Cheap bells are potentially dangerous

[flyzipper]

In addition to their questionable metallic composition, I thought this toy bell risk was important to share (source).

Our feathered friend Angel was brought into the clinic as an emergency consultation after getting her beak stuck in her toy bell. ​

Angel did a good job of getting the clip of the bell stuck as it was firmly wedged onto her lower beak. It was too stressful to remove it while conscious so, Dr Luke recommended light sedation.​

Once the sedative had taken effect, Dr Luke used a dental burr to cut the bell off carefully. The removal was approached in two parts. First, he worked his way through the bell, and then started to slowly cut through the bell clip until it fell off the beak without having to remove it physically. ​

Little Angel recovered nicely and was back eating normally soon after her procedure.​

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[Sodapop&Co.]

Oh goodness, that's so scary. I try always to remove these kinds of bells; they're just not safe. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Greylady1966]

I'm glad they were able to remove it without any damage to Angel.

 

[Zara]

Was that the hoop inside that the clapper is attached to that she got stuck on?

Poor baby. Glad she got to the vet quick before it got any worse!!

My youngest girl has a toy very similar to this, it´s one of her faves. I´ll take a real good look at the bell in the morning when she wakes up. I have a feeling I already swapped it, but I can´t remember.

 

[flyzipper]

Was that the hoop inside that the clapper is attached to that she got stuck on?

That's what it looked like to me as well.

 

[Shezbug]

I can’t work out what part is stuck. Glad she’s ok.

 

[sootling]

Oh my goodness, this is why i use toys without bells. That and the fact that they can be a huge hormonal trigger, as well as food bowls, mirrors, and anything reflective, you get the idea.

 

[Sparkles99]

Can anyone tell what part of the bell the bird is stuck on?!

 

[sootling]

Nope

 

[finchly]

My vets office always asks if your birds toys have bells, then they ask you to remove them.

 

[sootling]

My vets office always asks if your birds toys have bells, then they ask you to remove them.

More than my vet ever does

 

[flyzipper]

To me, it looks like the 8-shaped piece that passes through the bell (held by the chain on one end, and attached to the clapper on the other), though it could be the clapper itself...



In the 2nd last image on the original post, you can see the notch its sharpness made in the bird's lower beak.

 

[Zara]

My vets office always asks if your birds toys have bells, then they ask you to remove them.

My youngest hen, Adelie, loooooves bells! So glad she has SSBT bells which are not flimsy and are welded.

 

[finchly]

My youngest hen, Adelie, loooooves bells! So glad she has SSBT bells which are not flimsy and are welded.

I wondered about that. During the SWS I saw some really nice bells.

 

[macawpower58]

I used to allow them if they looked strong.
After seeing Chaos rip out the clapper, and shred the metal of these 'better bells', I've stopped entirely.
I even slashed my hand on the sharp metal he'd ripped up.
I tried just removing the clapper, but he even damaged the bell part.
I wish he liked the long tube bells, but they don't hold his interest.
I just remove all bells now.

 

[Sparkles99]

Chaos is rather large, isn't s/he?

I like the SSBT bells for my budgies. They couldn't do the damage you describe. But now I'm suspicious of the other bells that come on other toys. I may have to investigate them...

All four love bells, especially Pistachio & Marzipan! I wouldn't want to have no bells.

 

[MnGuy]

Darn. My CAG loves bells. Is there a safe bell?

I had trouble figuring out the part the bird got stuck on, but I THINK it’s the loop/hole at the top of the clapper that attaches the clapper to the underside of the bell. If so, isn’t it a safety hazard regardless of whether the bell is cheap or not?

Or, is it the metal loop attached to the bell, which hooks into the clapper, that trapped the bird?

Here are pics of my bird’s bell with the possible offending parts circled:

 

[macawpower58]

Chaos is rather large, isn't s/he?

They do make bells for toys that are 'macaw' sized.
Not only small birds like bells.
They just don't hold up to any safety standard IMO.
A cow bell once did though, but the odd colored metal had me worried so it also is gone.

 

[Hankmacaw]

Anything other than the long bells are dangerous for a macaw and they are the first thing I remove from any toy. Any bell that a macaw can reach the clapper, he will get that clapper out and try to eat it.

Safe:

 

[MnGuy]

Anything other than the long bells are dangerous for a macaw and they are the first thing I remove from any toy. Any bell that a macaw can reach the clapper, he will get that clapper out and try to eat it.

Safe:
View attachment 381907

Where can you get these bells? I haven't seen them for sale on any websites I've been on. Thanks!