There has been much talk about the effects of teflon fumes on birds. Teflon and probably all other non-stick surfaces emit toxic fumes when heated. Original statements claimed that it had to be heated to above 500 degrees. This is not necessarily true. You can find teflon products in household items such as pots, pans, baking sheets, space heaters, hair dryers, curling irons, etc. Basically anything that heats up has the potential of having teflon in it.

The symptoms a bird who is being poisoned by teflon are lack of coordination, wheezing, weakness, respiratory distree, and convulsions. Usually death occurs too rapidly for treatment. A minimal exposure to the fumes may respond to fresh air, warmth and fluid.

Many people with birds still use teflon around their birds and have done so for years and have been lucky. Other have not been as lucky. Personally, I continue to use non-stick cookware, however and slowly replacing it with non-coated cookware. I would also mention that most of my non-stick cookware is over 5 years old. I am also very careful when using my old cookware. The following is a very good article posted to EXOTIC-L by Joanie Doss on teflon. --Barry Thaxton

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As editor of The Alaska Bird News I exchange newsletters with about 60 clubs
in the lower 48.  The article about people having birds die from Teflon
products at a lower temperature began to surface.

What you must remember about Teflon is that "Teflon" is a brand name just as
Levis are jeans.  That means each manufacturer of the same product may vary
the ingredients to make his product more unique.  In Teflon type products
this happens.  Some of the nonstick products are deadlier than others and
seem to require a very low temperature to emit fumes.  Also the age of the
product makes a difference.  We know how easily the surface of the these
products can be removed through scratches, etc. A pot that is very old and
been exposed to a lot of air is not going to be as deadly as a brand new pot
freshly taken out of it plastic wrap....even though both products are made
by the same manufacturer.  That does not mean the old pot is safe, only safer.

When Teflon-like products were first used for burners, people contacted the
US manufacturers and many of them discontinued making that product.
However, the foreign market then stepped in and took over.(This was like in
1988)  I think the US manufacturers are probably back into the market again.

There have been attempts by some groups of people to make the manufacturers
of these products say that the Teflon-like substance is harmful to birds.
As you see they weren't very successful. They are afraid that if they state
this on their packaging, people are going to think, "Hmmmmmm.  If it kills
birds, what does it do to humans?"   When using Teflon-like products the
fumes don't magically disappear.  They can be in the draperies, carpeting,
etc., until  in time they become weaker and fresh air replaces them.

It is almost impossible to find products that do not use this substance any
more.  I would think that if you made waffles with your Teflon waffle maker,
drank coffee from your Teflon coffee maker, roasted your turkey in a Teflon
roaster, baked your rolls on a Teflon cookie sheet, turned up the heat in
your house with your Teflon space heater, then ironed your clothes with your
Teflon iron on your Teflon ironing board, your own health could be in
jeopardy.  Although one product may not harm you, using Teflon all day
several days a week could.

Teflon poisoning has many ifs. Such as who made it, how much ventilation
there is, the bird's closeness to the product, the air current in the house,
the health of the bird, the size of the bird, the amount of Teflon being
used, the temperature at which it is being used, the length the product is
used, etc.  I would never take a chance with Teflon.  You just don't know
what effect it will have on your bird (and yourself).

Joanie Doss
The Amazing Amazons
amazons@alaska.net