Dangers of Bird Toys / Perches

[clawnz]

Hi! I have had some discussion with my Avian Vet and only done a bit of research online.
It would seem there is an increasing number of birds turning up with health problems caused by man made toys. Some things that are meant to be bird safe are not always safe. I.E. lead paint, the wood, even some of them use glue.


The Vet also pointed to the safety of those rope perches, all the birds like so much and are sold as bird safe. Maybe not if your bird chews on them!
There is a pix of a dead bird they cut open and it had fibers from a rope perch it had been chewing on in its stomach. I can not find it at the moment.

We will never know the correct figures, but it is on the increase.
'If in doubt throw it out'

[xafsmom]

It's common sense to ditch any toy that's frayed enough to cause harm. Even minor fraying on boings or rope perching can mean exactly that - ingested material. Also those multi-branch manzanita perches I see everywhere now... it'd be very easy for a bird to play and slide a branch tip under the leg band. Then you're stuck with a stuck bird who might possibly bite its toes off to attempt escape.

Not a fun scenario.

[LovelySydney]

I've thrown out a lot of toys that were no longer safe for my birds. Rope perches are great because (so far) none of my little ones have chewed on them. I have some perches that they ARE allowed to chew on and they love those. Im always rotating toys so I can clean them and sanitize the ones they pretty much half destroy, LOL.

[chinniechantel]

There are SO many unsafe products out there. I breed chinchillas and it is shocking how many things are advertised for chinchillas that are deadly. Plastic wheels, plastic cages, sweet treats that cause bloat and impaction, plastic run around wheels that give them heat stroke,

I see lots of toys advertised for birds that just look like death traps. You have to be an advocate for your pets because the pet stores sure as heck don't care about anything but money.

[skendrick90]

Originally Posted by chinniechantel

There are SO many unsafe products out there. I breed chinchillas and it is shocking how many things are advertised for chinchillas that are deadly. Plastic wheels, plastic cages, sweet treats that cause bloat and impaction, plastic run around wheels that give them heat stroke,

I see lots of toys advertised for birds that just look like death traps. You have to be an advocate for your pets because the pet stores sure as heck don't care about anything but money.

well thats not true for all peet stores :( i work in a small family owned pet store that specializes in birds and we put our birds and bird safety b4 money all the time.

[Chicklette]

Hoops, anything with hoops that they can get their head or legs caught in. I see a lot of toys with hoops and that is VERY dangerous.

Rascal, one of my IRN's who passed away one time got his leg all tangled up in a toy I got from the pet store so even though they are made for birds does not mean it's safe. Be careful with what you buy.

[Ashling]

Life isn't safe. Just be vigilant with anything, use common sense and do what you can to prevent injury and death. I agree with "if in doubt throw it out." and "better safe than sorry." My tiel got some fibers caught around his neck and would have strangled if I didn't check on him.

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by skendrick90

well thats not true for all peet stores :( i work in a small family owned pet store that specializes in birds and we put our birds and bird safety b4 money all the time.

I also own a parrot specialty supply store, and there are alot of products I wont carry. If I was in it just for the money, i would sell parrots and every item made for them, regardless of the safety of them.

[pippy]

Originally Posted by Lisa B

I also own a parrot specialty supply store, and there are alot of products I wont carry. If I was in it just for the money, i would sell parrots and every item made for them, regardless of the safety of them.

There are only two sellers I trust when it comes to buying toys with metal parts, one is Pine4Parrots (UK one-woman company) and the other is Lisa (I imported some toys from Lisa for my birds) as I know both these people sell genuine stainless steel products, including the chain and quick links.

[Lisa B]

Thanks Pippy! and yes the company who makes them for me is outstanding!