| WOOD | | | | brittle and flaky. If a bird spends a lot of time |
| Birds need to chew, wood is an excellent material to | | | | chewing on toy hardware (i.e., washers, quick links, |
| satisfy this natural urge. Birds play most often with | | | | wire) then it is possible they will ingest enough zinc to |
| wood toys. Wooden toys are meant to be | | | | build up toxic levels in their systems over time. |
| destroyed. Some bird owners may be frustrated by | | | | Owners who are worried about the possible health |
| the destructive nature of their parrots. However, | | | | effects can often find stainless steel replacement |
| chewing is a natural instinct and vital to birds mental | | | | components at their local hardware store. This option |
| and physical well-being. If you provide only acrylic | | | | is also often much more cost effective to the |
| toys they will often find other, more expensive ways | | | | consumer than buying toys constructed with stainless |
| to satisfy their chewing needs (i.e., molding, furniture). | | | | steel parts. |
| It is important to know what woods are safe for | | | | PLASTICS |
| your bird. Both soft and hardwoods are commonly | | | | Acrylics are used in many toys today and if sized |
| used in toys. | | | | properly to the bird are virtually indestructible. If |
| Safe Woods (not a complete list): | | | | purchasing acrylic toys we recommend the acrylic |
| Pine, Balsa, Birch, Basswood, Poplar, Maple, Walnut, | | | | have a minimum thickness of 3/16?. Recently, there |
| Ash, Apple, Elm, Cactus (Cholla) and Manzanita | | | | has been a shift back towards wood toys because |
| Unsafe Woods (not a complete list): | | | | although the acrylics are durable and attractive they |
| Cedar, Red Cherry, Plywood. Oak | | | | are also not as fun for the bird who likes to chew. |
| If you like to make your own toys NEVER use | | | | We recommend that a few of your birds toys be |
| pressure treated wood, it is treated with arsenic and | | | | acrylic or a blend of acrylic and wood, they will be |
| will poison your bird. If using natural branches make | | | | long lasting and the bright colors used are stimulating |
| sure they have not been exposed to insecticides. | | | | to your bird. |
| Also, take care to collect branches in areas removed | | | | When considering toys with plastic components a bird |
| from highways where plant life may have absorbed | | | | owner must consider the nature of the plastic |
| toxic emissions from cars. Scrub all branches with a | | | | component (i.e., soft vs. brittle) relative to the size of |
| non-toxic disinfectant (dilute chlorine bleach), rinse and | | | | the bird. Brittle plastics should not be given to larger |
| dry thoroughly. | | | | birds because when they break very sharp, cutting |
| If you need to clean wood toys, don't soak them. It | | | | edges are formed and if swallowed accidentally could |
| is best to wipe them clean with a damp cloth or sand | | | | result in ruptured organs. Hard plastic toys specifically |
| the soiled area until clean. If your bird likes to dunk his | | | | designed for parakeets and cockatiels should not be |
| toys beware that moisture can promote bacterial | | | | given to larger birds with the beak power to destroy |
| growth and the toys should either be discarded or | | | | them. |
| thoroughly cleaned and dried in a low temperature | | | | LEATHER |
| oven before returning them to the bird. | | | | Leather is a great material for birds to safely play |
| Birds are able to distinguish colors therefore color | | | | with and chew on. Most birds especially like to spend |
| makes wood toys more attractive and interesting to | | | | hours untying knots made in leather strips. |
| birds. Manufacturers usually color wood with food | | | | Only vegetable tanned leather should be used on bird |
| coloring or vegetable dyes. We don't believe in | | | | toys. Do not buy toys with dyed leather or leather |
| flavoring wood as the bird should not be encouraged | | | | tanned with chemicals as most are toxic to birds (i.e., |
| to ingest the wood and, unless properly controlled, | | | | chromium, formaldehyde). For this reason you should |
| the fruit sugars often used provide a perfect medium | | | | also not retire old shoes, belts and pocketbooks to |
| for bacterial growth. Do not buy toys that have been | | | | your birds toy chest. |
| stained or varnished to add color. If you are | | | | Replace leather if soiled or wet. Bacteria will flourish |
| interested in a toy with painted parts (ie, ABC blocks) | | | | under these conditions. Many toy companies will sell |
| make sure that only non-toxic, child safe paints were | | | | replacement leather strips. |
| used. | | | | When hanging toys strung on leather (or rope or |
| ROPE | | | | chain), avoid leaving a long strand between the toy |
| Several kinds of rope are used in bird toys. Only | | | | and the cage. Some birds when rambunctious with |
| 100% natural fiber ropes such as cotton, hemp | | | | their toys can get the leather wrapped around their |
| (jute), or sisal should be used in bird toys. Nylon blend | | | | necks and strangle. It is best to tie the toy close to |
| ropes should never be used as they can result in | | | | the bars of the cage. |
| serious injury and cuts due to the strength of the | | | | RINGS |
| strands if the birds get caught in it. Ropes can be | | | | When choosing toys with rings or large plastic chain |
| safe as long as they are maintained properly and the | | | | links make sure that the rings are of a size that the |
| bird's beak and nails are kept trim. There have been | | | | bird can't get his head stuck in them and choke. Also |
| safety problems noted when excessive fraying | | | | beware of toys with multiple rings looped directly |
| occurs. Birds have choked and lost circulation to legs | | | | together as birds have met similar fates when they |
| by getting tangled in ill maintained ropes. Rope toys | | | | have been trapped between the rings. |
| have proven very beneficial in solving feather picking | | | | BELLS |
| problems and therefore we don't like to discount | | | | Birds love to make noise and bells provide a fun |
| rope as a viable material. Bird owners have a | | | | source for their merrymaking. If a bird is mechanically |
| responsibility to check their bird's rope toys daily and | | | | inclined and can remove the clapper the potential |
| to cut back or discard rope toys when they become | | | | exists for swallowing/choking. Make sure the bell |
| frayed and present a hazard to their bird. | | | | clapper can not be removed by the bird. If it is not |
| CHAIN | | | | securely fastened either remove it or weld it (we |
| Chain should have welded not open links. Un-welded | | | | recommend silver solder). Make sure the clapper is |
| chain provides sharp surfaces and narrow openings | | | | not lead (toxic), if it is lead you will be able to dent |
| which have been known to cut toes. Make sure the | | | | the clapper with your fingernail. Do not buys toys |
| links are a safe size for your bird, if toes get caught | | | | that use jingle type bells, toes can become caught |
| in the links the result can be broken toes or legs. | | | | and cut in the wide to narrow openings, we |
| Chain length is also a consideration as a long length of | | | | recommend the cow or liberty bell design. |
| chain could conceivably end up wrapped around a | | | | Appropriately size the bell to the bird so it will be able |
| bird's neck during a vigorous play session. As the | | | | to withstand the power of the beak. |
| wood components are chewed off, a chain hazard | | | | FINAL CONSIDERATIONS |
| could develop. Owners must monitor the status of | | | | Just because the label says the product is safe |
| toys and ensure that as they physically change | | | | doesn't mean that it's OK for your bird. Any toy has |
| safety hazards do not develop. | | | | the potential to be unsafe if improperly sized to the |
| FASTENERS | | | | bird. Ask your toy vendor or bird store owner for |
| This is a crucial area of concern as good fasteners | | | | help or advice on choosing a toy appropriate for your |
| are expensive and therefore many manufacturers | | | | bird. |
| cut corners and use potentially unsafe items such as | | | | As with kids, no toy is 100% safe for all birds. Use |
| split key rings or dog leash type snap hooks. Birds | | | | common sense and supervise your bird when you |
| have been cut and lost circulation to toes and | | | | first give him a new toy. Observe how he interacts |
| tongues on toys utilizing split rings and spring type | | | | with the toy to determine how best to hang it and |
| clamps. For conures or larger birds we recommend | | | | where and when to allow him to play with it (some |
| either Quick-links (also sometimes called C-clamps) or | | | | toys are safer outside the cage). |
| Pear links to attach toys to the bird's play area. They | | | | Provide a wide variety of toys and rotate them in |
| come in a variety of sizes and can be tightened with | | | | and out of the cage or play area. Variety will help |
| a wrench easily to prevent the bird from unhooking | | | | alleviate boredom and keep your bird more alert and |
| his toys. This type of fastener provides the least | | | | curious. Keep 2-3 toys minimum in the birds cage and |
| potential for injury. They are available in a variety of | | | | don't overstuff the cage so the bird doesn't have |
| sizes and can be purchased from your local hardware | | | | room to move. |
| store if needed to replace unsafe fasteners from | | | | Don't assume that if your bird doesn't like a toy that |
| existing toys. | | | | it won't play with any toy. Try something different |
| Do not use split key rings, spring loaded clips or metal | | | | and take the time to observe what your bird finds |
| shower rings to fasten your toys. Small hardware | | | | interesting in terms of design, texture or size. |
| pieces can be ingested accidentally. Birds have cut | | | | Introduce toys to baby birds but make them |
| toes and tongues on split rings and spring type | | | | small...don't intimidate them. Hand toys are some of |
| clamps. | | | | the safest toys available and they are especially |
| ZINC | | | | great for young birds as they help to develop |
| A lot has been mentioned recently about zinc toxicity | | | | hand-eye coordination. |
| in birds. Many bird toys are made with zinc coated | | | | Play with your bird...most birds think it's great fun to |
| (galvanized) metal components. Zinc is also commonly | | | | chase balls across the floor or couch, play "catch" or |
| found in cage powder coatings. Some avian health | | | | "pick it up" with mom or dad. |
| specialists have stated that in order for zinc related | | | | This guide is by no means comprehensive but we |
| health problems to result that the parrot must | | | | have tried to address as many issues as possible. |
| actually swallow the metal components and that | | | | When in doubt, ask for help. We sincerely wish you a |
| "beaking" the parts is insufficient for toxicity to | | | | long, happy and healthy relationship with your bird. |
| develop unless the galvanized coating is extremely | | | | |