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Do You Hold Your Bird When You Have a Cold??

Nancy B

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I have a cold and sore throat and am deathly afraid Fred will catch it. It's bothering me to hold him so I have been upstairs pretending to not be home, and he knows I am here! He's been calling out every now and then, I went and sat in my car, its heart breaking! Do birds catch our ailments??:( This is stressful!
 

taxidermynerd

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When I've had bronchitis (twice in the time I've had Chirp) I would try to interact as little as possible, just in case. We share a room, so we're still in the same airspace. But I would try not to handle Chirp unless I had to. Now that would be a bit different because I have to handle him every day (for medications and stuff.).

I don't know if birds can catch a cold or bronchitis or other human stuff, but I feel it's better safe than sorry.

@Lady Jane @Macawnutz @Hankmacaw would probably know better than I do lol.
 

Lady Jane

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Humans do not transfer cold or flu viruses to their birds. In fact, there a only a couple of uncommon viruses that can be passed along to them, but it is very difficult to do so.

Now if your bird is in contact with the saliva in a human mouth there may be gram negative bacteria present which a bird can be susceptible to get. So kissing birds is not such a good idea.
 

Nancy B

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Humans do not transfer cold or flu viruses to their birds. In fact, there a only a couple of uncommon viruses that can be passed along to them, but it is very difficult to do so.

Now if your bird is in contact with the saliva in a human mouth there may be gram negative bacteria present which a bird can be susceptible to get. So kissing birds is not such a good idea.
Ok no kisses then! :cautious: That I can handle and will keep hand sanitizer close by! Ugh! Hate colds. I will be home all day tomorrow and will be so sad if I can't interact with my Fred!!:omg:
 

Tiel Feathers

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I hope you get well soon! Now go hug Fred, he’ll make you feel better!
 

Shezbug

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You need a Fred snuggle to make you feel better!
Hope you get over your cold and sore throat quickly, it’s awful feeling poorly.
 

JLcribber

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Just wash wash wash your hands (and blow your nose. ):)

If they could catch it all my birds would be dead.
 

Nancy B

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Thank you for all your advice and well wishes! Yesterday I waited to hear from some of you before I went to see Fred! Lol :xflove:
 

melissasparrots

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If it’s probably viral then I hold the birds. If I think it’s bacterial(strep throat) then I don’t.
 
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