different ropes for toys

[djdancer]

Can anyone tell me the different kinds of ropes and strings I can use to make bird toys? Also where do you all buy them from? I bought a 3/4 inch cotton rope at the hardware store but don't know what else they are all made from to string toys and such. I look at sisal at the hardware store but don't know if it's safe for conures.

 

[clofromco]

I use cotton of all sizes. Also paracord.

 

[Betrisher]

There is a risk associated with cotton rope because many birds will chew and shred it, making long fibres that can get wound tightly around legs and toes. There's also the risk of ingestion and the formation of an intestinal obstruction from a ball of cotton fibres. Having said this, though, my birds basically ignore cotton rope and so I use it. The risk is there, though.

Sisal is generally thought to be safe because the fibres are short and easily broken. I use all sizes from sisal string for making toys right up to the 1" thick rope for stringing across my cages as a nice swingy perch. If you check on YouTube, it's easy enough to learn how to make an eye-splice (ie. put an indestructible loop on the end of your rope/string) - this opens up many possibilities.

There's another kind of rope called paulie/polly/poly rope which is often sold at petshops and bird-toy suppliers. It's a synthetic rope which doesn't have fibres and is supposedly safe to use. I don't like it because it's too stiff and abrasive to work with and my Beaks can easily chew through it in one go. Other kinds of nylon rope are probably not going to be safe because of the ingestion hazard. In fact, anything with fibres or plies that can be dislodged by an inquisitive bird is probably a bit suss.

 

[Roanoke]

Aside from cotton and sisal, there's hemp, vegetable-tanned leather lacing and paper rope. You should do some research, there's surely some types that I've never heard of!
Although I love paracord, I wouldn't suggest it for use in toys.

Try Amazon, you can buy anything there!

 

[djdancer]

When you buy bird toys from the store what kind of material do they use to make them? Also just bought 6 feet of cotton rope to make something for them to climb on from place to place. Now I don't know if I should use it. Is there a better alternative?