Concerned for Valentino

Not really sure how to even approach this question. It is kind of embarrassing but I have concern for what had happened. The story is kind of gross and it did freak me out.

Last night while relaxing and watching TV during our cuddle time Valentino was preening himself and I was helping him on his head (to help bring out more red front feathers) I got distracted with watching my show when suddenly I felt pain on my forearm. I looked down and realized Valentino had preened off a scab on my forearm I got while cleaning his cage. I looked at Valentino and he had my scab in his beak. I immediately tried to get the scab out of his mouth but I was not quick enough. He ate it. I was so grossed out I just stared at him and could not react. I did gag though because I was freaked.

I never ever had a parrot do this and I am concerned that he ate it. I am probably worrying for nothing but the experience was pretty gross and I will now make sure any future scabs are out of his reach. Just disgusting. Now I worry about skin tags. GROSS!!

Bird love looking for all our skin imperfections, my macaws tongue me and look for any little thing to get off. They quickly remove them to lol. As fr the eating I think it may have been an accident as mine have never ate my scabs or "imperfections". This is common and you should not be to grossed out it is a friendly kind of bonding thing. Try using a command word lie release or let go when you want him to let go of something so in the future he listens about it.

I read somewhere that a woman's macaw removed one of her moles while preening her. When she went to the doctor he said that the macaw did a better job than he could have done!

Funny that you said that because that was along the lines of a story I had read to. The sense in the beak and tongue is a force to be reckon with.


And great baby girl threw up on me while posting this:54::red:

I have to keep Hahnzel from a mole of mine. He did get one small one on my neck this morning though. Didnt realize it until I shaved...have to keep him from scabs too...such a busy guy.

Valentino does know to drop what ever he has in his beak when I hold my hand open under his beak and say "drop it". He also will fly to me and "bring" me presents. He is so proud of himself when he brings me a part of his toy or a wooden broken piece he chewed off of his wood and is so proud of himself when he drops his offering into my hand. Lupe constantly reminds me that when summer comes he will probably be bringing me live bugs as his gifts. Oh Lord I so do not want him to bring me live bugs but if he does I have to be strong and ....and....accept his gift. *shudders* I am hoping Valentino will just eat the bugs like Diego use too. I do wonder if I was quick enough to put my open palm under his beak and said "drop it" would he of dropped the scab into my hand. My hesitation was his snack I guess. Just GROSS though.

Karigan...that was too funny. I laughed picturing the doctor impressed with the macaw's minor surgery of the mole. LOL.

I keep rosie away from scans, and she ignores my moles. Buuuut she enjoys trying to tear out my arm hair XD my arms are not very hairy, and being blond it's barely noticeable. She will lick my arm and start tugging LOL

I trusted, perhaps naively, my Jenday George. He would groom my eyelashes and was very gentle overall.

Hahnzel however is like having a windup toy on my shoulder. Always leaping about like he is stalking prey in the wild. He is never trusted, anywhere on my person. He even hangs upside down from his cage door to bite our shepherd if he parks there too long.

Our Indian Ringneck was apparently bad for picking things off people before we got him, but my husband has worked on it...every time Tiki even tried to pick at anything, DH told him "NO" and moved him away from the spot. Now all he has to do it say, "no" and Tiki moves himself! Smart bird

Wow, birds after scabs and moles. It is best I know this info before I get a mini macaw (so I be prepared).My green cheek conure just focuses on my hair. I can understand your worry and I see how it is gross. However, Valentinio is most likely not hurting any from it. Though it sounds painful for you to have a scab pulled off.