Many bird owners will at some point notice their parrot eating paper.
There can be a number of reasons why your parrot will eat paper, but it is important to understand that it is a normal activity that most birds will take part in.
Parrots will chew on paper as a playful activity and even to learn more about their own surroundings.
The majority of the time, they do not actually consume the paper, so there is no need to be alarmed when you see them doing this.
In this article you’re going to learn
- What happens if parrots eat paper?
- Is newspaper safe for parrots?
- Why do parrots shred paper?
- Why do parrots chew on things?
Sound good?
Let’s get started!
What Happens If a Parrot Eats Paper?
Most of the time when you see your parrot chewing on paper, it will only be playing with it and nothing more.
Very rarely will a bird actually swallow and eat the paper, although occasionally a bird will actually consume it.
Not to worry, though, as paper is not harmful to your bird.
If your bird eats just a bit of newspaper, the paper will pass through their digestive tract within hours with the rest of their food.
In the very rare case that a parrot consumes an excessive amount of paper, it can potentially lead to a blockage in the digestive tract.
It is recommended in this case to take the bird to the vet and you should abstain from lining the cage with newspaper.
Is Newspaper Safe For Parrots? Should I Put It In The Bird Cage?
If your parrot ingests some paper, you do not need to worry, as most paper is non-toxic and easily digestible.
Not to mention, newsprint is now lead free.
It is completely safe for your bird to ingest some newspaper.
If it is swallowed in small amounts, it does not pose many threats.
However, it is important to note that parrots do not produce much saliva, so it can be hard for it to continue down the bird’s throat.
Therefore, some harm can be done with excessive consumption.
So is paper safe for birds?
In most cases, yes.
But, of course, you should always bear in mind that it could be dangerous in certain scenarios.
You must keep an eye out if your bird is constantly tearing or chewing on paper.
And if it seems to be swallowing too much of it, you should act quickly.
Should you keep it in your birdcage?
I would recommend NOT to keep any newspaper in the bird cage
Why?
Although it’s not dangerous but there is some risk involved
And I’m sure you don’t want your parrot to swallow newspaper and cause some serious health problems
It’s just not worth the risk
Avoid putting newspaper in the bird cage as much as you can
Why Does My Parrot Shred Paper?
You may come home one day and see that your bird has torn up its cage paper into lots of shredded bits.
You need to understand that a bird’s main tool for investigating things is their beak, so things will likely end up in their mouth.
The main reason your parrot will shred newspaper comes from its nesting instincts.
In the wild, birds will tear shrubbery in order to create a nest for their chicks.
This is why a domestic parrot will often tear up newspaper in its cage.
It can also be a recreational activity for your feathered friend.
Destroying an entire newspaper into a hundred little shreds could feel like a big accomplishment and lots of fun too!
Yes, I know it’s fun for them to do this but it’s best to try and avoid this
Instead you should just get toys for your parrot to keep them entertained!
You can check out this toy which does the same thing as newspaper
Bonka Bird Toys 1547 Natural Helix Cardboard Shredder Vine
It’s soft cardboard bunches that’s easy to chew and bite for beaks!
I’m sure your parrot will love this and it’s much better than newspaper right?
The price is not bad too!
You can get this over at Amazon by clicking here
Now you might wondering
Why do parrots chew on things?
I know I spoke about it briefly
But let’s get into more detail why they love to chew on things
Carry on reading..
Why Do Parrots Chew On Things?
It is a normal and healthy thing for them to do in order to keep their beaks clean and fit.
Birds will chew on many things in their surroundings, and this is why it is important to monitor your bird when it is out of its cage.
You want to make sure your parrot doesn’t accidentally ingest something it shouldn’t.
Another reason that parrots will chew things is to investigate the world around them.
It is an instinctual activity that comes from birds foraging and building nests.
In the wild, birds’ nests are often burrowed deep into thick branches or trunks.
Building nests is a difficult task for parrots that requires a lot of chewing and shredding and this instinct is still buried within our pet parrots.
Wrapping Up
Parrots use their beaks for a myriad of different reasons such as exploring their surroundings, building nests and even grooming themselves.
For this reason, it’s not really surprising to see a bird chewing up some newspaper or paper of some sort to entertain themselves.
So no need to worry if you see this kind of behavior from your bird as it is just a natural instinct.
Just make sure to keep an eye on your parrot in case they accidentally swallow too much paper.
But it’s best to make sure you don’t put any newspaper inside your parrots cage
Rather use toys like the one I recommended if your birdie loves chewing and biting things!
Speaking of your parrot biting
Here’s some related articles you might be interested so make sure to check them out!
Why does my parrot bite my nails?
Can a parrot bite your finger off?
Why does my parrot nibble my ear?
