Maroon Bellied Conure ate several sand size plastic parts

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Maroon Bellied Conure ate several sand size plastic parts

Hello Avian Experts, My 2.5 yr old maroon bellied conure ate a few little parts from a clip in my hair. They are about the size of sand. It thought I had another clip in my hair that is solid plastic and no metal or loose parts. Being less attentive as company just left, I was wrong.

Is there a window of time to watch her eating, stools and her behaviour so that that time frame, I will know that she is likely either ok or that I must take her to the vets? I want to take the best care of my friend. She went to sleep at her normal time. She is so cute, for example she tells me "sheeep" about the same time each night, to go to sleep.

Thank you for your response,
Worried

Comments for
Maroon Bellied Conure ate several sand size plastic parts

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Sep 02, 2010

Bird ate hair clip parts
by: The Avian Vet

If your bird is not vomiting and is having normal droppings, there may be nothing to worry about, unless what she ate was metal. If so, go to your avian vet immediately.

Dr B

Aug 23, 2010

Bird at plastic parts
by: The Avian Vet

Usually they show symptoms within 12-24 hours. They could be vomiting or regurgitating, have loose droppings or blood in the droppings. You should take her in for an exam.

Dr B

Aug 22, 2010

Maroon Bellied Conure ate several sand size plastic parts
by: Linda

The problem with plastic is that it's poison and not a good thing for a bird to eat. I'd call your Avian Vet, describe what happened and see what they have to say. Sand is awfully small, and I don't really understand how plastic could be that small. Hopefully the parts are not hard plastic like glass because they will cut the bird up all the way down if they are. They will not be digested or broken down, so if they were faceted, you have cause to worry.

My advice is to call Avian Vet soon as you can and tell them exactly what these pieces looked like, how they were made and how much of it bird ate, and go from there.

When around birds, outside their cages, it is always a good idea to remove all jewelry including rings that have any stones in them because these act like glass going down and cause tremendous damage in the digestive tract. Birds like colorful, shiny objects and wish to make them theirs if possible. A swallowed diamond, for instance, has to be surgically removed because it cuts them up all the way down.

I used to wear earrings, rings and other jewelry items and had to stop because a very large, heavy Macaw once put his foot through one of my large hoops, and we had to go to the floor so someone else could get his foot free before he pulled wire through my ear. My other advice is to keep all parrots off your shoulders because it is from there many very bad injuries occur to the human face, eyes, ears and neck. Birds are unpredictable, and sometimes revert to their natural wild selves if frightened, jealous or otherwise disturbed. If you are the closest one to them, you will be the one bit, so birds on shoulders is asking for problems later on.

Thanks for writing,
Linda

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