That's Food and Drink: Carrots are the tops – 7 top facts and recipes for...

That's Food and Drink: Carrots are the tops – 7 top facts and recipes for...: Last year That's Food and Drink was pleased to support the inaugural National Carrot Day. And we are equally pleased to support this yea...

The Potential Dangers of Parrot Poop: What Every Owner Should Know

Owning a parrot is an absolute joy. Their intelligence, cheeky personalities, and beautiful colours make them wonderful companions. 

But like any pet, they come with responsibilities—and that includes cleaning up after them. 

While most parrot owners accept cage cleaning as part of the daily routine, not everyone realises that parrot droppings can pose risks if not handled properly.

Here’s what every parrot owner should know about the potential dangers of parrot poop, and how to keep both you and your bird safe.

What’s in Parrot Droppings?

Unlike mammals, birds don’t separate solid and liquid waste. Instead, their droppings contain:

Faeces – the solid, often green or brown portion.

Urates – a white, chalky substance (this is bird “urine”).

Water – healthy droppings should be slightly moist, not too watery.

A quick look at your parrot’s droppings each day is actually an important part of monitoring their health. Sudden changes in colour, consistency, or frequency can signal illness. But beyond what droppings tell you about your bird, they can also affect your health.

Potential Risks for Owners

1. Psittacosis (Parrot Fever)

This is a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia psittaci. Parrots can carry it without showing signs, and humans may get infected by inhaling dried droppings or dust. 

Symptoms feel like the flu—fever, chills, cough—and in serious cases, pneumonia. It’s rare, but important to be aware of.

2. Fungal Build-up

If droppings are left sitting in the cage, they can encourage fungi such as Aspergillus. Inhaling spores can irritate your lungs, especially if you already have asthma or allergies.

3. Salmonella

Parrots can carry Salmonella bacteria, which can be spread via droppings. If it gets onto your hands, food prep areas, or surfaces, you might end up with a nasty bout of food poisoning.

4. Dust & Allergies

Even if no infection is present, dried droppings turn into dust. This can irritate your airways and, with long-term exposure, lead to allergic reactions or conditions like bird fancier’s lung.

Who Should Be Extra Careful?

Children – little ones may touch droppings or cage bars, then put their hands in their mouths.

Older relatives – weaker immune systems mean more risk.

Anyone with asthma or a weakened immune system – bird dust and germs can hit harder.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Bird

Clean Daily – Remove droppings from perches, cage floors, and bowls. A little daily effort keeps things safe and manageable.

Disinfect Weekly – Use a bird-safe disinfectant for deeper cage cleans.

Wear Gloves (and sometimes a mask) – Especially when scraping up dried droppings.

Wash Hands Thoroughly – Always after handling your parrot or cleaning their cage.

Good Ventilation – Keep fresh air flowing in the bird’s room to reduce dust build-up.

Vet Check-ups – Regular visits help detect hidden infections before they become problems.

The Bottom Line for Parrot Owners

Parrot poop is part of life with a feathered friend, but it doesn’t have to be a health hazard. With good hygiene and regular cleaning, the risks are very low. 

Think of it as a way to keep both you and your parrot healthy—while enjoying many more years of noisy, colourful companionship.

The Most Painful Health Conditions: From Excruciating to Manageable

Discover the most painful health conditions ranked from severe to moderate. Learn about symptoms, intensity, and when to seek medical attention.

Pain is one of the most universal human experiences, but not all pain is equal. Some health conditions cause extreme, almost unbearable suffering, while others are uncomfortable but manageable. 

Understanding which conditions are typically the most painful can help you recognise symptoms early, empathise with sufferers, and seek proper care.

Extremely Severe Pain

1. Cluster Headaches

Known as “suicide headaches,” cluster headaches are sudden, excruciating attacks around one eye, often waking sufferers from sleep. They are considered one of the most intense pains known to humans.

2. Trigeminal Neuralgia

This nerve condition produces electric-shock-like facial pain, usually on one side of the face. Episodes can last seconds but are often repeated multiple times a day.

3. Kidney Stones

Kidney stones cause sharp, cramping pain as they move through the urinary tract, radiating from the back or flank to the groin. Passing a stone is often described as agonising.

4. Childbirth Complications

While childbirth is a natural process, complications such as obstructed labour without pain relief can result in extreme, prolonged pain.

5. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

CRPS is chronic and usually develops after an injury or surgery, causing burning, stabbing pain and heightened sensitivity in the affected limb.

Severe but Intermittent or Localised Pain

6. Gallstones (Biliary Colic)

Gallstones can trigger sudden, sharp upper abdominal pain, often after fatty meals.

7. Migraines with Aura

Migraines are more than headaches—they bring severe throbbing pain, nausea, and visual disturbances.

8. Acute Pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas leads to intense upper abdominal pain that radiates to the back.

9. Severe Burns (2nd and 3rd Degree)

Pain from burns is severe during injury and throughout the healing process, especially during dressing changes.

10. Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Shingles produce a painful, blistering rash, sometimes leading to postherpetic neuralgia—long-lasting nerve pain.

🟡 Moderate but Persistent Pain

11. Tooth Abscess

Dental abscesses can cause throbbing, intense pain, often disrupting sleep and daily activities.

12. Appendicitis

Sharp abdominal pain from appendicitis requires urgent medical attention. Pain often worsens quickly if untreated.

13. Endometriosis

This condition causes chronic pelvic pain in those affected, sometimes severely impacting daily life.

14. Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder causing widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and sensitivity to touch.

15. Arthritis (Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis)

Arthritis causes joint pain ranging from mild stiffness to severe discomfort limiting movement.

🟢 Less Severe but Distressing Pain

16. Severe Sinus Infection (Sinusitis)

Sinus infections cause facial and forehead pressure, headaches, and overall discomfort.

17. Ear Infection (Otitis Media)

Throbbing ear pain is common, especially in children, and can be intense during infection.

18. Tension Headaches

Tension headaches produce dull, persistent pain, often affecting productivity but usually manageable.

19. Muscle Strain or Back Spasms

Strains can cause sharp or throbbing pain, usually improving with rest, physiotherapy, or medication.

20. Sprains (e.g., Ankle Sprain)

Sprains are painful but typically heal well with proper care and rehabilitation.

Final Painful Thoughts

Pain is highly subjective. Even the same condition can feel different for each person. Understanding the most painful health conditions helps us empathise, identify warning signs early, and seek timely treatment.

Pro Tip: If you or someone you know experiences severe or sudden pain, always consult a medical professional promptly—especially for conditions like kidney stones, appendicitis, or unexplained severe headaches.

Surrounded by Idiots? Maybe You’re the Problem?

We’ve all had those days where it feels like the world is full of idiots. The driver who can’t work a roundabout. 

The colleague who emails “per my last email” as if that’s a personality trait. 

The colleague who thinks reheating fish in the office microwave is acceptable. Idiots, the lot of them.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: if everyone around you is an idiot, chances are… it’s not them. It’s you.

The Idiot Magnet Theory

Think about it. If you’re forever muttering “I can’t believe how thick people are,” yet these so-called idiots somehow manage to hold jobs, run households, raise kids, and even pay taxes, then maybe they’re not quite as clueless as you think. Maybe you’re just the common denominator. Congratulations: you’re the idiot magnet?

Ego in Action

Maybe you’re not surrounded by fools at all — maybe you’re just a bit of a know-it-all. If your internal motto is “my way or the highway,” then every other way will look like idiocy. Spoiler: it’s not. Sometimes, people simply think differently, and that doesn’t make them wrong. It just makes you… difficult.

Communication, or Lack of It

Another possibility: you’re rubbish at explaining things. If everyone “doesn’t get it,” perhaps the problem isn’t their brains, but your mouth. 

Or your PowerPoint. Or that passive-aggressive WhatsApp message you thought was “crystal clear.” If you speak Martian and expect people to reply in fluent English, don’t be shocked when you get blank stares.

The Dangers of the Idiot Label

Here’s the kicker: once you decide everyone else is an idiot, you stop listening. And when you stop listening, you miss out. You miss the colleague who had the better idea. You miss the friend who spotted the flaw in your plan. You miss the chance to not look like a prat.

Quick Self-Test

Ask yourself:

Is everyone else wrong, or am I just impatient?

Do I explain things properly, or do I just bark instructions and hope for the best?

Do I secretly think the world would run smoother if everyone just did what I said?

If you’re nodding along, I’ve got bad news: you might just be the problem.

Final Thought

Yes, there are genuine idiots in the world no denying that. But if you’re convinced you’re drowning in them daily, it’s time for some self-reflection. Either you’ve got the unluckiest life imaginable, or maybe, just maybe, the idiot in the room isn’t them.