What to use and not to use in toy making?

[TinaInWonderland]

I'm just dying to make my feathered buddies some toys but need to find out if there is a list of stuff not to use. It would make me seriously ill if I accidentally used something that made my guys sick or worse.

I'm thinking most natural stuff is going to be okay, as well as plastic beads. What type of ropey stuff is bad? And what about wire? Will the guaged wire from the craft department be safe, the kind not coated?

And how about natural fibre yarn? I've got a bunch of 100% cotton and wool yarn lying around here. The cotton kind looks and feels really nice. If it's colorsafe is it also birdsafe?

As for coloring wood, kool-aide and food color dying is safe, right? I'm thinking the Kool-aide would make it smell kind of nifty, too!

[Addicted to Tequila]

OK...
Most rope, string, etc is a no-no... especially yarn! It can get wrapped around a neck or foot with disastrous consequences. I use mop replacement heads from Lowe's home improvement. They are 100% cotton and the cheap ones pull apart into fluff wickedly easy. If you take a seam-ripper and unstitch the band in the middle, you have a good hundred or two pieces of 2-3 foot long pieces to use!

Wood must be completely untreated and of a safe variety.

For wire... it has to be stainless steel or completely covered so they cannot in any way get to it (even then... it makes me nervous).

To dye... I use food coloring and rubbing alcohol, the alcohol evaporates and also sterilizes. The only problem with koolaid is that you want them to play with it... not eat it! ingesting wood, rope, and leather is none too good for them.

There is a great thread somewhere on here with favorite sites to by birdie stuff for make-your-own toys.

My GCC especially loves leather... BUT YOU NEED TO GET SPECIAL BIRD-SAFE LEATHER TOO!

[babypiggy]

if u are using wood
make sure it is in the bird safe list
;)

it deoends what kinda bird u got as some beads may not be good for larger parrots

[TinaInWonderland]

Thanks for the info on this!

Addicted to Tequila, Glad to know that cotton yarn is a no-no or I would definitely have thought it was safe. What a cool idea about the mop heads, so I'll pick up one of those the next time I'm in town. Now, where in the world does one get bird-safe leather! :) I'm guessing that will need to be ordered from a bird toy supply place. The plain kind from the craft store probably wouldn't work, huh?

babypiggy, good point about the size of the beads! My largest is a Green Cheek conure, but I could sure see the problem of using small beads with like an Amazon or one of the bigger birds. My smallest are Owl finches, and I don't think there is anything out there tiny enough for them to choke on. :) Takes them a while to chew up millet!

[Buddysdad]

GreyFeatherToys.com has a LOT of toy parts, and most are fairly inexpensive. You'll probably find what you're looking for, and you'll also get educated as to what is safe and what is not safe. They have Vegetable Tanned Leather strips, different widths, for $1.65 for a 44"-60" length. Shipping is $7.50 for orders up to $24.99, and the next shipping tier is $8.95. The have a special running for $5.00 off, use the Coupon Code MICKABOO. You have to spend $25.00 to get that discount, but even having to spend the $8.95 in shipping you still get a deal. Good Luck !