Hey guys,

I just got another one of those Ionic Breeze Quadra air purifiers and cleaners from The Sharper Image the other day. They work so nice. If anyone has doves I think it is a good idea to invest in one. I live in a small apartment in Chicago with 8 doves and two parakeets so I always have the vaccuum out to clean up the feathers, seed, and dust. But just to make sure both the birds and myself were staying healthy in my little bat cave I bought two air purifiers and cleaners form Target that were supposed to be realy good. Man they were a waste of money. I got two Ionic Breeze cleaners and they work soooo much better. In my opinion I think they should be on the list of when to get if you want to be a dove magcian with lots of doves. It's good for both your health and the bird's as well. I keep one by their big parrot cage and one in a corner of the room on the other side so it will really pick up their dust and stuff like that which you don't want to be getting in your lungs. Basically they're awesome, you should get one, and I'm sure you can find them on Ebay pretty cheap if you don't want to spend like the $300 for one, but man they're so worth it.

SperriS

Dan,

Thanks for the "shopper tip" for dove and bird men. People that don't live with birds frequently don't realize how much birds in close quarters change an environment with just "dust" and feathers.

I'm sure Dr. Lucy will approve of your concern for your health and comfort too. They do matter! (One reason she is using geese more and doves less is because of the dust. Water birds have a different feather that has to be oily so they can swim. But it also controls the dust. The rest of us will enjoy dove magic and just learn to cope.)

Let us know when you come south again.

Bob and Lucy
Magic By Sander

Yeah I know the dust can be one of the bigger hassles of having doves. This past summer I just put the parrot cage out on my deck during the day when I was home, so that helped. I've also seen this spray for birds that has vitimins in it for their coats but also supposidly controls the dust. Do you know if that really does help? My vet also recommends giving them a frequent shower, which I do about once a month, and that seems to help a little too. I probably won't be coming down South for awhile unfortunately, at least until next spring when I start my summer lecture tour. If any clubs are interested let me know because the dates are starting to fill up.

SperriS

Hey Dan,

Great tip! I have an ionic breeze in my bedroom, because I'm living with 9 doves, 8 parakeets, and a cockatoo, not to mention that I'm allergic to birds. This helps me a ton!

Dave

Hey Dan, how much are they in stores? I'm guessing $300?

Yeah the have different models, but the quadra is the biggest one, it runs about $300. But is really quiet, the only time it makes some noise is just a little buzz when it needs to be cleaned and it doesn't really use that much power either so I leave them on all the time...

SperriS

Great tip, Dan. When I had my birds in the basement (30 of them) I had a Heppa filter running all the time. That worked but changing the filters got real messy. I've thought of the Ionic breeze but never got a chance to try it. Sounds like it's the way to go. Now that I'm down to 10 birds, it should work just fine.

I have two in my house and they work great.

I just stumbled upon this product two weeks ago and I love it! Because of it, I am able to keep all 4 of my birds in my apartment with out my roomies complaining about the smell. Also, there are 2 special offers going on at Sharper Image 1) Buy one large Ionic Breeze for $325.00 and get small Ionic Breeze (a $70.00 value) for free, or 2) Buy 2 large ionic Breezes for only $175.00 plus tax. So, if you want to get one or just read more about them click here: http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalo......hppos=27

-Zack

An air purifier is a very important addition to a dove worker's home. Thanks, Dan for mentioning it (BTW - You might remember me from the Castle last year. Our friend Andy Amyx introduced us).
However, I wanted to warn everyone about the Ionic Breeze. I had a couple of them two years ago (especially for my girlfriend at the time who had asthma), but had to return them because something in the Ions was actually inducing asthma attacks! A doctor confirmed this. If it works out for you great, but I wanted to share that bit of info with everyone.

I can't think of the guys name but he was a famous dove magician a while ago, he died from the stuff in the dove poo, he kept loads of them in his house, so if you keep them in your house I suggest you take Dan's advice.

Matt

The powder on the birds feathers (that protect them from the elements) will get airborn. I had a few doves inside for a few years. It caused asthma & eventually a stay in the hospital on life support!
Things are better now. The doves are happy in a dove coop outside, & I am breathing easier. I do recommend the ionic breeze or even better, there is a thing called "Airsource". It's way better than the Ionic Breeze. I know a distributor named Scott McCray http://www.shaklee.net/scottmccraytheairsolution@msn.com
Please tell him that I sent you! (I don't get any kind of a kick back, I just like people to know when I send referals)

Great tip Dan, I will shop around for one of those. I have mad trouble keeping the dust down in my house with my 6 doves and Blue and Gold Macaw. It was even worse when I had an Umbrealla Cockatoo so I know what Dave is going through because I am allergic to birds aswell.

Matthew David Stanley

There's that rumour about the magician dying from bird poo again. I knew I had heard that before. I wish someone could confirm this if it is indeed true.

Regan

I had an outdoor cage (ala Tony Clark's Video but considerably larger) built as an outdoor coup, especially because of the harmful dust from the doves. I read somewhere years ago that living with 3 or more birds (especially doves) is like smoking a pack of cigarettes per day. Something like that. Anyway, get 'em outside or get a purifier.

There is a disease called "Birdkeeper disease", I don't remember the scientific name for it. It can be deadly.

I can't remember the name of the guy but he worked Abbott's and Japan about 10 years ago. I think it was Jeff Korst. But in any event, he had to give up his bread and butter act of doves because of his allergies. I know of several people with this problem.

I know that a lot of the new homes while trying to be more insulated against the weather. This however has made the houses today more apt to hold in viruses and other things. So we gain in one area and lose in another.

Hi, all.

Just discovered the Café. I usually wouldn't revive a thread this old, but this is an important topic--it can kill you.

What I had is called hypersensitivity pneumonitis and is not really an allergy. It's a cronic/acute inflammation of the lungs caused by the dander/dust that the birds create. It gets into your lungs. About 1 in 10 develop a sensativity to it.

I had doves for more than 12 years before I developed symptoms. At the worst, I couldn't hold my breath long enough to drink a glass of water. My GP was unable to diagnose it. After 6 months, I went to a lung specialist who figured it out.

Treatment was to get rid of the birds and several weeks of steroids to help the lungs heal.

In worst cases, this disease can kill in as little as two weeks. Once you develop it, a reaction CAN be triggered by a feather pillow or down jacket.

I heard from another magician who also had this--and also found it difficult to get diagnosed. He was bad enough to require hospitalization. Guess what--once in the hospital, he got better because he was away from the birds! I understand this cycle went on for some time.

Anyway, if you have birds, I strongly recommend not keeping them in your living area. Keep the area clean, and consider wearing a mask when cleaning the cages. (Not sure about the mask--I don't remember the size of the particle you need to keep out of your lungs.)

If you develop cronic cough and/or shortness of breath, see a doctor. If you're armed with this info, you should find it much easier to get a prompt diagnosis.

Thanks for remembering me, Richard.

Jeffrey Korst

Yes, I thought I read this on other threads. I know I read it in the paper within the last year. Unlike chickens, parakeets, finches, etc., the dander from doves could be deadly. I used to keep a few inside like alarm clocks but upon reading this I've moved them outside. Do not take this information lightly. Once you loose your heath, your whole world changes.

Dr. Solar

But what are the symptoms? IS it a rare disease? Is there any small air purifiers at an affordable cost? (less then $100). I have never heard of getting killed by your doves. What other percautions can be taken besides the usual clean up time?