Living with a bird can be a lot of fun. but if you’re noticing that you sneeze and cough a lot more in the bird room, this could be an indication of allergies. here are 5 ways you can minimize the triggers and enjoy your bird more.

Choose Right—Different birds produce different amounts of dander and dust. If you have chosen a bird who is now a member of your family, you surely know a lot more about birds now than you did when you first made your decision.

If you decide to add to the family with another feathered friend, remember that powder down birds such as African Grey, Cockatoos, Cockatiels, and Amazons, while absolutely gorgeous, produce a fine, powdery, wing dust in addition to dander. Allergies can be greatly aggravated by the additional particulates that these birds will produce. Choosing one that creates fewer particulates will limit potential airborne triggers

Set A Limit—Bird owners tend to have big hearts. It’s often easy to get talked into adopting another bird. and while this often saves them from abuse, neglect, and worse, it does not always make for healthy living conditions unless great care is taken.

Housing numerous birds in a space that is really too small is not a good choice for anyone, as quality of life is important too. know when to say no to another bird based on the space and care you can provide. Instead, research a list of healthy options for those that you cannot support.

Select Bird-Friendly Furnishings—The furniture you choose for your bird’s room can really make a difference in how much time you spend there and how much you enjoy it. Choose surfaces that are easily clean. for furniture that means slip covers that can be washed, leather that can be damp wiped or other stain proof fabrics.

For flooring choose wood, wood-like products, or tile for easy cleaning with a damp mop or vacuum. These materials make spills and accidents (that will happen) easier to clean, and less of a panic when they do.

Clean Smarter—Cleaning with water trumps dry cleaning. Moisture does a better job of keeping particulates grounded and keeps them from going airborne again. Vacuuming with a HEPA (abbreviation for high efficiency particle arresting) vacuum will filter the air of particles that are.3 microns or greater before it is returned to the air in the room. This insures that you really are reducing the number of particles on the floor and surfaces rather than just blowing them around in your room.

Filter the Air—Doing all of the above will certainly help reduce the allergens in the bird room. and this will help your allergies because it is actually the protein in the dander and dust that trigger allergy symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, watering eyes, and coughing.

Using a HEPA air purifier to filter dander, dust, and other normal household triggers from the air is crucial. Elevated levels of bird dander and dust will clog your bird’s air passages and increase the chances that it will become sick. 24 hour filtration with a HEPA air purifier will keep particle levels low and help you manage your allergies and enjoy a long and happy relationship with your bird.