Warning: Big scare with Archie just now!

Ira7

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Just yesterday, I got him a new ā€œeat woodā€ toy, but since there were some chunks left on the old one, I left it in there.

Well, I donā€™t know if it was the initial length of the chain...or if because he had chewed off so many of the wood pieces...that the exposed chain now got significantly longer, and it wrapped around his foot and he was stuck!

First, I couldnā€™t immediately unscrew the damn screw thingy attaching it to the top of the cage, so that was lesson number one. Iā€™m now either going to leave them open and let gravity hold them in place, or think of a quick release mod to do on these things.

Next, Iā€™m going to be very aware of chain lengths and how I hang them when buying new, and carefully monitor the length as he chews away. This one wasnā€™t even that LONG, but it was obviously long enough. I think like an inch or two is all you want!

Thank God I was sitting right next to him when this happened, and although my heart is still pounding, heā€™s chattering away and doing just fine now.
 
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noodles123

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SCARY! Noodles got her toe stuck in her cage top when I was driving home one night and I floored it when I got that call. I was terrified.

It's a balancing act between finding stainless that is thick enough to withstand beaking, and small enough not to allow toes to enter the loops.

Or do you mean it formed a loop around his ankle?
 
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Ira7

Ira7

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SCARY! Noodles got her toe stuck in her cage top when I was driving home one night and I floored it when I got that call. I was terrified.

It's a balancing act between finding stainless that is thick enough to withstand beaking, and small enough not to allow toes to enter the loops.

Or do you mean it formed a loop around his ankle?
A loop around the ankle!
 

texsize

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I had my wild caught Orange wing get his beak stuck in a toy once.
I sustained some nasty bites getting him unstuck.

Even toys you think are safe can cause serious problems.
That's why I don't like to leave the house empty (of humans) even to go out for a sit down dinner.

Glad you were right there to help out.
 

LaManuka

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Man thatā€™s scary, Iā€™m so glad Archie is ok!

You have to think at least three steps ahead with the sorts of toys you buy donā€™t you?! There are so many that I bypass now that have components made of mystery metal, or where I think ā€œnope, I can see a claw/foot/head getting stuck in there!ā€

I had a very accident prone budgie once got his claw caught in the threads of a rope perch (havenā€™t bought one since) and almost hung himself from a different toy that I had to cut him out of.

Soooo lucky you were there to rescue Archie, I hope you didnā€™t get bit too much!
 
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Ira7

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Man thatā€™s scary, Iā€™m so glad Archie is ok!

You have to think at least three steps ahead with the sorts of toys you buy donā€™t you?! There are so many that I bypass now that have components made of mystery metal, or where I think ā€œnope, I can see a claw/foot/head getting stuck in there!ā€

I had a very accident prone budgie once got his claw caught in the threads of a rope perch (havenā€™t bought one since) and almost hung himself from a different toy that I had to cut him out of.

Soooo lucky you were there to rescue Archie, I hope you didnā€™t get bit too much!

Not bit at all, but sheesh!!! It really changed my thinking.

Iā€™m considering modifying these toys in the future to no chain at all...maybe replacing with a different cord material...or altering the exposed chain length to as close to zero as possible.

And after hearing your budgie story, good idea for me to keep a strong scissor right next to the cage if thereā€™s any rope material in there.
 
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Laurasea

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Thanks for spreading the word! So glad you were there!
 
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Ira7

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Thanks for spreading the word! So glad you were there!

After all the reading and study Iā€™ve done in preparation for and after getting Archie...plus past experience...chain length was something I never thought about, only link size so it wouldnā€™t snag any toes.

And I sure never made any connection between how ā€œconsumedā€ wood blocks mean longer length over time!
 

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Chain links should be checked periodically for gaps in the links. Best is links that are welded closed, links that are only squeezed closed can have the link open up from strong beaks, and then allow the sharp edge of the beak to enter and potentially get stuck on the beak. This actualy happened to our Salty a few years ago, and luckily i was home to rescue him. Now we save the chains that have fused or welded links, so we can replace the chains on toys with open links.

Any time we introduce a new type toy or other feeding or entertainment item, we try to anticipate what Salty might do to it. If it might happen, you can almost guarentee it will happen.
 
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Ira7

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Chain links should be checked periodically for gaps in the links. Best is links that are welded closed, links that are only squeezed closed can have the link open up from strong beaks, and then allow the sharp edge of the beak to enter and potentially get stuck on the beak. This actualy happened to our Salty a few years ago, and luckily i was home to rescue him. Now we save the chains that have fused or welded links, so we can replace the chains on toys with open links.

Any time we introduce a new type toy or other feeding or entertainment item, we try to anticipate what Salty might do to it. If it might happen, you can almost guarentee it will happen.

Good advice! Thanks!

But I would think that even cheap chains could LOOK like theyā€™re welded, but how the heck can they be welded and I would know for sure? Iā€™m no steelworker, and itā€™s often cheap stuff made God knows where and how.

I guess the point is to check these things every day, because looking at his new toy now, the chain seems like total crap, but LOOKS welded.
 

noodles123

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It's sad that they can get tangled in things pretty easily-- that is one of the reasons I don't have cotton rope toys in my bird's cage when I can't keep an eye on her. Many birds are also tangled/killed by those dreaded "happy huts".
 

Flboy

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Scary! It wouldnā€™t be a good move to leave the clasps open! It can end up running through a birdā€™s beak! That experience was my first time handling a parrot! Take a look at the heavy plastic chain sold by the foot at Loweā€™s/Hdepo, I use the links for hanging things. If you walk by the storeā€™s setup, most likely, you will find discarded links!
 
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Ira7

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Scary! It wouldnā€™t be a good move to leave the clasps open! It can end up running through a birdā€™s beak! That experience was my first time handling a parrot! Take a look at the heavy plastic chain sold by the foot at Loweā€™s/Hdepo, I use the links for hanging things. If you walk by the storeā€™s setup, most likely, you will find discarded links!

Itā€™s solid plastic? Will do.

Last night, I cut the chain short on his new toy, and cut a piece off the closing clasp so you can pull it right up. You think thatā€™s a bigger danger than not being able to remove it?

Today, his pipe bell arrives!
 

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