Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    Hi Tom!
    
    Good luck finding a "Christmas Bird" on Sale!!!  Usually the season
    is a good excuse to jack up prices...Some breeders are reluctant
    to sell holiday pets too, but it depends on the birds, the breeder
    and the people wanting a pet...
    
    Your heat source should not be a problem as long as the pilot light
    does not go out...you know what will happen with gas coming into
    the house....by the time you smell it, it can already take its toll.
    If the house is warm to hot, keep the bird where it will be draft
    free, or in a room that remains a more constant temperature.
    
    Budgies (parakeets) are very hearty little birds, and male will
    be able to talk to your wife!  A cockatiel, also a hearty species
    is a wonderful talker, and you can teach him to sing....or a canary
    or finch...they sing, no talking.  I have a good friend that talks
    to his mynah -- and when the bird has heard enuf...he tells Bob
    to, "Go Lay Down!"  It's a riot!  Zebra, Society and Cut Throats
    are hearty finches and from what I understand, Pekin Nightingales
    are pretty sturdy and can withstand most any environment and they
    are great beginner birds!  I finally got my first Nightingale two
    weeks ago, we think it's a she, and it whistles softly and is a
    beautiful little bird!
    
    This is wonderful!  Another bird person to add to the flock!!!
    Let us know what you decide!!
    
    Jean  :^}

    I wrote an article for the March BIRD TALK which I urge you
    to read.  It's called "Airborne Contaminents"  and should be out
    sometime in January.
    
    In short though, gas heaters can be used.  However check to make
    sure the pilot light is adjusted properly.  Make sure the heater
    is maintained properly.  Try opening a nearby window just a crack
    (but CHECK FOR DRAFTS).  If possible, try not to run it continuously.
    
    Good luck with your new buddy!

    re: .2
    
    I read someplace that gas stays close to the floor.  It's heavy
    and sinks....is that true?  If the cage were at least 5 feet off
    the floor, would that be safer for a pet kept in a gas stove heated
    home?
    
    Is this covered in your article?  Also, the sulfur odor in the gas
    is supposed to be as dangerous as the gas itself...??           
    
    I'm really interested to know this too??!!
    
    j

    I quite frankly do not know if the gas stays close to the floor.
    My article does cover sulfur gas and lots of other pollutants.
    
    There are government product safety groups you might want to
    contact.  There are also companies that specialize in air
    pollution who may be willing to answer your first question.
    
    I'd love to send you a copy of my manuscript, but that's a
    no-no prior to publication.  

    
    What is your first name?????
    
    thanks for the suggestions.  We all want to see your article!  I
    understand about prior to pubs!
    
    Jean
    

    The colder the temperature in the room, the lower the gas will stay
    to the floor, visa-versa, the warmer the temperature the more the
    gas will expand upward into the room.  
    
    The sulfur (mercapitans) compound they put into the gas is there
    to odorize the gas because natural gas is odorless.  This means
    that they want you to smell the gas if there is a leak.  At the
    point where you can smell the sulfur, the danger is from the gas,
    not the sulfur because a large amount of gas must be present for
    the odor to be present.  We are talking people here.. not birds.
    I do know however that the concentration (ppm) of the sulfur is
    very very low.  Don't have numbers for you though.
    
    Does this help?
    
    Karen-

    Propane gas will settle to the lowest point, natural gas dosent
    however it will mix freely with the air in the room without regard
    to hi/low. This info direct from a person that works with both
    natural and LPG/propane gas daily(my father).
    
    -j

    My name is Pat (Patricia Walz).  
    
    Seems there was even more that I could have put into my article.
    Thanks for all the info about gas.
    
    

    Thanks Pat!  Nice to see a front name!
    
    The gas is interesting....the sulfur still concerns me though...
    I will be doing more research again tonite!!!
    
    -j
    
    (BTW:  What's a Gort??  ;')  I'm "J", unless you are older than
    me, and you were "-J" first....  :*} )
    
    J

    Well, are you going to get that pal?
    
    j