Newspaper contains ....

[plumsmum2005]

Reading this morning that newsprint and newspaper contains dioxin and should not be used if a bird can reach it and chew ie on cage bottom/grate.

Help!

Anyone know of a source of safe plain paper that can be used instead?

 

[texsize]

I have read lots of people use paper towels

 

[plumsmum2005]

ah but they are supposed to be unbleached and chlorine free?

 

[wrench13]

Brown kraft paper, available on large industrial size rolls, is an option, for cage bottoms.
We use newspaper, because Salty cant get to the bottom of his gage, but we use paper towels to line his day time boing/bowl combo, because he can certainly pull that out an shred it it up.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Thanks Al, can you get it online?

I do use newspaper, Plum food dish is placed on the cage floor and he paddles about down there. He gets changed twice a day.

 

[Aquila]

Here's a quick Amazon search result for Kraft paper, I know you can find it other places as well, almost every craft store will carry it, though I'm not sure about sizes.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XGJHPS8/ref=mh_s9_acsd_zwish_bXD4qx_c_x_1_w

 

[plumsmum2005]

Here's a quick Amazon search result for Kraft paper, I know you can find it other places as well, almost every craft store will carry it, though I'm not sure about sizes.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XGJHPS8/ref=mh_s9_acsd_zwish_bXD4qx_c_x_1_w

Thank you so much for your trouble. At least have an idea of what I am looking for now.

 

[Katu]

Plumsmum, I ordered 2 rolls of the Kraft paper, 30 lb weight, locally. Then I had to order a holder with a cutter, to be able to wield it easily, lol. But now I have a permanent solution that is cost effective and basically custom to my cage dimensions. I can even just eyeball the size now, it's so easy to do. Check the size of your trays and order the rolls by that width if possible. The "cutter" is just a bar, and you use it to tear the paper cleanly.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Thank you all - I love this place!

 

[texsize]

How well does the craft paper work?
Is it absorbent?

I have always used newspaper.
My big birds will sometimes shred it.
Problem is with my Tiels. they seem to eat it and that worries me.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Yes exactly, Plum views it as a side dish LOL!

The warning says if they can reach it and chew.

 

[plumsmum2005]

https://www.windycityparrot.com/cage-liner-c-356_621/

 

[Birdman666]

My birds have been shredding newspaper and phone books for 20 years with no ill health effects.

My CAG and my Red Front have a two phone book a day habit.

 

[Kentuckienne]

Gus LOVES phone books. But the white pages ones are getting so small, and I wonder about the inks in the color print ads in the bigger yellow pages. Do you give your birds both kinds? If I had more phone books I could give Gus one every day and he'd love that.

 

[Flboy]

Here's a quick Amazon search result for Kraft paper, I know you can find it other places as well, almost every craft store will carry it, though I'm not sure about sizes.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XGJHPS8/ref=mh_s9_acsd_zwish_bXD4qx_c_x_1_w

Another source, Hobby Lobby, and with the always available 40% off coupon, a good deal!
Natural Kraft Paper Roll | Hobby Lobby | 1301209

 

[Birdman666]

Gus LOVES phone books. But the white pages ones are getting so small, and I wonder about the inks in the color print ads in the bigger yellow pages. Do you give your birds both kinds? If I had more phone books I could give Gus one every day and he'd love that.

Yep. I give them the big fat ones... and they tear them to pieces...

They aren't INGESTING the stuff. It's not like they swallow the paper. I think if they were it might potentially be a problem over time...

You hear the same thing about glue in cardboard, but mine, and the birds down at the rescue, always got cardboard boxes with random stuff thrown inside (paper, food, broken bird toy parts, etc.) them to forage around in. All it ever did to them WAS MADE THEM HAPPY! And taught them to self entertain.

 

[Kentuckienne]

I got some "roll ends" from a local newspaper for free. The amount of paper left on the roll is huge compared to those expensive things in the store.

 

[Scott]

I've long used newspaper but it is separated from the birds with a grate, except for occasional trips to the vet in a carrier with paper at the bottom.

Wonder if there is any outgassing of dioxin or is the hazard limited to ingestion?

 

[SailBoat]

Reading this morning that newsprint and newspaper contains dioxin and should not be used if a bird can reach it and chew ie on cage bottom/grate.

Help!

Anyone know of a source of safe plain paper that can be used instead?

I'm having some concerns regarding the information sourcing and reasoning of that sourcing, 'NOT the OP,' but whoever had put together the story. There is no question that Dioxin are dangerous. In fact, Dioxin is a member of the “dirty dozen” group of dangerous chemicals. That said, the source story should have provided some documented (statement) as to the reality that Dioxins are a dangerous 'background' chemical group that is very common in soils and commonly concentrates in plants (which includes trees) and animals that eats plants. And with animals, most commonly Dioxins collects in the fats of animals.

Dioxins are truly dangerous and common takes 7 up to 11 years for the Human to expel them. So, any source, natural or concentrated by industrial is a concern. The real question become 'How Much!' Does the News Paper and the Ink used contain a greater amount than is naturally part of the background source of the products used?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Reading this morning that newsprint and newspaper contains dioxin and should not be used if a bird can reach it and chew ie on cage bottom/grate.

Help!

Anyone know of a source of safe plain paper that can be used instead?

I'm having some concerns regarding the information sourcing and reasoning of that sourcing, 'NOT the OP,' but whoever had put together the story. There is no question that Dioxin are dangerous. In fact, Dioxin is a member of the “dirty dozen” group of dangerous chemicals. That said, the source story should have provided some documented (statement) as to the reality that Dioxins are a dangerous 'background' chemical group that is very common in soils and commonly concentrates in plants (which includes trees) and animals that eats plants. And with animals, most commonly Dioxins collects in the fats of animals.

Dioxins are truly dangerous and common takes 7 up to 11 years for the Human to expel them. So, any source, natural or concentrated by industrial is a concern. The real question become 'How Much!' Does the News Paper and the Ink used contain a greater amount than is naturally part of the background source of the products used?

Article in Parrots Magazine Issue 237 Oct 2017 page 16/17 relating to avoiding Xenoestrogens, main body of article by Leslie Moran.
Additional input by Dave Catudal?

I wasnt previously worried by newspaper but Plum has taken to ripping and eating with his meals for some daft reason?

The information given about inks used doesnt take into consideration the ingestion by a parrot, why would it LOL.