Consumer Homes.

Question:

> My last question (very specific) is about teflon > coating warnings.  I own many Circulon brand > pots (I love them and have too many to trash) but > I rarely cook on VERY high heat . . . it’s also > possible that some part of my stovetop might > have non-stick coating.  Should I be very worried > about this?  Is Circulon (not a black non-stick > surface) something to worry about?

There was a long and heated discussion here about Teflon a few months back.  Yes it’s something to be concerned about.  But where you end up as a result of that concern is up to you.  Some people end up throwing away their pots and pans.  Others become aware of the problem and modify their behaviour so as to minimize the risk.  I’m in the latter group. To help with the decision, look at your track record in the kitchen.  Have you burned more than one pot in your cooking career?  If so, have you changed your cooking practices to keep it from ever happening again? I would suggest that anyone who has burned more than one pot, or who has burned a pot in the last couple of years, is a poor candidate for mixing birds and Teflon.  All it takes is one accident. OTOH, if you’re a careful cook and haven’t had any scorching problems, then I think it’s legitimate to factor the cost of replacing your cookware into the equation, and if you decide to keep it, then at least you’ve made a rational decision. I’m much more worried about self-cleaning ovens. They’re *designed* to get too hot.  Think of them as an Amazon Auschwitz, a ‘teil Treblinka, a budgie Birkenau. Paul

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi again, > <snip> > I had been interested in a hand-fed, peach-faced > lovebird, and while I have had some positive > feedback about lovebirds, many people have > suggested that a cockatiel might be a better first > bird.  I hadn’t really thought much about tiels > earlier, primarily because they are larger and a > little more expensive than lovebirds. > Most people have mentioned that tiels are a little > quieter than lovebirds (important since I live in > an apartment) and very social.  To further > clarify, I’m looking for a very tame, snuggly > breed . . .  playful and fun, but not aggresive (and > hopefully not destructive, as I have heard that > lovebirds can be).

I have both lovebirds and cockatiels and in my experience, both make wonderful pets and have the traits you’re looking for. Lovebirds DO have a bit more of an "attitude" though. > A friend who has owned birds commented that > health problems with any breed can sometimes be > frequent and vet care particularly expensive. > What do you think?

Yes, what your friend says is true. However, by feeding a healthy, nutritious and varied diet you can expect to have a healthier bird… thus less frequency of illness. > My last question (very specific) is about teflon > coating warnings.  I own many Circulon brand > pots (I love them and have too many to trash) but > I rarely cook on VERY high heat . . . it’s also > possible that some part of my stovetop might > have non-stick coating.  Should I be very worried > about this?  Is Circulon (not a black non-stick > surface) something to worry about? > <snip> > Thanks for all of your continued help.

You would have to change "rarely" to NEVER cook on very high heat! What concerns me more though is the fact that you suspect part of your stovetop might have non-stick coating. This would be more of a danger than using non- stick cookware since you don’t have as much control over how hot it gets. —

Response:

Hi again, Thanks for everyone’s helpful and quick feedback about my question about becoming a first-time bird owner.  A few more (perhaps more detailed) questions, if I may. I had been interested in a hand-fed, peach-faced lovebird, and while I have had some positive feedback about lovebirds, many people have suggested that a cockatiel might be a better first bird.  I hadn’t really thought much about tiels earlier, primarily because they are larger and a little more expensive than lovebirds. Most people have mentioned that tiels are a little quieter than lovebirds (important since I live in an apartment) and very social.  To further clarify, I’m looking for a very tame, snuggly breed . . .  playful and fun, but not aggresive (and hopefully not destructive, as I have heard that lovebirds can be). A friend who has owned birds commented that health problems with any breed can sometimes be frequent and vet care particularly expensive. What do you think? My last question (very specific) is about teflon coating warnings.  I own many Circulon brand pots (I love them and have too many to trash) but I rarely cook on VERY high heat . . . it’s also possible that some part of my stovetop might have non-stick coating.  Should I be very worried about this?  Is Circulon (not a black non-stick surface) something to worry about? Finally, if anyone has any specific suggestions about reputable breeders/sources in the New York metro area (I live in NYC,with some  ability to travel outside of the city) could you post or e-mail directly? Thanks for all of your continued help.

Response:

> A friend who has owned birds commented that > health problems with any breed can sometimes be > frequent and vet care particularly expensive. > What do you think?

Whoa yes.  Save up for this.  This can easily be the greatest expense. Each checkup can be $100 or so (I have two parrots), and that’s once or twice a year, and then every few years you should do bloodwork and stuff like that, and that’s another $100 or so per bird.  Then if your vet has any suspicions about anything there’s cultures, x-rays, biopsies, ultrasounds, collection fees, lab fees, ….  Then there’s medications, any apparatus like collars or splints….  All prices in Canadian dollars. Kevin — Kevin Chu URL:   http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Horizon/6871/

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