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As with kids, no toy is 100% safe for
all birds. A parrot relies on its owner to make sure its playtime activities
are safe. Selecting the right toy is one way you can keep your bird
healthy and injury free. There are several factors that must be
considered in making a safe toy selection for your bird:
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Size
appropriateness
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Construction of the toy (materials, design)
-
Knowledge
of your bird's individual toy personality and play style.
Size
Considerations
Any toy has the potential to be unsafe
if improperly sized to the bird. For example, a toy meant for a small bird is
often constructed with components that could pose choking hazards to large birds
and, conversely, toys meant for larger birds could pose a risk of entrapment.
Small brittle plastic parts may be perfect for a little bird but could easily
shatter into sharp splinters when subjected to the power of a large bird's beak.
For your
convenience, all of the toys sold on the AvianEnrichment
site are encoded with symbols to designate the size of bird for which the toy is
appropriate. For additional help please refer to our handy
Toy Size Guide.
Construction
Aspects
A toy that is
100% safe for one bird may pose a risk to another bird. Both design
and material suitability must be assessed by a bird owner.
Design
Poorly
designed toys can present a risk of injury to your bird. Some questions to
keep in mind are:
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Are there loops of a
size that your bird is at risk for getting his head stuck in?
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Are there small openings
that could pose a risk of toe or nail entrapment?
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Is there a long length
of exposed rope, leather or chain that could pose a risk of strangulation if
the bird tosses the toy and it wraps around its neck?
-
Is the type of hardware
used appropriate to the size of the bird the toy is designated?
-
Are there any small
parts, if removed, that could cause soft tissue injury to your bird's mouth
(i.e., screws, eyes, small wires)
Materials
Reputable
manufacturers choose to use only the safest components in the construction of
their toys. However, materials that are completely safe for a budgie
may be extremely hazardous to a large bird. It is important to know
what safety issues must be considered relative to the materials commonly used in
toys:
Wood
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Make sure the wood used in your toy is from a
"safe" tree.
-
Safe woods (partial list) include:
Pine, Balsa, Bamboo, Beech,
Birch, Basswood, Cajeput, Dogwood, Douglas Fir, Hickory, Poplar, Maple, Walnut,
Ash, Apple, Elm, Cactus (Cholla) and Manzanita.
-
Unsafe woods (partial list) include:
Cedar, Cherry, Plywood and Oak.
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Make
sure the wood is colored only with non-toxic food coloring or vegetable
dyes.
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If you
are interested in a toy with painted parts (i.e., ABC blocks) make sure that
only non-toxic, child safe paints were used.
Rope
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Only 100% natural fiber ropes such
as cotton, hemp, jute or sisal should be used in bird toys.
-
Rope toys can be safe as long as
they are maintained properly and the bird’s beak and nails are kept
trim.
-
Bird owners have a responsibility to
check their bird's rope toys daily and to cut back or discard rope toys when
they become frayed or present a hazard to their bird.
Chain
-
Chain should have welded not
open links. Un-welded chain provides sharp surfaces and narrow openings
which have been known to cut toes.
-
Make
sure the links are a safe size for your bird. If a bird's toes get caught in
the links the result can be a broken nail, toe or leg.
-
Chain length is also a
consideration. A long length of chain could conceivably end up wrapped
around a bird’s neck during a vigorous play session. As the wood components
are chewed off, a chain hazard could develop.
Fasteners
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Never purchase toys that use split
key rings, spring loaded clips or metal shower rings as fasteners.
-
Small hardware pieces can be
ingested accidentally or cause mouth injuries.
-
Quick-link or Pear link type
connectors are recommended to attach toys to the bird's play area.
This type of fastener provides the
least potential for injury.
Plastics
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When considering toys with plastic
components a bird owner must consider the nature of the plastic component
(i.e., soft vs. brittle) relative to the size of the bird.
-
Brittle plastics should not be given
to larger birds because when they break very sharp, cutting edges are formed
and if swallowed accidentally could result in ruptured organs.
-
Hard plastic toys specifically
designed for parakeets and cockatiels should not be given to larger birds.
Leather
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Only vegetable tanned leather should
be used on bird toys.
-
Do not buy toys with dyed leather or
leather tanned with chemicals as most are toxic to birds (i.e., chromium,
formaldehyde). For this reason you should not retire old shoes, belts
and pocketbooks to your birds toy chest.
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Replace leather if soiled or wet.
Bacteria will flourish under these conditions.
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When hanging toys strung on leather
(or rope or chain), avoid leaving a long strand between the toy and the
cage. Some birds, when rambunctious with their toys, can get the leather
wrapped around their necks and strangle. It is best to tie the toy close to
the bars of the cage.
Rings
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When choosing toys with rings or
large plastic chain links, make sure that the rings are of a size that the
bird can’t get his head stuck in the rings and choke.
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Also, beware of toys with multiple
rings looped directly together, as birds have met similar fates when they
have been trapped between the rings.
Bells
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If a bird is mechanically inclined
and can remove the bell clapper, the potential exists for
swallowing/choking.
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Make sure the bell clapper can not
be removed by the bird. If it is not securely fastened remove it.
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Make sure the clapper is not lead
(toxic). If it is lead, you will be able to dent the clapper with your
fingernail.
-
Do not buy toys that use jingle
type bells, toes can become caught and cut in the wide to narrow openings.
We recommend the cow or liberty bell designs.
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Appropriately size the bell to the
bird so it will be able to withstand the power of the beak.
Observation &
Knowledge of Your Bird
Ultimately,
only a bird owner can determine whether a toy is suitable for their bird based
on the close observation and knowledge of their bird's interaction with toys.
Studying your bird while they are playing will help you to
choose toys well
suited to your bird's individual personality and play style.
Supervision is the
absolutely best defense against a toy related injury.
Use common sense and supervise your bird
when you first give him a new toy. Observe how he interacts with the toy
to determine how best to hang it and where and when to allow him to play with it
(some toys are safer outside the cage).
If in doubt, take it out!
If your bird is extremely aggressive
with his toys and puts himself at risk of getting bopped in the head or wrapping
it around his neck then maybe hanging toys are not the best for use within his
cage when no one else is there to supervise. Bolt-on toys are a good alternative
in this instance.
Summary
Toys are
critical to your parrot's well-being and serve as a substitute outlet for the
many activities they would engage in daily, in the wild.
Although no toy is 100% safe, don't let your concerns over safety overwhelm your
thinking. You can ensure your bird's safety by taking a reasoned approach.
The critical steps towards ensuring success are to:
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Evaluate
a toy's suitability before purchase based on the criteria presented
above.
-
Examine the toy upon receipt to ensure that there are no dangerous
defects (i.e., sharp edges, broken welds)
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Observe your bird's interactions with his new toy and determine
whether he can continue to play with the toy unsupervised.
-
Inspect your bird's toys daily to ensure that their condition
remains safe and make repairs as necessary.
Owners must monitor the status
of toys and ensure that as they physically change, safety hazards do not
develop (i.e., through fraying, exposure of rope due to chewed off
parts, etc.) For advice on how to clean your bird's toys check out
Cleaning Your Bird's Cage, Toys and
Accessories.
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Maintain your bird's nails and beak to minimize the potential for
entrapment. For further guidance regarding grooming check
out our articles Beak Bytes
and
Nail Nibbles.
Rest assured
that AvianEnrichment.com only carries toys from
established, knowledgeable and respected companies with a dedication to
manufacturing the safest products possible.
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