Swing - Before and After

[UnkTob]

Hello! My local Petsmart just swapped out a whole bunch of old bird toys for new ones, so they had some on clearance. I picked up this swing for my Indian Ringneck Parakeet, but had some major misgivings about it.
https://www.petsmart.com/bird/toys-...e-perch-swing-bird-toy-27675.html?cgid=400122

First- The chain. How do I know if it is okay? I don't know how to tell if it is stainless steel or not. So, since it is better to be safe, I removed the chain and used Sisal rope as a replacement. I also didn't like the plastic frame (not sure why), so I decided to try to wrap it in sisal. My first attempt at something like this, and I don't think my knots are very good.

Also, other toys have bells. How can I tell if they are made of materials that are safe for my little buddy? I'm playing it safe it this point and just cutting them off, but I'm guessing the bells would be one of the more fun items on the toys.

Oh, the other issue is that getting him or her to trust me is going very slowly. I can feed treats by hand, take dishes out by opening the access doors, but any time I try to reach in to hang something or move something, he or she FREAKS! We aren't far enough along that I feel it would be safe to let him out to fly around the house yet, but I also feel terrible at the lack of interesting toys and stuff in there. Totally feel stuck.

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

 

[Tami2]

Very Nice! I like your upgrade much better. :smile049:

 

[MangoMuttonChops]

I like it! !

 

[Allee]

Cute new and improved swing. This is a rather long article but I think it may answer some of your questions.

Testing for Zinc in Parrot Toys

My African Grey and one of my quakers are bell lovers, they have the SS tube bells so it's impossible for them to reach the clappers. You can find them at some pet stores or order them online. I don't trust the bells that come on most bird toys, I usually remove them.

 

[wrench13]

Stainless steel is non-magnetic. Zinc and chrome plated steel is highly magnetic .
Use a magnet when shopping for bird toys.

 

[UnkTob]

Thanks everyone for the replies! Interesting and helpful article, Allee. Wrench, that's a good idea. I don't normally carry around a magnet, but maybe I'll keep one in my car so I can take it in with me. The chains on most of the toys I've accumulated aren't magnetic or have very slight magnetism. All the pear links aren't magnetic. But... about half of them have loops that connect items to the chains that are. :34: So I need to do some reconfiguring.

Seems some people say sisal rope is dangerous too. Reading through the birdsafe website is scary! Everything seems like it can harm or possibly kill my little friend! Makes me want to rename him to Bubble Boy, and keep him in a big bubble house. But he (or she) needs toys, so I'll do my best to find/modify or just create as safe but fun toys for my little buddy.

Oh, and I bought some "untreated" sisal rope on line, and when it arrived it stinks to high heaven of chemicals! Arrrrgh!