Mythbusters

[maz]

I'm on a few FB sites for parrots and other birdy stuff and I am constantly suprised by the myths that get passed around and made into absolute truth by small groups thought it might be fun to debunk some of them and also to discuss some of the myths that we facepalm about!
The latest which has driven me to absolute distraction (and actually resulted in me receiving some rather abusive PM's lol) is the idea that cat saliva and even human saliva is SOOO toxic to birds that simple contact WILL result in the bird dying within 48 hrs...now I do understand that cat saliva contains bacteria that will kill a bird if it gets into the blood stream through a bite (and then isnt treated) this isn't up for debate, it's the OMG your bird drank out of your cats water it will die thing that I find rather amusing......
What other myths can people think of?

[Pete Sara]

never heard of the bird drinking out of the cat water theory, have seen the cat bite with the bird dying in a short period of time, 99% chance thats it more shock than infection....pete

[GregH]

Well the cat saliva thing does sound like a "croc" and I agree about shock killing - I had an already sick Hecks (she was unable to fly on the aviary floor) drop dead when I captured her last year.

One shocking thing I came across in the Philippines a couple of years ago was a street seller of crested mynahs demonstrate how to make them learn to talk. He grabbed a bird from the cage, opened its beak and pinched about 5mm off the the tip of it's tongue. It wasn't happy and either was I. When I was a kid I heard a similar thing about crows here in Australia - I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now.

[Tintola]

And the first thing that they say is "WTF did you do that for"

[finchbreeder]

How about the myth that a mutation bird turning up in the progeny of a flock of avairy birds that have been kept "pure" for over 10 years. Makes the breeder of the flock dishonest about the "purity" of the birds?
LML

[jusdeb]

I think ( from a raven owners mouth) that they split the tongue to make it talk , or so he says .

Split my tongue with a razor and Id talk to , only it would be too rude to repeat .

[maz]

another one...inbreeding CAUSES mutations.....mutations occur randomly inbreeding or not inbreeding

[finchbreeder]

That a breeder who sells you a split bird is a crook if the bird when put to your split does not produce the mutation in the first 10 chicks. Yes on average it should happen. But on average you should get heads 5 times in every 10 flips of the coin too.
LML

[spanna]

As a young bloke in my early 20's, my most hated myth is that only age brings wisdom!! This relates to bird keeping and every other aspect of life. Some people are more than happy to ask my advice, and accept it, while some others doubt most words out of my mouth just because I'm young (and have dreadlocks, which may not help but that in itself is another story/myth!). Doesn't matter that since I could walk I've been surrounded by animals and insects of all sorts, all day, every day, studied it at high school and am doing a double major at Uni relating to animals and the environment, because they've lived longer, some people just believe they know best.

That said, all the birdos I've met through the forum (most being older than me, but still not old!!!) are more than happy to ask for my advice, and accept it graciously. For that I thank you!!

[jusdeb]

Age has nothing to do with it really . Common sense , experience and an open mind count with me .