DANGEROUS TOY: Habitat Defined Enrichment Pod: Millet Muncher

[skthurley]

At the bird show in Richmond Hill this weekend I bought one of Super Pet's newest toys in the Habitat Defined Enrichment Collection. It is called the Millet Muncher.

I loved it because it has decent sized holes that I could easily put shreddable material in and hide goodies for my birds in. I LOVE providing foraging opportunities for my birds and this toy seemed perfect.

Here is what it looks like:


Super Pet Habitat Defined Enrichment Pod - Millet Muncher

I had it in Jack's age for about a week... but now it is in the garbage. I suggest all of you with smaller birds like budgies, parrotlets, lovebirds, linnies, etc stay away from this toy. I thought the holes were big enough, but obviously not.

About an hour ago I was sitting, watching some tv, and observing Jack ripping and shredding with this new toy.... when suddenly he got really quiet. Up until this moment, he had been chirping and going on with excited noises as he usually does when foraging and shredding through newspaper and other materials for goodies. When I looked over at his cage, I saw that his head was stuck in one of the holes to his new toy and he was frantically trying to pull his head out. I jumped up to see him slip off the perch he had been standing on, and dangle with his head still stuck. With a scream, and near tears, I ran over to his cage, reached my hand in to hold his body. He was alive, heart beating quickly, and thankfully he remained still in my hand. With my free hand I ripped off the top of his cage, and went to grab the toy. As I wondered how I would get his head out, Jack gave a frantic pull and out came his head. With relief, I watched as he flew to the playstand behind me, then back to my shoulder. Asking him to step up onto my finger, I observed no wounds on his neck, only a few ruffled feathers. My boy is safe.

And the new toy is in the garbage!

Please do not buy this toy for your birds and pass this message along to other small bird owners. This might be more suitable for a conure, but not the cockatiels and budgies that it is suggested for.

I am so thankful that I was around to see this happen. Had I not been, I may have found a hung parrotlet. I would have been devastated to lose my boy to a toy I had purposely bought to enrich his life

Once again, please pass this story along to fellow bird owners.

[kristy29]

Oh wow, how scary! So glad you were there to help him. I bought one of those toys, but not the millet holder. It is this toy that has strings that the bird pulls and then a treat falls out. Mango so far has ignored it.

[LovelySydney]

Oh gosh thats terrible! Youd think they would make these so the birds heads wouldnt get caught, at least take a measurement or two. Thanks for the heads up.

[jdlilfan]

Oh my. I'd write the manufacturer. Thank goodness your baby wasn't injured.

[pippy]

How terrifying for you both! Thank goodness you were there!

I think the general rule is if the bird's head can fit through a hole in a toy/accessory you should make sure it's body can also fit through and if not, don't use it