Can I use fake leather???????

[084bar]

I have a very very silly question to ask,

1. How do you know If leather is real?
2 Can I make toys for my IRN with fake leather?

I am in a small town, there I have to drive over a hour to get to a avian vet, I don't have to money to drive all that way just for leather and a friend gave me a bird toy made from leather, my little Peanut loved it but he has destroyed it and would like to make them myself because you can't fined bird toys in my little town. I do make all my own toys but I use wood, pop sticks and odd and ends.

Thanks

 

[JerseyWendy]

I "think" imitation leather may have some unwanted/unsafe glue or dye in it, so I wouldn't use it for my birds.

Real leather has a distinct smell.

Do you have any craft/hobby shops? IF you find leather, make sure it's natural and not dyed at all.

 

[Betrisher]

Real leather has a suede-like feeling on the back. Sometimes, this side is smoothed down with fixative to make it smooth, but in that case it will smell strongly of chemical. You don't want to use that kind of leather for your birds! Fake leather usually has a knitted back or something obviously man-made. If push comes to shove, if you hold fake leather near heat, it will melt.

The best leather to use for birds is what they call 'vegetable tanned leather' and the vendor should be able to tell you whether it is or not. If they can't guarantee it, don't buy it: some of the metallic tanning solutions are very toxic!

 

[084bar]

Thanks very very much but I think I will stick to buy leather made bird toys.......