Colored Wood Toy from PetCo

[joeparrilla5790]

Hey guys, I bought my baby a hanging wood toy with a bell on the end from petco. The wood is stained different colors. Is this safe for him? Do I have to worry about the chemicals used in coloring the wood or anything else for that matter?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I only use toys that specifically say the dye is food dye. A cheaper dye is often used and it contains cyanide.

 

[DebsFlock]

If a toy was made for birds, I generally don't worry about it too much. OTOH, I make most of the chew-up type toys myself, and the places I order the wood definitely use bird-safe dyes.

 

[Lovelyloribeth]

I always check the back of the label to see. Most the time they are safe.

 

[joeparrilla5790]

Ok so if it is a food dye, Im ok. Why would they ever use a cyanide containing dye??!

 

[aliray]

I was looking for wooden abc type blocks and found a set at walmart in their craft department, but on reading the pkg they were made in China and it said not safe for use under age 14 so my guess is the paint was not safe for a small child to put in their mouth but they looked the same as the blocks you would by for a baby or toddler. I wanted the to make bird toys. If petco is selling the toys for birds they would be using bird safe dyes ,at least I would think.

 

[Lovelyloribeth]

Ok so if it is a food dye, Im ok. Why would they ever use a cyanide containing dye??!

Because its cheaper, easier, faster, and they don't care about killing our fids. They only care about making a dollar. Sadly.

 

[antoinette]

Ok so if it is a food dye, Im ok. Why would they ever use a cyanide containing dye??!

Because its cheaper, easier, faster, and they don't care about killing our fids. They only care about making a dollar. Sadly.

Your comment is so accurate..... very sad but so true

 

[joeparrilla5790]

Ok so if it is a food dye, Im ok. Why would they ever use a cyanide containing dye??!

Because its cheaper, easier, faster, and they don't care about killing our fids. They only care about making a dollar. Sadly.

Just great...

 

[DebsFlock]

Also, food dyes are water soluble, so you can't wash the toys without ruining the color. I definitely would beware of toys not marketed for birds or made by "iffy" manufacturers, but I'm skeptical these dyes typically contain cyanide. Some dyes are made with minute amounts, but it's hard to find any solid information on how common this is. Certainly there don't seem to be birds keeling over on a daily basis from cyanide poisoning, so I think the risk is relatively small.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

I try to get all the toys from the trusted avian vet and from a local mom&pop pet store that buys the wood toys from someone who makes that locally. I also love the toys I get from Bird-Paradise online.

Wherever I get dyed wood toys, I always wipe then with rubbing alcohol, rinse in water, then soak in produce wash (or water, distilled vinegar and baking soda). It loosens up the extra dye and I'd rather have it come off in the water than find red dye in the cage or on Pritti's beak or feet and freak out. You're going to have to wash them eventually anyway and the extra dye will come off then. So might as well do it to start. Even so, there's still plenty of color left that is stained in to the wood.