Bird safe materials for toys?

[patchyjoon]

Hi everyone,
I wanted to get into making toys for my lil dusky since he goes through the ones I buy very quickly... very playful guy! (buying toys every 2 weeks is unsutainable for me) I noticed the toys he loves the most are ones that have foam circles + popsicle sticks wrapped in cupcake liner. Are these materials made especially for birds? Or can I just go to the store and get regular popsicle sticks + cupcake liners? How do I know what's bird safe?

Thank you!

 

[Mizzely]

Almost nothing that is used in most bird toys are made specifically for the bird/small animal market.We have to get creative

Popsicle sticks and cupcake liners from the grocery store are usually safe. You just need to be mindful that items are not created equal.

Foil, glitter and wax cupcake liners are usually not safe, as an example. You want paper. Popsicle sticks are made with birch wood which is safe, but you'll want to go with undyed ones.

Foam is controversial because sometimes birds will eat it. But if your bird is okay with it, then its probably fine.

 

[patchyjoon]

Almost nothing that is used in most bird toys are made specifically for the bird/small animal market.We have to get creative

Popsicle sticks and cupcake liners from the grocery store are usually safe. You just need to be mindful that items are not created equal.

Foil, glitter and wax cupcake liners are usually not safe, as an example. You want paper. Popsicle sticks are made with birch wood which is safe, but you'll want to go with undyed ones.

Foam is controversial because sometimes birds will eat it. But if your bird is okay with it, then its probably fine.

Wow! I had no clue about the foam. The only thing I heard of being controversial is the plastic beads + bells, which I now avoid like the plague haha. I think he just loves to shred things? For some reason the soft wood toys really don't do it for him. How would I know if he's eating it? I don't think I've noticed him eating it... most of it ends up on my floor

P.S your toys are gorgeous. I'll definetly collect some for his Christmas themed cage I do every year!

 

[Mizzely]

A lot of it is just watching your bird and knowing them. For Instance, I don't have problems with some plastic for my birds. It's colorful, and can be useful in making noisy toys. The types of plastic I use for my Bourke's are different than the plastics I use for my Jardine's. Bells are another thing where it really depends on the bell and the bird's play style.

If it's ending up a lot on the floor, it's very likely that he's not eating it. But anytime you offer a new material they should be supervised to be sure. Even safe materials can be unsafe with some birds!

Have you tried balsa if he likes to shred things? Cardboard and sola are also shreddable materials, as are mahogany and cork. But I wouldn't consider popsicle sticks shredding material. That would be something I would offer thin pine as an alternative, especially cut with the grain as it will turn into long strips instead of chipping like pine cut against the grain does.

Sarah has a great photo showing the difference:

Bird Toy Size Guide ~ Helpful Information for Choosing Bird Toys

My Jardine's is also a big shredder but he will happily go to town on 1/4" pine all day long if I let him!

 

[Mizzely]

Also thank you for the compliment Seasonal toys are my favorite

 

[patchyjoon]

Also thank you for the compliment Seasonal toys are my favorite

Hehe. Mine too. I'm just starting out in life and don't have any human babies... but that does not stop me from celebrating the holidays with my bird baby!!!

 

[Linwood]

There are many things that are paper that are easy to find in the house. My Amazon for example loves toilet paper tube or paper towel tube. I'll just put one over one of the perch branches, and in an hour or so it's in pieces in the bottom of the play area or cage.

I've stopped using it because it's goes so quickly and is so messy, but this shredded paper (e.g. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CW6XCTK) can be stuffed into things. In retrospect I probably should not by dyed colors from Amazon, but it was advertised for birds and I've seen no sign at all she is tasting it, just ripping it out of whatever I stuff it into in moments.

Another favorite is the junk mail stiff cards. Something about shredding cardboard.

we throw away a lot of paper, and if you look at it first, you may find all sorts of entertaining things. At least for mine, she doesn't care if it's colored or fancy so long as it can be destroyed.

 

[rocky'smom]

I use paper basket style a coffee filters for forging toys and sometimes, I dye them with Easter egg colors. They come looking like tye dye. I also use popsicle sticks that are dyed the same way. They make great lollipops for birds. Video - Bar flowers and finger trap forging toys