Books for chewing

[Taprock]

I had read somewhere that used books could be hung up for chewing/shredding. Has anyone done this? Does it work?

 

[ZephyrFly]

I don't know but am interested to see an answer.
I'd imagine the ink might be an issue though...

 

[Taprock]

That was what I was concerned with and the fact you can't really sanitize them. However I know newspaper is used and I would think that would be worse than a book. I'm a librarian and we have discards that are just sitting there!

 

[ZephyrFly]

Some/lots F10 spray and plenty of time to dry? (near a radiator)

I know what you mean though. I would imagine books for younger kids are safer and some books do say they use non toxic ink but not many

 

[Birdman666]

I've used phone books as shredder toys for years.

I also give them my junk mail to shred.

 

[Taprock]

Ok then I'm bringing some home to try out. Most of my discards haven't been touched in 5+ years.

 

[Peppo]

Just take off the shiny cover and spine. I am paranoid so I first drill the hole through a paperback, then attach a link to hang from the cage, then methodically take off the spine and any glue (actually cutting it all off.) if I am supervising, I just take the covers off, and open it up on the floor so the pages flare, he just goes to town actually ripping just a few pages at a time.

 

[Aquila]

Phone books are my big go-to as well, though I do slip any "confidential" mail I need to get rid of to the birds as well.

You could also probably buy some cheap printer paper or construction paper and make a "book" yourself. I might go to my former employer (OfficeMax) and ask for some chip board (cardboard sheets) to use for some toys. You can also get a ream of paper cut there as well, it was $1.10 per cut if I remember right, just get some hole punched paper cut and you're good to go!

 

[ZephyrFly]

To be honest for us, my little guy would rather tear into a tissue then a piece of paper, unless the paper is folded into a star for him to unravel... lucky stars are great.

 

[Peppo]

Brown paper lunch bags are fun and easy too. I twist them into a tree design and hide goodies in the trunk and branches.

 

[PetoftheDay]

I wonder if some birds would be like my bunny - she would nibble the edges of books, but never any of the text - so no ink!

 

[Taw5106]

We bought a pop gun a few years back. Venus found it, decimated the cork, and is working on the pcp barrel and the wooden stock now. I just discovered her find and progress yesterday.

 

[Birdman666]

To be honest for us, my little guy would rather tear into a tissue then a piece of paper, unless the paper is folded into a star for him to unravel... lucky stars are great.

Well, that's another one of those cheap bird toy things. Dollar store boxes of Kleenex. Pop one up, and let him go to town popping the rest out.

I was getting these three for a dollar at one point and time.

Cheap bird toys, that they actually play with!

 

[Birdman666]

Brown paper lunch bags are fun and easy too. I twist them into a tree design and hide goodies in the trunk and branches.

And cardboard boxes with crumpled up bits of paper, and broken toys, and treats inside them for the bird to find...

 

[Hawk]

My Grey loves a good Phone book....My cell phone disappeared and a dominos pizza guy showed up at the door with a pizza once..

 

[Newbsi]

I have heard the ink in books prior to the 1990s was dangerous. I would think the ink could harm them if they ingested it. I would stick with paper bags, tissues and cardboard boxes.

 

[Sucre]

Oh, this thread just brought me a temporary reprieve! Maybe just enough time for my Excedrin to kick in! I knew I saved all those phone books for a reason.

 

[Birdman666]

Oh, this thread just brought me a temporary reprieve! Maybe just enough time for my Excedrin to kick in! I knew I saved all those phone books for a reason.

Squawki-toos in screaming prevention protocols down at the rescue got covered on three sides, and got a great big box of homemade toys to play in...

That's how we taught them to self entertain.

A box, with a phone book in it, some tree branches, maybe a tissue box. Scatter some treats, pellets and seeds, perhaps some left over broken foot toys...

It doesn't have to be fancy to hold their attention.

KEEPS THEM BUSY FOR A GOOD 2-3 HOURS, WHICH IS WHAT THEY NEED TO LEARN TO DO. PLAY ON YOUR OWN FOR AWHILE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I WAS NOT PUT ON THIS EARTH TO HOLD THE BIRDIE 24-7...

http://www.parrotforums.com/training/48649-screaming-behavior-mods.html