Many of these involve metal chains and hangers. Parrots are often drawn to shiny objects. Parrots also usually have a lot of spare time to play with, chew and destroy anything within reach. The recent popularity of parrots has spawned a huge industry to meet the seemingly insatiable need for entertaining toys for parrots and their owners. In an effort to make toys last, many manufacturers have used sturdy chains and hardware.
Parrots are unfortunately cases of zinc intoxication waiting to happen.
Parrots are also tough as nails and the commonly held belief that they are fragile creatures has been shattered. Sometimes it seems that they survive and often thrive against all odds. Avian medicine and aviculture have documented many syndromes of captivity. In my mind the zinc epidemic will be one more. As in most syndromes of disease in parrots or other animals many complex factors come into play to influence how an individual will respond to environmental challenges.