How Clean is a Birds Mouth?

[anbrownucsd]

Hello All,

Sooo.... my bird is probably spoiled rotten, but I don't care. It seems that when I am eating every time I turn around he has grabbed something off of my plate and is eating it (as long as I deem it safe I let him keep it). I know, I know, I encourage bad behavior! This morning when I left the table for two minutes he had gotten onto my cereal bowl and was eating my Cheerios out of the bowl!

This worried me because his mouth had actually gotten into my milk. I know that my germs can make him sick, and I will keep an eye on him to see if I notice anything. How dirty is a birds mouth? Can he make ME sick, should I keep an eye on myself too?

I have always wondered this, I probably need to work on not letting him eat off my plate... but it is soooo cute! However, I don't want him sick! How do all of you feel about this?

Thanks,
Ashley

PS... I stopped eating the cereal and got a new bowl (but I let him finish off the one he stole!.. I hope milk isn't bad for him!)

[kellywess]

I am not sure how dirty a birds mouth really is... but I know my birds do they same thing... they steal from my plate. My Severe even has gone as far as to stick his beak in my mouth to retrieve food. He failed, but I got bit on the lower gums... ouch. I do know that saliva is not good for birds. My birds beg worse than any dog I can ever remember having or being around. I share what is safe with my fids my creating a small space on my plate where I put bits of food that I dont mind them grabbing. Our blue crown conure used to go as far as climbing up to your shoulder and waiting for the fork to come towards my mouth before she would stretch out to greet the fork before it got to my mouth. (this was hilarious... she used to do this while my husband was eating Pringles... he'd get frustrated) I think more of us than none work with our greedy beaky little fids when they want something off our plate. Sometimes they are too fast to stop anyways. In the wild they eat when the rest of the flock eats, why should pet birds be any different. I wouldnt worry too much.

[Sashagirl]

Ashley

You have a valid concern.In all the years that I've owned birds what I have heard was the dangers of human,and animal saliva to our feathered friends.
Yes it can make them very sick and in some cases worse.It's better to give our feathered friends food that hasn't been in contact with our saliva.Better safe than sorry.My Senegal Sydney before she came to live with me used to like to go inside peoples mouth.This was very dangerous which I put an end to.As far as milk birds are lactose tolerance and shouldn't be given milk.

[anbrownucsd]

Oh man, I feel awful! It seems impossible to find all of the foods that birds cannot eat! I think I have all of the basics down: avocado, onion, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol... ect.

Is the fact that he drank milk serious enough for me to take him to the vet? I had no idea! I don't think he actually *drank* the milk, but he was eating the Cheerios soaked in it! It will be close to impossible to get him to stop eating off of my plate, I will have to cage him while I eat. :-(

[kellywess]

A little bit of milk isnt gonna hurt him. You dont need to take him to a vet. Just be careful. My vet tells me his Grey begs for ice cream... and he shares but not in excess. I have been told that it is ok to give cheese on occasion. He will be ok. Dont panic.

[Sashagirl]

A little milk will not harm him but just know that they are lactose tolerance.There won't be a need to take him to a vet for it.You can easily make a game out of it and make him his own plate and that will eliminate his desire to eat off your plate.Don't think my flock doesn't try to eat my food too.

[anbrownucsd]

Haha... make him his own plate? I have tried that! For some reason he always thinks that what is on MY plate must be a LOT better then his! (Its not... its usually the same stuff :-) )

[kellywess]

It doesnt work with mine either. LOL I have even tried to hand them things off of my plate... but those quick little beaks go right around my fingers and grab what they want. Good thing I eat healthy.

[Sashagirl]

You have to become creative make his plate more interesting then yours believe me it will work.If push comes to shove it may mean putting him in his cage.He's spoiled like most of mine.Tell him NO!

[kellywess]

When I tell my Severe no he says "Dont do that." If you put them back in their cage they start yelling... either way, theres no peace. LOL