Toy Safety
Parrot Safe Toy Making
Firstly ALL toys should be checked daily to see how much damage you little one has caused it to ensure that it is still safe for them to play with no frayed ends that they might get caught up in with wings toes or necks! Ensure that there are no sharp spikes or splinters and always double check the hanging mechanism ie quick links are tightened up correctly you’ll be amazed how they can undo those catches and easily pull them off and digest them!
Never put any flavouring on any toy parts, flavouring belongs only on their food, do not encourage them to swallow a toy part.
Not all toys you buy in stores for your birds were actually designed with parrots in mind and as there is no proper regulatory laws stating what is and isn’t safe these can be sold under the description of a bird toy the overall encompassing statement of “supervise bird when playing” is a greatly used coverall by many places to put the onus on the purchaser.
I have seen some very interesting things recently classed as toys which were actually originally designed for other uses such as key rings (the giveaway was a small hole or loop for them to be connected such as little shoes etc) you need to enquire if the item is made of safe materials, is it glued if so with what glue, is it stapled, is the plastic safe etc etc….
Whilst mentioning key rings DO NOT USE those round clips for keys as part of your bird toy, parrots are strong they can bend them apart and get toes and tongues trapped in them and unless you know the origins of the metal and its composition is it safe?
Bells
The majority of bells for parrots are dangerous in some form or another, parrots have very powerful beaks and they can easily pull the little clapper from inside the bell off and swallow it. When the little clapper is gone nine times out of ten there is a sharp piece of metal left where it hung from way too dangerous to slice through inquisitive tongues and toes. The round bells (sleigh bells) are also a trapping hazard for claws and beaks. Think wisely before adding any bells, ensuring that they are made from safe metal as a lot of them are not… If your bird likes bells then go for the new designed ones that are caged inside a safe acrylic outer or look up this one http://www.naturalbirdco.co.uk/ourshop/prod_2234124-Stainless-Steel-Bell-Parrot-Toy-Medium.html A little more expensive than the cheap ones but consider this, it is made to last and take the battering’s of a parrot, play safe design can’t get to the clapper inside or you could buy a cheap bell have a huge vets bill a sick bird or even worse still…... Sometimes paying a bit extra is worth it.
Metal Chain
Make sure that the metal chain that is being used on a parrot toy is made of either stainless steel or is nickel plated steel. Metal chain containing Zinc can be lethal to a bird and can make them very sick. Chain should be solid welded and smooth. “Jack”, plumbers and sash chain are all VERY dangerous for birds, so do not purchase or make toys hung with these. Leather
Most parrot toys are made with leather that is known as "Vegetable Tanned Leather". Vegetable Tanned Leather has little or no smell to it. It smells like fresh cowhide never use bleached or coloured leather.
Cotton Rope
Not all Cotton rope is the same. Some Cotton rope found on bird toys can be very dangerous to your little guy or girl. Safe Cotton rope is made out of 100% edible fibres, it has unpolished threads, unbleached, safely pulls apart easily and will not strangle toes. This Cotton Rope is known as "Supreme Cotton Rope". It is safe for
your bird and will pull apart once your bird starts to chew it and preen it. Some Cotton Rope on the market will actually bunch up and become almost a danger zone for your bird's toes.
Sissal Rope
Buy natural untreated unbleached sisal rope available in different widths and lengths from the nice chunky variety for making rope perches through to what looks like a parcel string for threading through wood and beads. Wood
Use the safe plants list for reference to which woods you can use, NOT all woods are safe for Parrots. The most popular NATURAL (or fresh woods) for making toys are Apple, Beech, Birch, Crabapple, Elm, Hawthorn, Larch, Poplar and Willow. Wood must be untreated. Pressure treated wood is injected with wood preservative so don’t go down that path!
Coloured Wood Pieces
All wood contained on a parrot toy has to be either dyed with food colouring or dyed with child safe, non-toxic paints. Get the food colourings from the bakery section at your local superstore. This is the list of most popular colourings from natural sources (complete with their E number) E100 Curcumin,
E100 (ii)Turmeric, E120 Cochineal, E162 Beetroot Red; Betanin, E160a Carotenes , E160c Paprika extract; Capsanthian; Capsorubin, E140 Chlorophyll Green and E181 Natural Tan. If you purchase the “primary colours” (a red, a yellow and a blue) you can mix all the other colours of the rainbow from them.
Beads
For large birds, stick to Marabella beads and unpainted macramé wood beads for making toys. Toys which are too small or include too small parts may pose safety concerns. Smaller pieces can be easily broken and accidently swallowed. Avoid small beads for larger birds.
Plastic
Ok where do we go on this one…how about the recycle centre??!! SOFT PVC and vinyl toys contain toxic substances which can leach out when chewed or sucked, small bits can be ingested and easily cause digestion issues as well as toxic poisoning. Thick tough Acrylic is far safer. If you are drilling or cutting any plastic or acrylic do it outside when heated it gives off toxic fumes so let’s not forget those types of issues when making toys.