Tennis Balls and Scented Crystals

[glider]

Are tennis balls safe to let Jack, my blue and gold macaw, play with? Will he tear off the green fuzz and eat it?
Also, at the flea market today, someone was selling scented crystals and oil scents, they were like hard colorful rocks that smelled really good that you just sit in your house, you don't burn it or anything. Is this safe? I read somewhere that poperi is safe, is that true?
Thanx everyone!

[cfulhage]

I would think tennis balls would be okay, but only when supervised. You don't want him consuming any of it. I'm thinking just a game in rolling it and having him chase it... I'm not positive though.

Potpourri is not safe, and I would bet those scented rocks aren't either. The only thing 100% safe would be boiling cinnamon sticks, orange peels, apple, vanilla beans, etc in a pot on the stove. I've never done it, but I've heard it smells wonderful!

[glider]

okay, thanx!

[leighrivera161]

Originally Posted by cfulhage

I would think tennis balls would be okay, but only when supervised. You don't want him consuming any of it. I'm thinking just a game in rolling it and having him chase it... I'm not positive though.

Potpourri is not safe, and I would bet those scented rocks aren't either. The only thing 100% safe would be boiling cinnamon sticks, orange peels, apple, vanilla beans, etc in a pot on the stove. I've never done it, but I've heard it smells wonderful!

Yes ...it smells wonderful!

[Maui's Mom]

i often wondered about the tennis ball looking things you buy for dogs, if they are safe for the birds. my mastiff goes thru the ball in about 5 minutes, chews it to pieces and then I have to chase him all over the house to get that LAST piece out of his mouth LOL, the birds get quite a show around here sometimes....

but can I give the balls to the birds ( supervised ) to play with ? They have some on a rope sorta thing, I could try to hang it with a clip into the cage >
anyone every tried it or have an opinion ?

[cfulhage]

I'm not sure...I don't know that I would necessarily let them chew them up...I was just thinking that playing games with them would be okay. Sorry I'm not more help!

[GeminiGirl]

The Tennis Balls can be used to play games with, but just have to watch that they dont ingest and of the little fibers from the ball and the rubber on the inside, sometimes some tennis balls have a glue like substance used and that can be dangerous to a bird. As far as the frangrance issue, you do have to be careful with any scents as they can irritate a birds respiratory system. I do use the lemon, orange, cinnamon sticks and other natural goodies to boil and make the house smell good and that is safe for sure, as long as you dont burn it in a teflon pan

[glider]

How exactly do you boil them and how long does the smell last (on average)? How much orange/lemon/cinnamon do you use and how much water?

[weirdlilfaechild]

I fill a small pot half way with water and add two of the following: small cinnamon stick, quarter of an orange peel, half of a lemon peel, one clove, or one vanilla bean. It takes about five minutes for the smell to start to rise after I turn the heat to a simmer, but it fills the entire house. I normally simmer for about fifteen minutes and the smell lasts about a half hour after I turn the heat off.

[Maui's Mom]

I decided against the tennis ball idea. I too thought about the glue and that green fuzzy stuff. I bought from one of the links given for birdy toys, 2 dozen wiffle balls and they are having a blast with them.
thanks for the response.