Always wash food from shops or from outside (parrots like hawthorn berries). Never buy loose seed in pet shops it is likely to contain fungal growths like aspergillus and candida which can kill. You won't always be able to spot this by looking at it. You can sometimes see fungal growths in sunflower seeds and pine nuts by cracking them open to reveal a bluish-green powdery growth within. But be on the safe side and just don't feed food that is second rate.
Be careful of plants near the aviary or houseplants - if they are poisonous to animals or humans, they will probably be poisonous to birds. Be careful of household cleaning fluids, matches etc. All kinds of household chemical items are dangerous.
Smoke from pans and burning kitchen items can kill parrots in a few seconds. Birds are far more sensitive to any air pollution than humans. Remember canaries down mines.
Put attachments on doors so that they close automatically. Any large pane windows should have curtains or net curtains hung on them. Or put wire netting over windows, remembering high small windows are a perfect escape hole for birds. Remove all mirrors from the bird's room and remove any ceiling fans. Never allow a bird to stay on your shoulder, keep it on your hand when it is with you - you are less likely to forget it is there.
The following human foods may be dangerous to parrots - any salty foods or salted nuts, avocado (some are lethal), persimmons (also known as Sharon fruits), rhubarb, chocolate, tea, cola, coffee, alcohol, cigarettes and cigarette smoke, raw peanuts in the shell, spinach, too many apple or pear seeds, too many of the inside of stones from apricots, cherry, peach, and plum. This is not a complete list.
Few plants are poisonous to birds, but if they are known to be poisonous to humans, it is safer to assume that they may be harmful to birds. For a good list look at www.birdsafe.com This also gives details of which branches are safe for your parrot. As a rough guide, avoid all conifers and evergreens.
Keeping a parrot in the kitchen is probably not safe - there are too many dangers there. Do not use household cleaning fluids, matches, or air fresheners of any kind in the same room as any bird. Newly painted surfaces can also release toxic fumes. All kinds of household chemical items are dangerous. Smoke from pans and burning kitchen items can kill any bird in a few seconds. Birds are far more sensitive to any air pollution than humans that's why they took canaries down mines.
