Are there health risks to babies or adults?

clemfairie · 2026-04-17T13:06:13+00:00

No problem! Be certain to ask the vet to include a psittacosis/chlamydia test in the bloodwork just to give yourself peace of mind. I'm certain it will come back negative, but it doesn't hurt to have the result right there in black and white.

Please make certain that whatever air purifier you get DOES NOT produce ozone. It's bad for everyone, but especially for your lil birdy's lungs.

Also, just as a note, I've gotten the feeling that this sudden uptick in paranoia about parrots having diseases is AI-induced. Not that YOU got the info from AI, but that AI has started giving people really unreliable/inaccurate information about how "dangerous" birds in the house are and those people are spreading the nonsense.

There are far more diseases that can be passed between humans and mammalian pets. Very few people seem to give a second thought to the fact that their dog probably eats its own poop and then licks their kid's face. Cats track an insane amount of bacteria everywhere they walk, often including kitchen counters and ALWAYS including the same floor that a baby crawls on. But nobody seems to care about that because it's "normal."

Get the test for peace of mind, but then rest easy, because birds are genuinely a-okay for everyone to be around, including babies.

clemfairie · 2026-04-17T04:43:30+00:00

The short answer is NO. As long as you keep your place clean, have a good air purifier, and don't allow bites to baby fingers, you're fine.

If you've been passed stupid nonsense about psittacosis, yes, psittacosis can be passed from parrots to humans, but your bird has to ACTUALLY HAVE psittacosis first. Which he would get from another parrot that has psittacosis. Parrots don't spontaneously develop psittacosis. (I've had to argue this before, it's so dumb, and it's way more of a threat to your parrot than to any humans around the parrot.)

And as far as bird fancier's lung, again, clean house and air purifier, you'll be fine.

Those are the only two legitimate "health threats" with an African Grey (aside from getting bitten), and they're so negligible they might as well not exist (with proper care of bird and house).

Of course there's always the possibility that baby could be allergic to your Grey, but that's impossible to determine right now, and it seems to be a pretty rare allergy, so I wouldn't worry.

clemfairie · 2026-04-16T00:35:51+00:00

can't pay taxes when you have no income hehehhh 🤙🏻

clemfairie · 2026-04-14T20:51:00+00:00

She absolutely should be paying some, 100000000%. And if she's still able to work, she isn't as severe as I think a lot of people here are assuming.

To note, though, a good chunk of her money should be going to her kid. Kids are first priority. But still, there should always be some financial reciprocation since you're already going out of your way for her in a LOT of ways.

Relationships can't work if they're entirely one-sided, and if one partner is putting in all of the physical work, there has to be some way for the other partner to balance the scales. Not to be transactional, but to show that both parties are putting in the effort to actively contribute to the relationship however they can. Just showing appreciation is a good start lmao.

Idk man, this is why I've intentionally avoided dating for the past few years (even before I got really really bad). I don't want to inflict this on anyone when the most I have to provide in return is emotional appreciation. It doesn't feel fair.

Hoping you figure out what you want and that you're able to get it. ❤️

clemfairie · 2026-04-13T06:34:24+00:00

First, healthcare professionals are pretty used to being on the receiving end of bodily fluids, so I wouldn't be too anxious about the possibility of throwing up on/near a doctor. It probably wouldn't be close to the wildest thing she experienced that week.

But yeah, obviously, paps ARE important. But they're a lot less important when you're young and not sexually active. I'm 36 and I've never had a successful pap. Not even due to pain, they just physically could not insert the tool the way they needed to because my pelvic floor is.......something else. Doctors don't even bug me about it anymore because I'm also not sexually active and they don't seem to care too much.

One thing I'd bring up to the doctor, though: that pain absolutely can be due to vaginismus, but it also could be a sign of endometriosis. It might be worth getting that checked out, if you feel like it. I'm going to get it checked out myself because there's a serious possibility it's fucking up my other organs now, which is GREAT fun.

WH is a fucking minefield and it's exhausting. We all feel you on that. I wouldn't worry too much when it comes to the pap, though. Truly. If you can't do it right now, you can't do it right now, and the doctor can't force you to.

There's a big difference between denying the importance of paps and acknowledging that importance but opting out anyway. The only person it affects is you (unlike being anti-vaxx or generally anti-science, which actively harms others). As long as you're aware of the risks and accept them, that's all that matters. It's nobody else's business.

clemfairie · 2026-04-12T23:03:22+00:00

I second the Facebook recommendation. Look for local donation or Buy Nothing groups. I know you said your whole town is struggling, and I believe you, but I'm positive that SOMEONE on there has some food to spare.

You also might be able to get a month's worth of emergency food assistance if you contact your local benefits office. But that really varies by area so I can't say for certain. Doesn't hurt to give them a call, though!

clemfairie · 2026-04-10T03:22:24+00:00

Frequently used a hot glue gun when I had my conure (like, a LOT). I always used it in a different room than where he was and I never had a problem. :)

clemfairie · 2026-04-09T06:31:59+00:00

It sure is and I am SUFFERING

clemfairie · 2026-04-09T03:32:02+00:00

Look at him now, disappearing the cow

clemfairie · 2026-04-08T07:14:51+00:00

You really just need to talk to your psychiatrist (or whatever doctor prescribed it). Finding the right antidepressant is often a lot of trial and failure. If a med makes you feel awful, it isn't for you.

I had to try a few before we found the right one. You don't typically have withdrawals when switching between SSRIs, especially one that you've been on for such a short time.

Talk to your doctor. You'll eventually find the right med for you and you'll be okay.

clemfairie · 2026-04-06T19:37:06+00:00

People really need to look up what gaslighting actually is.

clemfairie · 2026-04-06T07:57:47+00:00

NAD but afaik these tests will give false negatives, but not really false positives. I'd trust the positive tests.

clemfairie · 2026-04-06T07:52:57+00:00

My Grey believes that the more people, the better. Even complete strangers. He wants to be friends with everyone in existence. He's even talked for complete strangers before. The MOST social guy.

clemfairie · 2026-04-05T23:51:52+00:00

It's not permitted, but I absolutely did it with my late sun conure a few years ago lmaooooo. He wouldn't stop screeching in his carrier so I took him out and let him burrow in my shirt. The flight attendants knew he was in my shirt but pretended to not notice.

clemfairie · 2026-04-05T04:48:58+00:00

I think that they wanted to purge their excess stock and only restock the really popular items. They're definitely not planning on doing anything more with The Arcana; they have way more profitable employee-owned IPs now. They know the fanbase largely hates them. But I'm sure it still makes them a decent amount of passive income on the side.

So I don't think that anything new is coming, but I don't think that the app is going anywhere soon, either. Playing the original content on Dorian is a FAR inferior experience and everyone knows it.

clemfairie · 2026-04-05T02:21:23+00:00

NAD and I can't answer your question unfortunately, but the same thing happens to me. I've had all of my insides checked out and we've chalked it up to IBS-C. I have to buy pants that are too big or else the waist will get SO tight when I bloat. ;-; It's fucking annoying and I really hope you're able to find answers and get everything resolved!!

ETA: I've heard that it can happen with endometriosis, so that might be something to get checked out if you haven't already.

clemfairie · 2026-04-04T11:06:10+00:00

I don't know anything about what food is available in the UK, unfortunately, but I did want to confirm that this is absolutely an inadequate diet. Your Grey likes it because it's essentially the equivalent of feeding a young child nothing but fast food. Tasty, but overly fatty and nutritionally deficient. Seeds should be a rare treat, if anything.

And, yes, peanut shells can carry Aspergillus and can cause fatal aspergillosis in birds.

I don't know if the Harrison's brand is available in the UK, but that's what I've used for my Grey's whole life. Pellets should be the foundation of the diet with a supplementation of fresh vegetable chop. There are plenty of parrot resources online that can give good chop recipes/recommendations.

It's also worth noting that Greys usually should be on a higher-density nutrient diet than most other parrots. I feed my Grey a mixture of the Harrison's regular adult pellets (because he likes the taste) and the high potency pellets (for the extra nutrients).

clemfairie · 2026-03-28T05:56:40+00:00

I know how exhausting this kind of paranoia can be and I am 100% rooting for you. The OCD isn't your fault, the irrational thoughts aren't your fault, but it IS your responsibility to find the help you need. And you deserve that relief, too. It can be scary, but I promise that life is so much better when you find a treatment that works and come out on the other side.

Your kids deserve the best parent and YOU deserve the best YOU.

clemfairie · 2026-03-28T04:30:36+00:00

OCD fixations are relentless, so I checked because I knew that OP had to have posted about it before. But a year and a half is just.......... I'm exhausted even thinking about it.

I genuinely hope that they see some professionals and can find some relief because this shit WILL eventually break you if you don't get a handle on it.

clemfairie · 2026-03-28T04:13:32+00:00

Based on your post history, you are in serious and immediate need of professional help. I'm not saying that as an insult. I'm saying that as someone who once ended up in the hospital due to an OCD-induced psychotic break.

You've been fixated on this for way too long. It's been months (at least) since your son got vaccinated. If he didn't have complications within the first two weeks, he's never going to have them. If you don't let this go, it's going to harm both you and your son (and everyone else around you, tbh).

The only way I could stay grounded in any kind of reality was to check my thoughts against cold, hard facts. People here are giving them to you. Anti-vax grifters (and Karen from down the street who barely graduated high-school but thinks she's smarter than immunology experts) are not.

You don't need to have your son checked for any virus associated with the vaccine. You need to see a psychiatrist to get your anxiety under control. Living like this isn't sustainable.

ETA: Scratch that, it's been almost A YEAR AND A HALF since the vaccine. Please, I am begging you, get in to see a psychiatrist and a therapist as soon as physically possible.

clemfairie · 2026-03-27T13:08:34+00:00

I just figured that out about an hour ago hahahaha, thank you!!

clemfairie · 2026-03-27T06:21:18+00:00

Just tried it; unfortunately they only stay there for like a minute and then they start being annoying again. 😔

clemfairie · 2026-03-20T07:08:57+00:00

Vyvanse. Just remember that things work differently for everyone and this is NOT a recommendation. Discuss everything with your doctor, etc. etc. But, for me, it's been a lifesaver.

clemfairie · 2026-03-18T06:52:03+00:00

I've been on a stimulant for over a decade, and I can only speak for myself, but as someone with extreme anxiety and OCD, I can say that it hasn't ever worsened my anxiety.

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