Birds can occasionally eat paper, especially brightly colored paper or paper with food residue on it. Eating small amounts of paper is not necessarily dangerous, but can cause issues if the bird eats a lot of it. Here’s an overview of what might happen if your bird eats paper and how to discourage this behavior.
Potential Issues from Eating Paper
There are a few potential risks if your bird eats paper:
- Blockages – Paper is not easily digested and can get stuck in a bird’s crop or intestines, creating a potentially life-threatening blockage. This is particularly concerning if they swallow large pieces of paper or eat a lot of it.
- Nutritional deficiencies – Paper has no nutritional value. Eating a lot of it can fill up a bird without providing any beneficial nutrients.
- Toxins – Some papers are printed with soy-based or petroleum-based inks, which can be toxic for birds if consumed. Colored papers may contain heavy metals used in dyes.
- Impaction – The cellulose fibers in paper do not break down easily. Over time, the buildup of undigested paper fibers can cause an impaction in the digestive tract.
Small pieces of plain white paper, occasionally eaten, are not likely to cause these issues. However, the cumulative impact of regularly eating paper can take a toll on the bird’s health. It’s best to discourage this behavior entirely.
Signs of a Problem
Watch for any of these signs that indicate your bird is having issues after eating paper:
- Repeated attempts to regurgitate
- Fluffed feathers, lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Straining or trouble defecating
- Vomiting or passing odd droppings
- Abdominal swelling
If you notice any of these symptoms soon after your bird eats paper, take them to an avian veterinarian immediately. Prompt treatment is needed if there is a blockage or other serious issue.
Preventing Your Bird from Eating Paper
The best approach is to bird-proof your home to prevent access to paper products and avoid this risky behavior altogether. Here are some tips:
- Keep waste paper in closed bins and empty frequently
- Supervise any time your bird is out of the cage near paper
- Hide important documents like reports, bills, checks, etc
- Remove paper toys, bags, takeout wrappers, and other papers
- Cover magazines, books, newspapers, etc when setting them down
- Choose wooden or acrylic toys instead of those with paper components
- Avoid leaving loose leaf paper, stationary, sticky notes, etc within reach
- Don’t use newspaper or paper towels on the bottom of the cage
With vigilance, you can help keep your feathered friend from indulging in this dangerous habit.
Redirecting Chewing
Birds, especially parrots, love to chew. If your bird is chewing up paper, they likely just need more appropriate outlets for this natural behavior. Try providing:
- Bird-safe wood blocks or branches to shred
- Rope, sisal, or cotton perches and toys
- Palm leaf skewers or baskets to demolish
- Natural twigs and pine cones
- Fresh branches changed out regularly
Rotate new chew toys frequently to prevent boredom. Be sure to supervise playtime and remove items once they are destroyed.
Addressing Nutritional Deficiencies
Sometimes nutritional imbalances can cause odd cravings. Make sure your bird’s diet is well-balanced and nutritionally complete. Feed a quality pelleted diet and supplement with a variety of fruits, veggies, sprouts, nuts, and seeds.
Certain minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and salt may encourage paper chewing if deficient. A mineral block or millet spray can help provide trace minerals. Always have fresh drinking water available as well.
Curbing Foraging Instincts
Foraging is an innate need for birds, so scavenging and shredding paper may satisfy natural instincts. You can curb this behavior by offering other foraging activities instead. Try:
- HIDING treats in cardboard tubes or boxes
- Wrapping nuts and seeds in natural Palm leaves
- Placing foods inside cardboard egg cartons to shred open
- Tying chop and pellets into sisal ropes or seagrass mats
- Stuffing cardboard rolls with foot toys
Rotate these homemade foraging toys daily to pique your pet’s interest. This mimics the natural work of finding food in the wild.
Addressing Boredom
Birds may chew paper purely out of boredom or curiosity. Make sure your pet gets plenty of entertainment and mental stimulation throughout the day. Try activities like:
- Rearranging cage furnishings
- Offering new toys
- Playing music or nature sounds
- Clicker training
- Foraging activities
- Free flight time (in a safe enclosed space)
- Social interaction and play time with family
A routine of varied enrichment and bonding time is important to prevent boredom. Consult with an avian behaviorist if you suspect boredom underlies the paper chewing habit.
Using Aversives
If your bird is very persistent about eating paper, you may need to use deterrents. Some safe options include:
- Spraying paper products very lightly with bitter apple spray
- Placing pieces of orange peel on papers to add a citrus scent
- Using a taste deterrent formulated for pets on paper edges
- Blowing a quick puff of air at your bird if caught shredding paper, followed by praise for stopping
Avoid using harsh aversives like loud noises or chasing, which can erode trust. The goal is to make paper unappealing, not frighten your bird.
When to Seek Help
If you cannot curb the paper eating habit on your own, contact an avian veterinarian or certified parrot behavior consultant for tailored advice. Persistent paper chewing may indicate an underlying medical or behavioral issue needing professional intervention.
Working closely with a bird specialist can help uncover the roots of this problem behavior and find solutions to correct it for good.
What to Do if Your Bird Swallows Paper
If you actually witness your bird swallow a large piece of paper, try to retrieve it if possible. Open their beak gently and see if you can grasp and pull out the paper safely. Large pieces may still be working their way down and could cause a blockage.
You can also offer moist foods like mashed peas or soaked pellets to encourage regurgitation of the paper. Just be careful your bird doesn’t choke in the process.
If the paper has already passed into the digestive tract, watch closely for signs of obstruction like gagging, vomiting, or troubled breathing. Call your vet right away if you notice any issues arising.
You may need to bring your bird in for examinations and X-rays to locate blockages. Surgery may even be required in severe cases where the paper is preventing digestion or causing toxicity.
While waiting for your appointment, avoid giving your bird any more food or water until a vet can examine their crop. This prevents exacerbating the problem.
Emergency First Aid for Choking
Birds can choke on large pieces of paper if accidentally swallowed. If your bird seems to be choking, appears extremely distressed, and is unable to breathe properly, you need to act fast!
First, try clearing the airway by very carefully opening the beak and looking for obstructions. Use tweezers to gently grasp and remove anything lodged.
If you cannot retrieve the object, hold the bird upside down by the legs to allow gravity to clear the airway. Use a few gentle pumps on the chest to try and dislodge the paper.
A small stream of water squirted down the throat may help soften the paper if it’s very dry and compact. Just be extremely careful not to drown the bird or force liquid into the lungs.
As a last resort, swift but gentle blows between the shoulder blades may help pop out the paper if completely blocking the trachea. Just take care not to strike too forcefully or shake the bird.
Choking is life-threatening, so if first aid efforts don’t work, get emergency veterinary care immediately. Even if the obstruction clears, have your bird examined to check for internal damage or inhalation pneumonia.
Preventing Choking Hazards
To avoid choking emergencies, constantly supervise playtime and remove any small, shredable papers that could pose a risk if chewed or swallowed. Large pieces of cardboard are less likely to cause choking.
Also be vigilant if you allow paper foraging activities. Use items too large to be swallowed easily. And remove once the paper is torn into tiny bits to prevent accidental ingestion.
Birds should be separated from potential choking hazards when unsupervised. Better yet, bird-proof your home to remove paper and other risky materials altogether.
Conclusion
Eating paper is an unsafe habit parrots and other birds sometimes develop. While not inherently toxic, the indiscriminate ingestion of paper has potential health risks that shouldn’t be ignored. With vigilance and training, you can curb this behavior and avoid related health problems. But if your bird’s paper chewing compulsions persist, be sure to seek professional advice to address underlying issues.