Help! Need to Stop Paint Chewing

[fiddlejen]

Im hoping Saturday to get a different curtain rod, and hang curtains outside the window casing...

But in the meantime. Calliope my chewer has developed an obsession with the window casing. I'm QUITE concerned because I believe the Original paint, or at least a much older paint layer, may still be there, under the top coat. That would be Old paint so potentially leaded. (The top layer was applied around 2000 I believe.)

Jefferson is usually the leader but when Calliope starts Chewing, he will join her. I spent this morning chasing them off the casing. In return, they refused to comply with my return-to-cage requests. (Thankfully I had intended to leave for work quite early today...)

Anyway. I'm hoping an exterior curtain rod, allowing the Curtains to Cover the Casing, may alleviate the problem. Hoping to purchase & put that up this weekend.

In the meantime, I have two or possibly three more days to go. Does anyone have any suggestions -- other than just yelling at them & banging the wall -- as to how to prevent them eating paint for the next few days? ??

 

[SailBoat]

The dirty secret is that Lead has a sweet taste to it. It is why children develop a liking for eating Lead based paint chips.

IF that Paint base has Lead in it, you need to cover it with a solid structure that will with stand a beak. Placing the curtains in front of the Painted surfaces are not going to stop a determined Parrot.

You are faced with the worst possibly reality until you get those surfaces tested and if Lead is found, the removal of that Lead. Placing and keeping your Parrots in their cages.

 

[Flboy]

I would also consider a proactive approach, diet wise! There are natural detox foods, hopefully folks with experience in this area will quickly chime in!
Heavy metal poisoning is fast!

 

[SailBoat]

I would also consider a proactive approach, diet wise! There are natural detox foods, hopefully folks with experience in this area will quickly chime in!
Heavy metal poisoning is fast!

Truly great point David! I recall that Birdman666 wrote regarding the detox method that he used and if memory holds, he was successful.

It would be wise to contact your Avian Professional and pass along your concerns regarding your Parrot possible eating paint chips that may contain Lead.

I believe that a Paint Store or a Local Hardware Store may carry test kits...

 

[wrench13]

I think eating paint chips of any sort is probably not good for your bird. Even if its latex based, the coloring agents can be harmful. Example: yellow paints frequently use Cadmium as a coloring agent and that is one of the most carcinogenic elements in the periodic table. Would a thin aluminum shield work? Easy to work with.

 

[texsize]

Bella has been doing something like this with the molding around the door.
I put painters blue tape over the areas, now she does not land there let alone chip the wood.

 

[noodles123]

I'd cover the area and supervise, supervise, supervise.

 

[dhraiden]

We just got back from a trip recently and learnt our Mango had been chewing on the painted molding above the frame of the backroom doorway where my Ma was keeping them. If it's not one thing, it's another they're chewing that they're not supposed to! She tried giving them a clean piece of wood to chew instead, but they weren't interested! The only solution is really constant supervision and rigging up whatever deterrent may work through trial-and-error...fortunately they're not over at my folks' so often that I think it's an immediately harmful habit...but definitely not something I want them to keep doing...I don't believe Mango ingested (m)any of the flakes he chewed off of the wall..but the hole was big enough to have me concerned if it he keeps it up long-term. All I can think of for next time is blue-tape over the parts he's already worked over.

 

[noodles123]

Tape can contain toxic zinc in the adhesive, so you need to watch that too.

 

[Flboy]

I think eating paint chips of any sort is probably not good for your bird. Even if its latex based, the coloring agents can be harmful. Example: yellow paints frequently use Cadmium as a coloring agent and that is one of the most carcinogenic elements in the periodic table. Would a thin aluminum shield work? Easy to work with.

All paints dangerous-good point! My now deceased son-in-law worked in a paint additive manufacturing plant. Horrible work! He had to go for blood work every 6 months, testing for heavy metal poisoning!

 

[fiddlejen]

Thank you all for the suggestions. At this point I'm convinced simply getting the curtain to cover the window-casing will solve the problem... at least for a while, at least for now. The painters-tape suggestion was especially helpful. I thought I had some, but didn't find it. Instead - I found some double-sided Carpet tape, which I was able to use to temporarily hold the curtains in such a was as to cover the casing. That was sufficient deterrent for now, and I hope to have a new curtain rod up tomorrow. IF they climb behind the curtains, I plan to tack them in place. IF they seem to chew through, I will swap out for thicker curtains. I believe this will be sufficient at least in the short term -- my little chewers are Budgies after all; even with their determination, their beaks a little bit small.

Also on closer inspection yesterday I realized the particular area they've been working on is definitely Not a Lead-Paint risk. When the windows were last replaced - around 2000 - some new boards were simply attached inside the existing non-standard-size casings, to allow installation of standard-size windows. Those new boards and the old casings were all painted the same dark brown color. Calliope and Jefferson have actually been practicing their paint-stripping talents on the New boards. So -- a Slight relief! Although of course I don't want them eating any paint at all, neither leaded nor un-lead

I'm still gonna get a lead test-kit. I'm still getting a new curtain-rod to gently deter them from the casing. And I'm still gonna flag this thread, for when they move on to some other spot, or when they break thru too many curtains. Aluminum shield might work when they get to that. Or, perhaps my little budgies will just drive me to wear an Aluminum Hat.