parrot died after eating flavored wood

[SunConureMom]

I haven't wanted to talk about this before but I'm starting to come to grips with what happened. I bought a Timneh African Grey about 2 months ago and he was shipped to me. He had been weaned about 3 weeks. We loved him very much. The 6th day after he arrived he was in the bottom of his cage. I opened it and he tried to come to me but stumbled. I took him out and rushed him to the avian vet. He died a few minutes later. The necropsy showed that he had swallowed a splinter 1mm X 10mm in size. The only wood he had ever been exposed to was parrot toys. Some of them were colored and I guess flavored. My question is do you all use wood toys with your parrots and have you had any problems with it? I have a sun conure now and I want to provide many toys for him but I'm afraid of the wood ones. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

 

[Parrotmamma]

OMG... How awful. I'm so sorry that happened.
Mine chews on wood toys all the time and I have not noticed him actually eating it . it just falls all over the floor and stuff.

 

[Atwee921]

I'm so so sorry that happened! Poor baby
Sprite had a colored wood toy that he loved to tear apart. I never saw him actually eating it but the lady I got it from said specifically that the dye was safe for parrots.

 

[SunConureMom]

Thanks. I bought all of his toys at Petsmart and they were specifically for medium to large parrots so I thought they were safe.

Another thing is I still want a grey. I thought I would be happy with a sun conure and we do love him but I still want a grey. I had thought I would start over with a new breeder but the previous one has offered to ship another bird. He won't refund my money but will send me another grey. Its a hard decision.

 

[antoinette]

So sorry for your loss, I would be devastated as well
Mishka chews wood, coloured blocks all day, never had a problem.
He chews little pieces off and spits them out.
My guess is after having been weaned only three weeks ago, he was biting the wood, then eat some food, digesting the small piece of wood, with the food.
Please do not blame yourself

 

[Safira]

It sounds like an accident, a horrible one. Animals are prone to those sometimes. Since the breeder is willing to ship you another bird (for free?) I would go that route. mysafebirdstore.com is a great place to purchase bird toys. I think in places like petsmart, where there are a lot of people and different animals, it's possible a chemical or something may have gotten on one of their toys while cleaning or hanging them on the rack.

 

[Mayden]

I wouldn't think its the dye that's the problem... I think the splinter possibly punctured something internally.

Don't blame yourself, he was a baby and it was an accident. I think maybe to be on the safe side with a young bird stick to acrilycs? Something they can't break and potentially swollow during those clumsy uncertain few months...

So sorry for your loss.

 

[wenz2712]

Sorry for your loss Please do not blame yourself though! It was a very unfortunate accident!

 

[aliray]

I am so sorry for your loss and I agree with the others. You can't blame yourself, you did everything right. Alison and sweetie pie

 

[luvmytooo]

I'm so sorry . What a horrible experience !
You went through a very dramatic time , no fault of your own.
I would encourage you to get another Grey if this is what you want. It's apparent your heart is set on another.
Again , I am so sorry for your loss

 

[SunConureMom]

Thank you all so much. The breeder just called and said he could send me a baby Timneh in about 2 weeks! I only have to pay shipping. He has been wonderful. He feels bad for what happened even though it wasn't his fault. I'm excited and nervous. Thank you Safira for the website to purchase bird toys. I'll definitely stock up before he/she comes!

 

[cdog]

I am so sorry for your loss. It was not your fault. I think it was just because he was a baby and was still exploring his environment so he decided to swallow some wood, just like human babies swallow random things. It was a freak accident so I wouldn't just never get wooden toys again, maybe just not for babies so young.
In glad you got another baby since that is what your heart desired, please post pics when you get him!

 

[brianlinkles]

I'm so sorry about your loss. Again, as others have said, it sounds just like an unfortunate accident. I think your breeder sounds amazing!

 

[luvmytooo]

Good for you ! Please post pictures when you can
We can't wait to see him/her !

 

[Didomum]

Oh! Sorry so. Sometimes things happen and we have no control. Hope you get an other one. Sounds like you have a wonderful breeder, as don't sound like anyone is a fault. just one of them nightmare you hope never happen.