Anyway Announcement: If you own a birb, you can’t light a candle. The candles that are birb safe are very very very rare and it’s better to be safe than sorry because their little lungs can’t handle the particles emitted! So if you have a birb and want to light Shabbat Candles, or a Hanukkiah, may I recommend instead: Electric ones

jewish-education:

jewish-kulindadromeus:

birdsb:

jewish-kulindadromeus:

Do they fulfill the mitzvah under the strictest interpretations? No 

Do they work for more progressive Jewish movements and help you to keep your little angels safe? Yes 

Don’t shame people for using electric candles for Jewish mitzvot, especially if they have a pet that requires it 

This has been a PSA 

i dont have a bird but like even if you light with the bird on the other room? in what conditions is the candle bad for the bird? is it something that linger through the air for a long time?

Right to clarify:

Even the smallest amount of vapour can hurt your bird if it’s breathing connected airflow. So you need to have it in a room that isn’t connected through ventilation. The only candles that are okay for birds are ones that are pure beeswax without metal inside to stabilise the wick; since birds can’t cough, any abrasive or toxic particle emitted into the air will get into their lungs and damage them over time. The smoke especially – we might not notice it, but they will. Keeping them in another room that’s connected via the vents isn’t any better, unfortunately, than having them in the same room. And having candles with metal or materials other than beeswax burning in the house at all is a danger, regardless of what ventilation is present – especially because of those lungs and you don’t know how long it’ll linger.

Source: Myself (an evolutionary biologist), my friend (a veterinarian), my other friend (a liscenced bird rehabber), my avian vet. Sorry, I’m on a bus and don’t really have the ability to get direct sources

@jewish-education

Thank you so much @jewish-kulindadromeus.

His house is quite weird and was built in several parts so I think it might have more than one vent system? He might also use special candles? Or be a bad bird owner. But good to know that there’s no easy way.