Are plastic toys dangerous?

**wolfysluv** · 06-05-2007, 04:03 PM

Tika has this huge bird toy made for toos, mccaws, etc. But she has torn the plastic part up. I noticed that there are many plastic pieces on bird toys that she is able to destroy. My question is will this hurt her? Gosh. I give her rope and she wraps it around her foot. I give her plastic and she destroys it (I hope doens't eat it ... that is what I worry about). The only thing safe is wood and rock. Oh yeah, and that cool butt treasure chest puzzle toy made out of bullet proof plastic. God I love that thing. Cant' destroy it and so good for her.

Hey, another question. Why don't they make a busy board for parrots?? LIke for babies? A board that has metal key's to turn, metal doors to pull open and close, metal things to spin ... or a big plastic toy that they can't eat where you push buttons and stuff? What other puzzle toy is there out there for a big parrot besides the treasure chest?

Will tika be okay? SHould I take the toy out that she is destroying? Or do they not eat the plastic?

**elysse** · 06-05-2007, 05:07 PM

I'd watch her carefully to make sure she doesn't eat the plastic (you've probably already figured that out). At petstores, in the small animal area, they usualy have grass matts. You could tie/weave stuff to it for her.

**Mysticalwings** · 06-05-2007, 06:36 PM

Since she can destroy the plastic, I'd watch her carefully for the toys she does have now. Later maybe you can take note of this when you buy her new toys and buy more sturdier plastic. There are more bullet proof toys like the chest you mentioned. Its all in the same brand, i think. Sometimes, however its good to have toys that your bird can destroy, shredders, wood, etc. Its good for them. So they can have more variety and such.

It doesn't say that its bullet proof, but these foraging toys are good.
http://www.squawkstore.com/store/pro...roducts_id=927
http://www.squawkstore.com/store/pro...roducts_id=728
http://www.squawkstore.com/store/pro...roducts_id=928
http://www.squawkstore.com/store/pro...roducts_id=930

This is bullet proof:
http://www.squawkstore.com/store/pro...roducts_id=129

Dani's site has some really good stuff in it. She tests out all her toys too. =)

On the other hand, there is "busy boards" for birds, I've seen them somewhere before. Some people make them themselves with other things like buttons, etc.

**wolfysluv** · 06-06-2007, 10:26 AM

Oh wow!! You are wonderful! These are so awesome! Exactly what I need. I cant' thank you enough.

**louielouie** · 06-06-2007, 10:43 AM

Plastics can be ok as long as she doesn't swallow it. Both Charlie and Skittles love to chew plastic, but we make sure they aren't EATING it. Also, you have to watch the paint used on the toys. Make sure it's not toxic, etc.

**Beeks** · 06-06-2007, 01:08 PM

I finally got tired of buying expensive "parrot proof" toys for my birds only to find they would rather destroy the plasitic water bottle somebody left on the cage top. Chinese food cartons, shoe laces or and lace with the little plastic tie tip still in tacked, almond and walnut shells, etc. Right now my Toos favorite toys are the plastic top to my broom I left too close to the cage. She tore it off and is in love with it

and the metal snap to my halter rope. Anything that snaps, buckles, zips etc is a challenge for her and she will stick with it until she figures it out. The hardware stores provides much more stimulating things for her than the petstore and is soooo much cheaper.

Crazy birds.

PS...Toos can destroy Kongs. Scarey. These toys were made with Pit Bulls in mind.

**Mysticalwings** · 06-06-2007, 03:18 PM

Kongs also have some kind of chemical or metal (can't remember which) that is dangerous for birds. Just an fyi. ^_^

**Beeks** · 06-06-2007, 04:40 PM

I'm beginning to think EVERYTHING is toxic to birds. Of course, if I never ingested anything, inhaled anything, walked through anything, lived around anything, associated with anything, that was bad for me, I would certainly live much longer...but ooooh what a boringly long life.

**elysse** · 06-06-2007, 05:23 PM

lol, i agree with beeks. Kiwi's favorite toys are paper and the rings around water bottles. Oh, and me and my dad of course.

**wolfysluv** · 06-06-2007, 09:41 PM

Cool. Ferrets love bags, socks, dirty dirty pants, keys, a scented mcdonalds wrapper, rice ... heck, a potato. They'll play and play wiht those things for hours. You by an expensive ferret puzzle toy, they're done in ten minutes. Now birds don't tire of things so easily, but they do destroy them that quick. sigh. So its' funny to me how similar the answer can be. Just you typical things around the house ... I'll keep an eye out for things like you mentioned Beeks. Thank you.