Essential oils and birds: what bird owners should know

Essential oils and birds: what bird owners should know

Daniel Smith

Birds share our homes, but they do not experience the air around them in the same way we do. Their respiratory systems are highly efficient and particularly sensitive to airborne fumes, fragrances and particles.

For this reason, Australian veterinary guidance recommends avoiding essential-oil diffusers in homes with birds. A scent that seems mild or pleasant to a person may still expose a bird to substances it cannot safely avoid.

Essential Oils QLD does not currently hold complete bird-specific safety information for every product we stock. Where a product page does not show a bird warning, this does not mean that the product has been assessed as safe around birds.

Looking for information about another pet?

Why birds need extra protection

Birds are especially vulnerable to airborne irritants. Smoke, perfume, aerosols, volatile cleaning products, paint fumes and other scented products can make them unwell.

Essential-oil diffusers add volatile compounds to the air. Active diffusers, including ultrasonic and nebulising diffusers, may also release tiny oil droplets that can settle on feathers, cages and nearby surfaces.

A caged bird cannot simply walk into another room when the air becomes uncomfortable. Opening the cage door is not an adequate safety measure because the fumes may already be present throughout the room or home.

Should essential oils be diffused around birds?

Vet Voice, an Australian veterinary information service, advises bird owners not to use essential-oil diffusers in homes with birds because the risk to the bird is real.

This advice applies even when:

  • the oil is described as pure or natural
  • only a small amount is used
  • the diffuser is placed away from the cage
  • the bird has not reacted during previous use
  • the fragrance seems mild to people in the room

There is no reliable universal number of drops, dilution level or running time that Essential Oils QLD can recommend as safe for every bird.

Do not apply essential oils directly to birds

Do not put pure or diluted essential oils on a bird's:

  • skin
  • feathers
  • feet
  • beak
  • cage
  • perches or toys
  • food or drinking water

Oil on feathers can be swallowed during preening. Residue left on cage surfaces, toys or perches may also be picked up by the bird's feet or beak.

Do not use an essential oil to treat breathing problems, feather damage, parasites, anxiety, wounds or another health concern unless an avian veterinarian has specifically prescribed or directed its use.

Other scented products also matter

Essential oils are not the only household fragrance concern for birds. Take care with:

  • air fresheners
  • scented candles
  • incense
  • perfume and body sprays
  • aerosol cleaners
  • strongly scented cleaning products
  • paint and varnish fumes
  • smoke

Keep birds well away from fumes and use unscented products where practical in the areas they occupy.

Possible signs of airborne irritation or exposure

Birds often hide illness, so small changes can matter. Possible signs of distress include:

  • open-mouth breathing
  • rapid or laboured breathing
  • tail bobbing while breathing
  • wheezing, clicking or unusual breathing sounds
  • watery eyes or nasal discharge
  • weakness or unusual quietness
  • loss of balance
  • sitting low on the perch or cage floor
  • reduced appetite
  • collapse

Do not wait for several symptoms to appear. Breathing difficulty in a bird can become serious quickly.

What to do if your bird may have been exposed

  1. Turn off and remove the diffuser or fragrance source.
  2. Move the bird to clean air without exposing it to cold, wind or additional stress.
  3. Do not apply another product or home remedy.
  4. Contact an avian veterinarian promptly.
  5. Contact the Australian Animal Poisons Helpline if poisoning may have occurred.

Does purity make an oil safer for birds?

No. Purity describes the composition or quality of an oil. It does not establish that the oil is safe for a bird to inhale, swallow or have on its feathers or skin.

A pure essential oil is still a concentrated source of volatile plant compounds. "Natural", "pure" and "free from synthetic fragrance" should not be read as meaning "safe for birds".

A practical approach for bird owners

You can still own essential oils if you have a bird, but they should be stored and used away from the bird's airspace.

Keep bottles and diffuser liquids securely stored. Do not operate a diffuser in the home while the bird is present, and do not use essential oils on the bird or inside its enclosure.

Speak with an avian veterinarian if you need advice for your bird's species, health or living environment.

Further information

Back to blog