We are always getting letters and email asking for advice and comments. So from time to time we will be passing along some of these conversations.
QUESTION: Is it OK to have packing-peanuts in a parakeet’s cage as a toy? Also, would bubble wrap in the cage be ok?
ANSWER: You enjoy listening to POP-POP-POP all night long?? I don’t give this stuff to my own kids let alone my birds! We do have an African Grey that goes nuts over popping them, but we keep him under close watch to make sure that’s all he does.
I can certainly see how they may be fun to play with, but packing peanuts and bubble wrap are not a good idea.
Bubble wrap is easy to answer. NO WAY! Not because it’s toxic, but because it can’t be digested. That thin plastic is very easy to chew up and swallow. It will get lodged in the digestive system of the bird and cause some very nasty health problems, most likely death.
Packing peanuts? That depends. A lot of companies are beginning to use bio-degradable packing peanuts that dissolve in water, are non-toxic, and are safe for the ecology. They are made from a corn or potato-starch based mixture that breaks down easily in landfills. Other then a very small amount of polymers used as a bonding agent, they are totally safe.
The more common form of packing peanuts are made of polystyrene (better known as styrofome). This product is toxic, can not be digested, does not break down, and will cause all sorts of harm to your bird if swallowed.
But even though the starch based peanuts are considered safe, I would never recommend their use as a bird toy. I think you could find something a lot more safe and fun to play with.
QUESTION: A friend told me that rope toys and perches are bad for my bird. But I see them in all sorts of bird cages at pet stores? Should I remove them from my cage?
ANSWER: The problem with using rope perches and toys is the bird loves to chew them up. After a short time they become frayed, and tiny threads will begin to hang off them. These threads will easily get tangled around those tiny bird toes, trapping the bird. The bird begins to panic, and in many cases will actually chew their toe off to escape.
In other cases, the threads can become entangled around the neck or wing, causing similar panic.
When we first started our aviary, we put all sorts of these toys into the cage. At that time we had over 100 birds. One day we went out to do our evening check and feed and discovered one of our lovebirds hanging from the top of the cage, it’s leg bleeding. It was from one of those “cotton candy” rope toys. That was the day we removed every rope toy from our cages.
What we recommend using is leather lace. Be sure that it’s untreated with any toxic chemicals. There are a number of bird toy suppliers that carry this product, and you can easily make fun bird toys for them to chew on.
If you must use these products, check them daily for loose threads and remove them. Note that they also absorb lots of moisture (and the bacteria that goes with it), and they can be difficult to clean. You don’t want your bird chewing on these, so dispose of them when they become soiled.
[tags]parrot toys, parrot health, bird safety[/tags]