Ball Python Questions?

[Naava]

I'm trying to convince my mom to let me get a ball python- I have loved snakes since forever but her, not so much! We held a ball python a few days ago (going through courses to volunteer at a wildlife center) and she agreed that they weren't that bad! I've done research, but I do have a few questions that Google isn't seeming to answer lol!

-How to humidify? I can't afford a fogger just yet, so how should I keep the humidity in the snake's cage up without buying a ligit humidifier for my room?

-Heat? It gets hot in the summer in my room, so would I even need a heating source in the summer (I would still have one, it just wouldn't be on)? It gets from about 80-100.

-Birds smell like prey? I have five parakeets ^_^. If they were in the same room as the python, would they smell like prey? Would s/he try to catch them? Or (since snakes sometimes think human hands are prey) would s/he bit if my hands smelled like birds of if s/he smelled birds in general? Basically, should I move me birds to a different room?

-Eye caps? What should I do if they happen? Will soaking help or do I actually have to take them off myself?

-Cats? Would my cats see the python as prey/a toy and would my python try to hurt my cats?

-Outside? I have heard of some owners taking their pets outside for "walks" and walking besides them in their backyard. Is this safe? I know they aren't fast but I wouldn't want my python to pick up diseases or something. And I would pick him/her up before they burrowed, climbed, or went into another animal's hole.

Thanks! And any other tips or pointers you would have would be great!

[Ryland]

ball-pythons.net can answer nearly every question. Misting the tank will keep it humid.