magazine paper safe to use in toys?

[henry0reilly]

We got really tired of Baby and Mad Max tearing up $20 toys in a day or two. The man at Bird Fever tried to sell me some $32 toys of the same type but larger and supposedly harder wood.

What I brought home was plastic chain like toys that you can stuff with things like paper bagels or newspaper.

We need our newspaper for the bottom of the cages but have plenty of slick advertisement paper. Is this safe to use or would the ink be bad for the birds?

 

[SailBoat]

As the percentage of ink coverage increases the ability to use it for a Parrot to turn into tiny pieces decreases. The more shiny the ink the quicker that print goes into the trash.

We have family and friends collecting newspaper for us along with what we normally get. I strongly recommend that you do the same. Most people like to be able to see 'real' world recycling!

 

[Owlet]

a rescue I work at uses phone books with some of the larger birds.

 

[Billdore]

I get plenty of newspapers from my folks but we have some free newspapers around here you could grab some of those if any are available.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Have you seen this? http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-toys/282-cheap-parrot-toys.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/do-yourself/

Being positive it is fantastic that your birds are busy and active, albeit a little expensive on the wallet. My 'too has toys in his cage for years :-(

Have you tried making your own or replacing parts that have literally bitten the dust?

There have been many threads on here re making your own.

Some interactive baby's toys may help keep them amused. Obviously they need close scrutiny before purchasing.

 

[Puck]

As another alternative, if you know anyone with a drill press and a table saw, you might be able to pay them something like $30 to make you a TON of blocks you can turn into toys. Yesterday my father and I made over two hundred blocks from untreated pine that he had laying around. We cut them in various shapes and sizes to string together for toys and it took us less than three hours to do it all. I worked the drill press, he cut, then we both sanded areas with splinters or extreme roughness. They will last a LONG time and were a breeze to make.

All my newspaper toys I just make from the free newpapers (aka newspaper ads) you can get at donut shops and gas stations.

 

[henry0reilly]

Everybody seems to be implying that slick colored ad paper is ok but isn't saying it outright ? ? ?

 

[Puck]

I think it probably depends on the ad/magazine and what they use to gloss the page as well as what they use in the ink, hence people not having a straight answer. Newspaper and phone books are all generally made the same while ads can vary. Sometimes the glossy coating of magazines like Vogue are plastic based. There's risk there, but I don't know how high versus minimal it is.