How do I know if my bird is not eating its toys?

[Chocobo]

I've been trying to make homemade toys and I have no idea if my bird are eating or tearing them up. I made him a necklace with all sorts of button and a seashell or two. I've been watching him chew on the seashell and even break off pieces of it. After be breaks them, he chews on the small broken pieces like a pellet. After he chew, those small pieces break into dust-like shards. I do not know if he is spitting them out or if he thought they were his pellets and ate them. How can I tell if he knows not to eat a certain material? Should I let him continue playing with the necklace?

 

[Lovie]

I've been trying to make homemade toys and I have no idea if my bird are eating or tearing them up. I made him a necklace with all sorts of button and a seashell or two. I've been watching him chew on the seashell and even break off pieces of it. After be breaks them, he chews on the small broken pieces like a pellet. After he chew, those small pieces break into dust-like shards. I do not know if he is spitting them out or if he thought they were his pellets and ate them. How can I tell if he knows not to eat a certain material? Should I let him continue playing with the necklace?

If you're not sure, and you can't tell, I would stop letting your bird play with the necklace. Find things that aren't as crumbly. Buttons are good, and so are wooden spoons (like the ones you'd get with ice cream), wooden sticks, and other things like that. Just make sure they aren't chemically treated.

 

[MomtoPercy]

You cannot tell him that certain things are off limits - especially if they are combined with things that ARE ok. There are mixed reviews out there but I would not give my bird sea shells to play with. I would suggest you remove the toy and supply something you're 100% sure is safe. Have a look at some of the stickies in the DIY forum for info on safe toy making materials. Good luck

 

[BirdyMomma]

I have store bought toys that have oyster shells on them. Is that ok, do you think?

 

[Mekaisto]

Your bird might be enjoying the calcium in the shells, or just having fun chewing them to smithereens, haha.

Natural shells that are not glazed or treated are actually quite safe for birds - some people worry that shards can get stuck in the bird's throat, but the same could be said for wooden toys. I have never personally heard of seashells killing or endangering parrots.

 

[GW.Joe]

Your bird might be enjoying the calcium in the shells

I was going to ask if you have a Mineral block for the bird?

Joe

 

[Kalidasa]

If you're worried about the shells (which arent bad) you could always break up cuttlebone and use pieces of that instead, so when he eats it it's just extra calcium.
The pet industry sells pulverized oyster shell marketed for birds for the calcium within.