Bark toys?

[Pepperoni]

My conure has a natural wood play gym, and she doesn't play on it, but she loves peeling and chewing the bark from the wood, and has almost entirely stripped it in a matter of days

I'm guessing this is amazing for her beak, and she seems to prefer this over any of her other toys. What are some safe ways I could give her bark to chew? What tree species, and how would I prepare it so there wouldn't be a risk of bacteria?

 

[Pepperoni]

She also likes lollypop sticks??

 

[Wardy]

What tree species, and how would I prepare it so there wouldn't be a risk of bacteria?

Species would depend on your location @Mizzely will hopefully be along to advise on preparation of branches, what other toys do you have ? chippy pine and balsa are great toys for conures and sometimes they need to learn how to use them.

 

[Mizzely]

There are a lot of different safe tree lists out there. Here's one:

Bird; Birds: Safe, Toxic Trees, Woods. Safe Tree Wood. Parrots. Parrot cages.

Bird; Birds. Perch wood. Safe and Poisonous Trees, Wood, Woods. Perch. Perches. Cages. Playstands. Parrots, cockatiels, cockatoos, budgies, parakeets, conures, macaws, african grey

www.mdvaden.com

Cross reference with other sites if you're unsure.

I sell the wood I prep, so I am a little more stringent.

First I wash it off with a wire brush (could use nylon if you have a bark that is a little more sensitive).

Soak it in a solution of 1:250 F10 disinfectant for 20 minutes, then bake in the oven for 1-4 hours at about 250-275 degrees.

Will disinfect, drown any bugs, and dry out.

 

[Mizzely]

For birds that like to chew perches, I encourage people try to put their toys on the side of the cage or even on the cage floor or cage top. Some birds chew their perches because they don't move! So they are sometimes frustrated by free hanging toys

 

[Pepperoni]

For birds that like to chew perches, I encourage people try to put their toys on the side of the cage or even on the cage floor or cage top. Some birds chew their perches because they don't move! So they are sometimes frustrated by free hanging toys

Lol definitely not the issue here! She's always flying around the cage and hanging upside down from her toys! I think she just likes the texture, she also chews the wooden parts of her actual toys the most!

 

[Pepperoni]

Species would depend on your location @Mizzely will hopefully be along to advise on preparation of branches, what other toys do you have ? chippy pine and balsa are great toys for conures and sometimes they need to learn how to use them.

I have a few shredding toys, some with woven palm, some with coconut husks, and a few acrylic ones with moving parts for foraging. The coconut husk ones have small balsa wood parts and that part of them is her favourite. I will try and look for toys which have a bigger component of balsa wood, do you think I can give her actual pine cones as well?

 

[Mizzely]

Lol definitely not the issue here! She's always flying around the cage and hanging upside down from her toys! I think she just likes the texture, she also chews the wooden parts of her actual toys the most!

That's good! My linnie also likes both perches and hanging toys it seems!

I have a few shredding toys, some with woven palm, some with coconut husks, and a few acrylic ones with moving parts for foraging. The coconut husk ones have small balsa wood parts and that part of them is her favourite. I will try and look for toys which have a bigger component of balsa wood, do you think I can give her actual pine cones as well?

I have tons of balsa toys in my shop

Pine cones you can also give just be careful to use fresher ones (not ones that have been on the ground all winter), and avoid ones are craft stores as they are usually treated.