WOOD

Birds need to chew, wood is an excellent material to satisfy this natural urge. The birds most often play with wooden toys. Wooden toys are destined to be destroyed. Some bird owners may be frustrated by the destructive nature of their parrots. However, chewing is a natural instinct and vital to birds mental and physical wellbeing. If you provide only acrylic toys are often more expensive forms to meet your needs chewing (eg, molding, furniture). It is important to know what woods are safe for your bird. Both soft and hard woods are used in toys.

Woods, secure (complete list):

Pine, Balsa, birch, linden, poplar, maple, walnut, ash, Apple, Elm, Cactus (Cholla) and Manzanita

Woods, insecure (not a complete list):

Cedar, cherry red, plywood. Oak

If you like making your own toys NEVER use pressure-treated wood that is treated with arsenic and poison your bird. If using natural branches make sure they have not been exposed to insecticides. Also, be careful to pick up branches in remote areas of highways where plant life can be absorbed toxic emissions from cars. Wash all areas with a nontoxic disinfectant (diluted bleach), rinse and dry thoroughly.

If you need to clean the wooden toys, not soak them. It is best to clean with a damp cloth or sand on the soiled area until clean. If your bird likes his toys wet note that moisture can support bacterial growth and toys should either be removed or cleaned and dried in a low temperature oven before returning to the birds.

Birds are able to distinguish colors therefore color makes wood toys more attractive and interesting for the birds. Manufacturers usually color of the wood with food coloring or vegetable dyes. We do not believe the taste of wood as the bird should not be encouraged to eat the wood and, unless properly controlled, the fruit sugars often used provide a perfect medium for bacterial growth. Do not buy toys that have been stained or painted to add color. If you are interested in a toy with painted parts (ie, ABC blocks) make sure that only non-toxic, child safety paints were used.

ROPE

Various types of rope used in bird toys. Only 100% natural fiber ropes such as cotton, hemp (jute), or sisal is used in bird toys. Nylon strings mixture should never be used because they can cause serious injury and cuts due to the resistance of the wires if the birds are trapped in it. Strings can be sure, as long as they are properly maintained and the bird's beak and nails are kept trim. There had been no security problems when there is excessive wear. Birds have drowned and lost circulation in his legs tangled in the ropes remain sick. The wind-up toys have proven very beneficial in solving feather picking problems and therefore we do not like to discount rope as a viable material. Bird owners are responsible for reviewing your bird's rope toys daily and to reduce or discard rope toys when worn and present a danger to your bird.

CHAIN

Chain should have welded not open links. A soldier of the chain provides sharp surfaces and narrow openings which have been known to cut toes. Make sure the links are a safe the size of your bird, if toes get caught in the links, the result can be toes or legs broken. Chain length is also a consideration that a large chain length could possibly end up wrapped around the neck of a bird during a vigorous game. As the wood components are chewed, a danger to the chain could develop. Owners should check the status of the toys and make sure that as physically change safety hazards do not develop.

FASTENERS

This is a key area of ??concern as good fasteners are expensive and therefore cut many corners of the manufacturer and use potentially dangerous items such as key chains or broken dog leash hooks pressure type. Birds have been cut and the loss of circulation to the feet and tongues on toys utilizing split rings and spring clips. For conures or more birds is recommended quick search links (also sometimes called C-clamps) or Pear links to attach toys to the playground of the bird. They come in a variety of sizes and can be easily tightened with a wrench to prevent the release bird toys. This type of fastener provides the least possible injury. Available in a variety of sizes and can be purchased at your local hardware store if needed to replace fasteners existing unsafe toys.

Do not use split key rings, spring clips, or metal rings to hold the shower your toys. Small pieces of hardware can be ingested accidentally. Birds have cut fingers and tongue in division rings and the spring clips.

ZINC

Much has been mentioned recently about zinc toxicity in birds. Many bird toys are made of metal components zinc coated (galvanized). Zinc is also commonly found in powder coatings of the cage. Some avian health specialists have stated that in order for health problems related to zinc results in the parrot must actually swallow the metal components, and that "Beaking" the parties is not sufficient for toxicity development unless the galvanized coating is extremely fragile and flaky. If a bird spends much time chewing on toy hardware (ie, washers, quick links, cables), then you may be getting enough zinc to toxic levels build into their systems over time. Homeowners who are concerned about possible health effects can often find pieces of stainless steel parts at your local hardware. This option is also often much more cost effective for the consumer than buying toys constructed with stainless steel parts.

PLASTIC

Acrylics are used in many toys today and if the right size the birds are virtually indestructible. If purchasing acrylic toys are recommended acrylic has a minimum thickness of 3/16. Recently, there has been a shift back towards wood toys because although acrylics are durable and attractive are not as fun for the bird that likes to chew. We recommend that some of his birds toys be acrylic or a blend of acrylic and wood, which will be long term and the bright colors used are stimulating to your bird.

When considering toys with plastic components a bird owner should consider the nature of the plastic component (ie, soft vs. brittle) relative to the size of the bird. Brittle plastics should not be given to larger birds because when they break very sharp cutting edges are formed and in case of accidental ingestion could lead to rupture of organs. Hard plastic toys specifically designed for parrots and cockatoos that should not be given to larger birds with peak power to destroy.