Oak dowels OK?

[Flboy]

I understand Oak is in the unsafe list because of tannins. But what about the hardwood dowel sold at hobby stores? Yes, Oak, but I didn't know if the process of making the dowels removed enough tannins. Am trying to find something a bit more durable than pine dowels. If I start using sycamore branches, do I need to remove the bark?
David

 

[weco]

It's good that you're looking into potential bad things, but like Henpecked back in 2011, I use oak dowels for some of the perches for my birds: http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/15019-parrot-perches-2.html

There is some disagreement about the dangers of some woods, actually, much of the problems are guilt by association, they either have very low levels of phenols and/or tannins. Different oak species have different tannin levels and the majority of any tannins are found in the leaves, bark and nuts/acorns, but from their association with toxic substances, they have been demonized...whether rightly or not is yet to be seen, but I have had companion birds perched on oak perches for over 20 years and a maroon bellied conure whose cage had at lest one oak perch for over 25 years, until his passing at over 28yo.

The trouble with much of the information is that it was borrowed, copied, usurped from sources other than the originals (often other internet posts/sources) and often without credible/valid reasoning. We all have to make our own decisions for the best care of our birds, but I think I'll keep sourcing my replacement dowels from Home Depot, Lowes & similar sources unless I find better priced sources.....