Can handling my bird while I'm sick make him sick?

Question

I have a cold, and he's still recovering from a foot injury so I'm just trying to be safe.

Answer 1

According to Margaret A. Wissman, D.V.M., D.A.B.V.P.:

"When A Bird's Owner Has A Cold
Many owners worry that their own family's colds or flu viruses will affect their pet birds. The good news is that the majority of human viruses are not contagious to birds (with the rare exception of a virus or two). However, that doesn't mean that we should allow mouth to beak contact with the birds we own, even if we are healthy, as some of the bacteria, yeasts, or other organisms found in our mouths can be dangerous to them. But I have examined many a bird that had developed a nasty cough or had sneezing fits that were actually just the bird imitating the latest cold virus that a family member was experiencing. And we think birds don't have a sense of humor! They hear their steward coughing, and secretly practice it until they have it down pat, then they begin hacking in front of the concerned owner. Not knowing that birds are not likely to catch their cold, they pack their beloved pet off to the vet for a check-up that comes up with the physical exam and test results showing a normal bird. Yep, it had learned to cough, and got a free (well, to the bird, anyway) trip to the vet!"
http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/strange.html

Answer 2

Germs can only live in a small temperature range. That is why you have fevers and chills. The germs can't reproduce as well if the environment is too cool or too warm.

Birds run a higher temperature then humans, so you probably won't infect him with your cold germs. On the other hand, if your bird has an infective foot, wear latex gloves so you won't pick up his infection. Those germs are very hearty and can live in different species.