Question already...

[MBSolberg]

I JUST joined today and already have a medical concern! Tonight, as I was holding Simon while watching TV, he reached for a small sequin that was on my shirt. I tried to stop him, but he just would not let go. He ended up getting it in his mouth and wouldn't give it up. He chewed and chewed and I assume he broke it into little pieces as I heard it crack several times. At first I tried to coax it away from him but was afraid he would panic and swallow it whole. Then I tried ignoring him and hoping he would drop it. He dropped part of a broken piece, but held onto the rest. He worked it and chewed it and I think he might have swallowed it! Now I am so worried, I can't even think straight! Why would he eat something that didn't even taste good? And what is it going to do to him??? I'm not even sure I want to hear the answer to this one...I keep hoping that it will just pass...

 

I had a towel over me to discourage any button biting, but when we got up to put him back into the cage, it slipped and he immediately went for the sequin. Has anyone ever had their bird eat something they shouldn't???

 

(He is acting perfectly fine, but I am a mess!)

 

Mary<br><br>Post edited by: MBSolberg, at: 2008/10/06 04:41

[judygram]

I doubt he swallowed it especially if he is acting perfectly fine but you might give a call to your avian vet to see if you should be concerned. I don't know where you are located but most have emergency numbers where you can reach someone that may be able to help.

 

Sorry I can't be of more help to you but keep an eye on him for the next day or two.

[MBSolberg]

Thanks for your thoughts, Judy. I will watch him VERY closely. And may give the vet a call tomorrow anyway. I wanted to take him for a wellness check soon - just to make sure all is well. I googled this and found a posting on a UK bird site that said not to be concerned as long as the bird is acting fine. That parrots in the wild will often eat roughage such as small stones or seed shells to aid in their digestion. Don't know if that is true or not, but at least I will sleep better tonight.

 

Mary

[judygram]

That top with the sequins on it may have to be reserved for away from home outings, to not be worn around Simon since he seems to have a fascination with them.

 

I know that wild birds do eat small stones and such to aid in the grinding up of seeds and such that they eat but this is your child and so you are concerned but I bet he did not ingest any of it, he probably broke it up into several pieces that fell out unnoticed but keep an eye on him to make sure.

[Luvparrots]

I think all will be fine. I grew up around chickens that were always picking up this and that. I think bird gizzards are made for grinding up all the things they pick up. Good to check with an avian vet to course.

[MBSolberg]

Thanks Judy & Luvparrots, I am feeling more relaxed, but will definitely watch him closely...I know that even if he did ingest some of it, it wasn't all of it because I heard him drop a piece or two and I heard it crack several times which probably broke it up. But yes...that shirt is history. It's a tank top actually with a single row or sequins at the neckline. Now that one is missing, it's worthless anyway. Oh well...no biggie as long as he is OK. He likes buttons, too, so I am going to have to be VERY careful what I wear around him.<br><br>Post edited by: MBSolberg, at: 2008/10/06 04:58

[judygram]

Oh yeah any top with buttons or anything on it is game for them, I have a bunch of old t-shirts that I wear around the house all the time, the neckline is all chewed up and there are holes in the shirt everywhere and if one poops on it, no problem, I just change into another one and throw it in the wash.

 

BTW, I wouldn't wear any earrings around them either unless you want them ripped from the lobes.:ohmy:

[MBSolberg]

Thanks for the heads-up. My hair covers my ears, and so far I've only had posts in, but I have no doubt he could pull them off if he wanted!

[Luvparrots]

Please check out the past posts in the forum. There's oodles of information about a zillion things. Just go to the white box at the top on the right that says "search forum". Type in a key word "foraging" or "biting" and see all the information about a subject. There is a world of help in this forum, enjoy and have fun.{Feel-good-000200BB}

[LindaMary]

Yes, Mary - watch the eaarings! I had a heart-pounding five-minutes early on when Maxi pulled a super-sly move and deftly yanked my diamond nose-pin out of my nose! (it's just a stud, not a corkscrew-style). Imagine what that would do to a parrot's innards! Initially, when I didn't find it in her beak, I was afraid she had immediately swallowed it, of course, and was panicking, but then started hunting around on the floor, and thank GOODness: she had dropped it. I kicked myself all the way back to her cage and got instantly MUCH more careful about (1)the distance between her and my face, and (2) about wearing earrings when she's on my shoulders.

[MBSolberg]

Scary for you! I also have a diamond nose bone/pin. It is quite small, but I am very "aware" of it all the time in the sense that I am careful not to let him get close to it...not that I feel it or that it bothers me. I don't let Simon "nibble" on my face, although he would love to. Keeps him away from the earrings, nose bone, and my glasses (which I only wear before the contacts go in for the day.)

[MBSolberg]

Update...it's the next evening and Simon is still acting perfectly normal. I think he is going to be just fine!

 

Yay!

[judygram]

Thats great to hear Mary, thanks for letting us know Simon is fine, yay:laugh:

[Luvparrots]

Am thrilled to hear Simon is doing great. Can't wait to see some pictures. PLEASE!!!{Feel-good-0002006B}