Raw Hide Lace

[babypiggy]

anyone know if this is a bird safe product?

It is like leather lace
but it does not go through a tanning process..

[Rocky's Mom]

I use any rawhide that is safe for pets. I have used untanned lace as long as it is sterile and I do sterilize it myself if it gets dirty by clesning and heatiing. The lace gets stiff but can be worked gain to soften. I also use the raw hide chips for small dogs and soften in simmering clean water, cool and shape then let dry. I make toys for my birds with that and beads instead of buying them for exhorbitant prices and they are'nt as intricate as mine

[yambasticks]

On another forum, a woman with a feather plucking cockatoo uses this lace to clasp the collar that is used to prevent her too from self mutalating. She didn't like the stables, worried about her bird chewing it andd getting unsafe metal inside it. So I'm sure it must be safe at least to some degree.

[huntress]

Its hard to really say what rawhide is really safe for our pets. They say to make sure its made in the USA because they have done some studies to find high levels of bacteria growing in rawhide bones and such packaged for dogs. Its also hard to say who "they" is but I do know from my taxidermist that bacteria can grow in huge amounts in rawhide. I mean essentially its like a piece (or part of) of dried meat. I don't give my dogs rawhide because Ive seen first hand the results of choking and impaction but I do have a few bird toys with little rawhide bones in them. I suppose if you could find it "sterilized" it would be best but how does one sterilize something that gets soggy when wet. High heat sterilization?? I know it is lacing but it is still rawhide. I would read the package and still probably use it

[birdtoy]

As a bird toy manufacturer leather is fine to use! You need to use vegtable tanned leather. Do not use suede lace as you see some toy makers use. It's usually not vegtable tanned and is dyed. Hopefuly this helps...

[huntress]

Originally Posted by birdtoy

As a bird toy manufacturer leather is fine to use! You need to use vegtable tanned leather. Do not use suede lace as you see some toy makers use. It's usually not vegtable tanned and is dyed. Hopefuly this helps...

again, they are not asking about leather. They are asking about rawhide

[HollySue]

I spent many years as a leather craftsman. What is called "rawhide lace" is an oil-tanned cowhide, similar to what is also called latigo leather. I strongly advise against using is with birds, as it is not vegetable-tanned.

Holly

[babypiggy]

ok well i was actually looking for veg tanned leather lace

and having a heck of a time finding them in the spools

anyone know where i may be able to get some

i want them in spools because i have a few friends that own smaller birds and that i can cut the lengths accordingly and what not

if anyone could post links or what not that would be great

[Shades of Grey]

Just one question - how safe is 'imitation' leather as compared to the real thing. I feel that since it is a synthetic product (we do use plastic toys & beads for our parrots ) it should not harbour as much bacteria as real leather or rawhide which are animal products.