Post by Tatianna on Jan 30, 2009 15:43:56 GMT -5
As reported by Amey from www.anafricangrey.ca/forum
The scariest thing just happened this morning. I went into the birds' room and uncovered them and let them out as ususal. But when I went to let Aries out I noticed that he had a jingle bell stuck on the end of his beak. I could tell he'd been trying to get it off cause his beak was scratched from his talons. I have no idea how long it had been there, could be all night for all I know, and I slept in so I didn't uncover them until about 10:30. (At least I know he wasn't pulling out feathers while it was on there )
Inside I was TOTALLY FREAKING OUT!! But, I knew if Aries knew I was scared then he'd freak out too. I tried to just pull the bell off but it was stuck on good. I couldn't see any blood so I figured at least he handn't broke the tip off his beak.
I had never toweled Aries before. I realize now that this was another HUGE mistake on my part. Why did I wait until I HAD to towel him to see if he was ok with it? STUPID STUPID STUPID!!!! I was VERY LUCKY that he let me wrap the towel around him. I still couldn't just pull the bell off his beak - it was really on there. I had to find some needle nose pliers and pull the bell apart to get it off his beak. He was so good while I did it - didn't growl or nothing. When I got if off he shook his head really good and then acted like nothing had happened. I put him back in his cage and went in the bathroom and bawled like a baby! He could have really been hurt. What if it would have been his tongue and not his beak? What's worse is that if it had been Ralph I know there is no way I could have toweled him and put needle nose pliers up to his face to pull a bell off his beak.
Aries seems ok, I took him in the kitchen with me to make breakfast and he was trying to steal toast faster than I could cut it up and he's eating broccoli now, so I guess his beak is ok. I think it's traumatized me more than him. We'll see how many feathers are on the bottom of his cage tonight
The thing is I feel so stupid. How many friggin times have we heard to avoid things with jingle bells? But, Ralph and Gus play with them fine. Ralph breaks open the ball, the bell falls and he has no interest in it after that. Same with Gus. I figured since Aries is so much more gentle with his toys and he won't even chew wood, that they would be fine for him. BOY WAS I WRONG!!!! Needless to say, all jingle bell toys have been taken out of all the cages. They are now cat toys. I will let everyone know NOT to give them any more wiffle balls with bells in them.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE everybody!!! Don't give jingle bells to your babies. I'm sure many of you don't - you're smarter than me. This could have been so much worse. It's just not worth it!!!!
Inside I was TOTALLY FREAKING OUT!! But, I knew if Aries knew I was scared then he'd freak out too. I tried to just pull the bell off but it was stuck on good. I couldn't see any blood so I figured at least he handn't broke the tip off his beak.
I had never toweled Aries before. I realize now that this was another HUGE mistake on my part. Why did I wait until I HAD to towel him to see if he was ok with it? STUPID STUPID STUPID!!!! I was VERY LUCKY that he let me wrap the towel around him. I still couldn't just pull the bell off his beak - it was really on there. I had to find some needle nose pliers and pull the bell apart to get it off his beak. He was so good while I did it - didn't growl or nothing. When I got if off he shook his head really good and then acted like nothing had happened. I put him back in his cage and went in the bathroom and bawled like a baby! He could have really been hurt. What if it would have been his tongue and not his beak? What's worse is that if it had been Ralph I know there is no way I could have toweled him and put needle nose pliers up to his face to pull a bell off his beak.
Aries seems ok, I took him in the kitchen with me to make breakfast and he was trying to steal toast faster than I could cut it up and he's eating broccoli now, so I guess his beak is ok. I think it's traumatized me more than him. We'll see how many feathers are on the bottom of his cage tonight
The thing is I feel so stupid. How many friggin times have we heard to avoid things with jingle bells? But, Ralph and Gus play with them fine. Ralph breaks open the ball, the bell falls and he has no interest in it after that. Same with Gus. I figured since Aries is so much more gentle with his toys and he won't even chew wood, that they would be fine for him. BOY WAS I WRONG!!!! Needless to say, all jingle bell toys have been taken out of all the cages. They are now cat toys. I will let everyone know NOT to give them any more wiffle balls with bells in them.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE everybody!!! Don't give jingle bells to your babies. I'm sure many of you don't - you're smarter than me. This could have been so much worse. It's just not worth it!!!!