Unsafe or disappointing bird toys

We are relative newbies to the bird ownership world. We've had "MAC", our B&G Macaw for a bit under 2 years. In fact his "Hatch Day" is Feb 14.

The learning curve regarding care and training and what is safe and unsafe in toys, food, wood and other things has been a real eye opener.

Unfortunately we have also found that there are a lot of toy products on the market being touted as bird safe that use unsafe materials, materials from unknown countries of origin OR from countries of known origin that are known to use unsafe materials or processes in their manufacturing.

Below is a picture of a mineral type perch we purchased for "MAC". A few days ago, while cleaning his cage I noticed a small piece of the rod extending from the section of perch inside his cage.

This item was purchased from the same establishment where we purchased "MAC" and is advertised as "Completely Bird Safe"





Yes, that is a piece of galvanized threaded rod leaching unsafe materials in to the perch that "MAC" chews on. YEA, He's a Macaw. He can chew up anything. He even chewed a chunk out of our dining room table in about 2.5 seconds!

We also purchases a large "Boing" for Mac's play area. After some time the rope began to come apart and expose the wire. IT IS NOT stainless wire!! It may not be galvanized but it is not safe, in my opinion.

These findings have prompted us to #1 - begin building all of our own toys for Mac but, more importantly #2 - we are putting together a business model that will only manufacture 100% safe and/or natural toys for birds, so bird lovers can buy toys that will be absolutely bird safe or the toys will not be built or sold!

ANYHOW, Please look at the items you have purchased for your Fids. They may not be as safe as you think.


Jim

A few months ago my vet told me about an amazon with lead poisoning. It had swallowed a lead weight that was in a bird toy! Lead weights should not be in bird toys!

I bought Pete this Pedi Cure perch. The top of it is very slippery. It scared him, and rightfully so. That was a waste of $15. I'm still trying to find him a cement perch that has no slippery parts on top. They called it a "comfort pad", but he was afraid to stand on it because it was so slick.

I think we all need to be responsible with bird toys, just because it is sold as a toy doesn't mean it can't cause problems.

I have found Happy Huts to be unsafe & need constant monitoring.
Rope Toys fray & birds can get tangled.
The clip to hang toy with, busy beaks can get caught.

I buy stainless steel spoons & little dishes, wooden serving spoons, kids wooden blocks, baby toys. Even a mop head can be a lot of fun. These seem to be a lot safer than the bird toys.

windycityparrot said:

I'm curious, how do you know it's galvanized? The rod appears to be rusted and if the rod were galvanized - it wouldn't rust.

Click to expand...

I do stand corrected.

After your post I called a friend that works for Home Depot. He advised me that although there is a galvanized threaded rod (zinc plating), most threaded rod is mild steel. It is also available in brass and stainless steel.

So, with that knowledge, I checked for toxicity of steel, rust etc. Rust and corroding metals are hazardous to birds.

Although not galvanized (zinc plated), the potential results are the same. Possibly someones bird getting sick or worse from an inferior product.

Galvanized will rust to a certain extent. Its harder to make rust but it will. On a side note stainless steel can also rust. The lower priced stainless steel is usually a mix of steel and stainless steel. The highest grade stuff that won't rust is the surgical grade. But it is also super expensive.

8 years ago we bought this peanut shaped hard plastic foraging toy that you stick peanuts within for birds to forage. I was at work when I got a phone call from my partner asking to leave work now to come home to rescue Willie the macaw, his foot was caught within the peanut shaped hole and he was hanging off of it screaming. I left work right away and took pictures of his foot being stuck in the toy and I remove the toy off the cage and got Willie out of the cage. He knew I was trying to help him and he didn't fight me at all. I used olive oil to lubricate his foot while I had my partner retrieving two sets of pliers just in case I need to use it. But his foot came out after he was lubricated. When a bird has it's foot caught, they can chew their own foot off to free themselves. We were lucky that my partner was home at the time when he did it. I called Kaytee up and sent them the pictures. They told me they would take the toys off the shelves ASAP and they sent Willie a HUGE box of toys and treats.

the number of toys nut has that have gone rusty between the metal links on the chain etc is, very annoying

i know keep the good chains that have not rusted, and discard broken toy bits

get lego from charity shops

use broccoli/fresh peas in pod/corn on the cob, etc all as a form of toy

in fact one of her perches is a thick old leather handbag strap, the bag itself got slung, but the straps were to good to throw and the stainless steel rings never rusted, so i recycle all kinda items where i can, especially leather, that i cut and use as straps to hang things from her cage, plastic buttons etc

as for mac chewing a chunk outta your dinning table, nuts had all corners of wooden furniture, including some door tops, she is currently squeaking at a closed pistashio nut, that she cannot seem to crack