ferrets, and domestic cats. Domestic cats can become infected by eating raw infected birds; however, there is no evidence that cats can spread the H5N1 virus to humans. If you believe you may have been exposed to the bird flu virus, pay close attention to your health for 10 days.

If you develop any flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, etc.), please limit your travels and call your healthcare provider before visiting the office or hospital. You healthcare provider will need to know your symptoms, whether or not you've had any contact with poultry, and where you have traveled. In dealing with suspected bird flu infection in an animal or person, the CDC recommends the following precautions for healthcare workers: standard hand hygiene, gloves, eye protection, an airborne particle isolation room with a HEPA filter, and an N95 fitted respirator mask approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Bird Flu Masks - N95 Masks As of yet, there have been no reported cases of the H5N1 virus in the United States, but the virus appears to be growing stronger, and if it reaches the U.S., experts predict that masks will fly off the shelves, making it extremely difficult to find proper protection from bird flu infection.

Business Week recently reported that the United States is already experiencing a shortage of respirator masks. , a medical supply distributor based in Camarillo, CA, says, "I'm not sure this pandemic will ever come, but if it does, the world will not have masks . . . When the first sparrow dies in the U.S. from bird flu, consumers are going to hoard these things like crazy." Dr. Michael Osterholm of the CDC recently appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and recommended N95 respirator masks to reduce the risk of contracting the bird flu. Dr. Osterholm also predicts that the U.S. would run out of masks during a pandemic, and he cautions that the bird flu virus can live on a mask for two to three days, so it's imperative to properly dispose of masks after use. N95 masks block out 95% of microscopic airborne particles. ALLERGY offers the 8210 mask from 3M, which is a NIOSH-approved N95 mask. ALLERGY also offers the 3M 8233 mask and the 3M HEPA mask, which both go beyond CDC recommendations and block out 99.97% of microscopic particles.