(07-29-2012, 06:11 AM)laurasav Wrote: Okay, Thor, now you've made me that much more paranoid about germs, as if I'm not a serious germ freak already! The hubby will be very annoyed when I tell him I can't kiss him anymore because he might be harboring a virus that won't show up for days, and I just can't take the chance anymore!
Well, I will be more careful now about letting people eat anything from my plate though. You're right about being cautious. I've always gotten sick so easily, since early childhood, but since becoming a "germ freak" and being very careful out in public, I am sick far less often than before. I avoid touching doors, public pens, shaking people's hands, etc., and I carry hand sanitizer always, just in case!
Ram, from what I know of "bird flu," I think it's mainly a concern for poultry like chickens, ducks, turkeys and such. I think the parrots I've had in my home for many years are safe from that illness. I sure hope so!
My Quaker bird used to often eat and drink with my mother when the bird lived at my art gallery. Mom fed it cookies and candy and all kinds of garbage - despite my constant protests. She let the bird drink soda pop and tea from her cup. Now that the bird lives in my house, it's on a strict, HEALTHY diet! No more garbage!
I don't let the bigger parrot eat from my food because it actually has spit in its mouth I can see (I don't know why it grosses me out, but it does), plus it often eats poop on its cage, which is even more gross!
Not to add to any zoonotic paranoia , but one of the highest risks with any parrot would be psittacosis. It is common in any true parrot in the Psittacidae family. And I know it is actually very common in imported south american parrots. They way they are stored in the export facilities allows it to spread easily. Any animal that its captive bred would be much less likely to carry anything. But it is easily spread by any parrot carrying the bacteria. And some parrots can carry the disease for years without showing any symptoms.
For myself, I don't eat after any animals. I'd be lying if I said I'd never eaten anything a cat had licked, but I do my best to avoid it. The only real rule the cats have in our house is that they aren't allowed on the kitchen counters or tables.
