Cheapest toy around

[Jackeet]

Is it just Jack that goes nuts with newspaper? He absolutely loves it! I line his cage with it and scrunch a ball up for him and he spends hours throwing it around. Such cheerful chirps coming out of him right now

I went to my local stationary store and bought some packing paper that has sort of a interesting texture, I thought this might be more exciting for him than newspaper. But so far has showed no interest, still plays for the newspaper.

I read online that newspaper ink can make a bird sick, but my local vet says it should be fine. Does anyone know about this?

 

[Owlet]

I don't know anything about newspaper but I do know that shredding newspaper can increase hormonal / nesting problems. Especially in females. Is jack DNA'd?

 

[ChristaNL]

Ink (here) is now soybased so very safe, it is no longer the stuff that got your fingers all black after reading the paper.

 

[Laurasea]

My bird love plastic bottle tops and bottles. You can give him paperback books to shred to. EllenD says she gives a book a day to her birds, mine take a couple of weeks to destroy one.

 

[SunnyGirl]

I don't know anything about newspaper but I do know that shredding newspaper can increase hormonal / nesting problems.

shredding wooden toys is ok though?

 

[noodles123]

Shredding toys and paper can increase hormonal behaviors...just depends on the bird. Shred toys in moderation can be okay, but many people take them away in the spring etc. It just depends on the bird.

 

[mgarvie]

Being a newspaper pressman for thirty plus years I can tell you that soy based newspaper ink is toxic. The soybean part, 60%, is just fine and is edible. The other 40% are the same toxic chemicals that the old oil based ink used to have.

That being said, I still use folded up newspapers weaved through the cage bars for shredding and to wrap foraging treats for my Amazon.

 

[Jackeet]

I am awaiting for his/her DNA results. The previous owner names him/her Jack, but may very well be a Jackie. When i've hear back I'll let you know.

In terms of lining the bottom of the cage, i've been using newspaper - is there an alternative? I change it daily as you can imagine it gets pretty mucky

 

[noodles123]

I have lined my cage bottom (the part below the metal grate) with plain white paper towels. I have also used big rolls of non-shiny poster paper and packing paper.



Honestly, the paper towels have been my favorite. Just make sure you don't get the ones with added scrubbing fibers or soaps...Just regular towels (I always get white, just because I figure the dyes are unnecessary).


I am speaking in past-tense because Noodles found a way to fish the towels up through the grate and was shredding them. She became kind of broody acting, so we are taking a break from any liners at the moment.

 

[Jackeet]

Thats actually a really good idea, i never thought of paper towels. Jack does the same, fishes the newspaper through the grates and goes on a shredding spree