Obsession with Soda Cans?

[crzybird]

I have a quick question for everyone. This gold-capped conure has been a great addition to the family so far. He gets along great with Kiwi and he loves to play. Earlier I had a can of Dr. Pepper and had just finished it and sat the can down on the table on Loui climbed down my arm and onto the table, before I knew it his beak was in the hole of the can. Then he tried licking around the brim. I took the can away from him and told him no. But then this afternoon I grabbed a soda for lunch and as soon as I opened it he was down my arm trying to get the soda can again. I had to put him in his cage while I drank it because every single time I tried to get a drink he would climb on my hand and put his beak between my mouth and the can trying to get some. What can I do besides locking him up to discourage trying to drink soda? He's not at all aggressive with me about it he just really really wants the can! Or maybe he just wants whats inside of it. I dont want to get up and go to the other room for a second and come back to find him in a puddle of dr. pepper having himself a blast. And trust me he would because he almost knocked my can over trying to get it! Help Please!

 

[Spiritbird]

Best to stay away from any metals except stainless steel. He must have been allowed to do this in another home, if there was one.

 

[Doris48]

LOL, Twitter is exactly the same way.Her former owner must have let her eat alot of junk.She loves soda cans and candy.Of course I dont let her have any but if I have to put her up to enjoy anything junky.
She especially knows when Im eating chocolate.She chases my hand around trying to get a bite.
Badd birdies....I mostly worry she will chip her beak on the pop can hole.

 

[crzybird]

Yes there was a former home. I got her from an individual and she had him for 5 years. Got him when he was 6 months old. The only thing she really mentioned to me about him was that he loved to sit with her at breakfast time and share her cheerios. Milk and all! She would feed it to him off of her spoon. So again I'd have to ask,,...is milk ok for them to have? I honestly dont know that he has ever eaten bird food for the simple fact that he hasnt touched any since he's been here. But lucky for me he likes grapes, carrots, apples mango, and lettuce. So at least he's eating something healthy!! I dont know I'm just worried about his obvious obsession with soda or the can which ever it may be. I have pictures of him with his beak in my empty pop can. Its cute but mercy it worries me!

 

[lexx510]

I doubt it' just soda cans. I think most green cheeks must have anything that is in your hand and on the way into your mouth. Guava goes nuts for just about anything we're eating or drinking (except for vegetables, she turns her head then).

 

[MaraWentz]

My Macaw's favourite drink (when he could get it) was Mountain Dew. If there was a glass or can sitting around you bet he'd find it. I wouldn't let your conure have the can- he could easily be cut. Also carbonation and caffeine aren't good for birds.

 

[MaraWentz]

And also I am pretty sure milk isn't bad for them, but dairy should be limited.

 

[Scotty T]

Mine has an obsession with my rubix cube. She can't seem to get a bite out of it cause it moves when she does, haha!

 

[Wulfgeist]

You aren't alone and it's not just cans. I'm not sure if I started it or it happened before I shared but Tico goes nuts when I drink something. He will run down my arm and attack and bite that hand. I've let him have a drink when I have icewater or just a brief taste of some of the crytal lite type drinks.

As far as cans, yesterday Jasper was trying to get to the soda can on my desk relentlessly. He kept trying to lick it (he tries to taste everything) and grab the rim. Oooo shiny..

 

[southern_feathers]

When I was in high school I worked in a pet store and we had a pineapple green cheek there that bonded very strongly with me. But I would come into the store every afternoon with a can of vault soda, and as I would walk past the playpen she was on she would walk over and flutter to my shoulder, run down my arm and lick up the little bit of side around the rim. I honestly think she got addicted to the high amount of caffeine in the soda because If I wouldn't let her have any she would bite me, hard! She never suffered anything from what I could tell but I'm sure it wasn't good for her either.

 

[crzybird]

Well I'm sure now its not an obsession with the can itself. Today just to see I went and got a bottle of Dr. Pepper. As soon as I twisted the cap and he heard that hissing noise it makes he was going nuts trying to get my bottle. So I think its honestly the soda that he's after. *Sighs and shakes her head* He's obsessed now with climbing in and out of my shirt so I am walking around with a bird head popping out of the top of my shirt. I am thrilled though that he is bonding with Kiwi. Kiwi has been watching Loui play and explore and he's finally starting to do the same. I was worried about him there for a while, but all is well.

 

[Ktmrider]

Our parrot is in love with aluminum cans lately he has access to V8 cans. He licks around the rim for a taste .
But most of all he will spend hours cuddling up to the can and also kissing it.
I don't see any indication that he will hurt himself.

 

[noodles123]

They are funny about what gets them interested (Noodles LOVES watching me put on socks and it's the weirdest obsession ever...foot fetish? lol)


If the cans are closed and clean, there is little risk, but make sure he is not licking where your mouth has been, as sharing food or drink with a bird have contacted it with your saliva can introduce dangerous gram-negative bacteria to their systems (we carry it at all times, but they should not have any in their system).
He also shouldn't be drinking soda or V8 because of the contents - although a tiny bit of v8 (like a lick) is fine unless you drank from the can first.
I would be cautious about the sharp edges on an open can.
Soda is terrible for them and should not be allowed at all (due to the caffeine, sugar and carbonation) --if a bird were to have a small taste accidentally, they probably would be fine, but I wouldn't let my bird lick soda.


100% Aluminum alone is fairly safe but not if any particles get ingested (foil would not be very safe, as it has other stuff in it and is too easily ingested). If chewing occurs, I would stop allowing this, as the paint on the cans would be unsafe, as well as the potential for cuts and /or ingestion of particles. Here is a link on metals and birds- https://birdtricksstore.com/blogs/birdtricks-blog/safe-metals-for-parrots