Can I give kids' toys to my conure?

[Sabo]

I see a lot of kid/baby toys on craigslist/kijiji for such low prices($3~5), and it's so tempting to use them as alternatives to the expensive "specially made" toys for birds.

I figured if it's safe for a kid, it's safe for a bird, right? Is there anything that I should look out for if I proceed with this?

 

[sunblaze]

Some things are ok, others not so much, you yourself will be the best judge of what's ok for your birds as you know them best. If your bird is a chewer then try to avoid soft plastics that they can easily tear chunks out of, baby teething toys can be great also some of dog teething toys.

Check the toys thoroughly and if they are second hand sterilize them first. Make sure their sturdy and have no easily dislodged pieces, no small dangling bits to get caught in or frayed edges to tangle in etc.

As i said you will know your birds best and what type of toys they like and how they interact with them, so just use good judgement and if you're uncertain wether a toy might be safe or not... simply don't give it to them, as you said their only cheap, not worth the risk for a couple of bucks.

Here's a link to a good article from birdsnways (some fantastic knowledge on this site) about safe and non safe plastics for parrots.

Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Are Plastic Bird Toys Safe For Parrots?

hope this helped =)