What is safe?

[Freespin]

I am getting really inspired to start making my own toys for the boys (between the cost of buying them and all of the amazing ideas on here). Issue i am having is the more i read the more i worry about what is safe to use. I see some cool stuff out and about but i am always worried it wont end well! I have seen a few sites people have posted on here but it doesnt seem like it would work out much cheaper for me to buy from USA and ship over (I am in New Zealand).

What are some things i can save around the house/farm that i can safely use for toys?

What are some things i can look out for at the shops that are safe and suitable?

I have an Eckie and have read artificial dyes in food can cause issues with plumage, am i ok to use food coloring to dye wood for him?

Thanks =D Any info/help is much appreciated =D

 

[MarciaLove]

dyes really arent good for birds if ingested but wont kill them i stay away from them and if i want to dye wood i use vegetable dye such as blueberries or beets. As for safe things woods that are safe are:
ACACIA - Silk Tree would be in this group
APPLE
AILANTHUS - Tree of Heaven
ALDER - white alder -
ALMOND
ARALIA - Fatsia japonica
ASH - Fraxinus
ASPEN - Populus
BAMBOO
BARBERRY- Berberis
BIRCH - see paragraph
BEECH - Fagus
BOIS D'ARC - horse apple tree
BOTTLE BRUSH
BUTTERFLY BUSH
CAMELLIA
CHERRY
CITRUS -
(lime, kumquat, grapefruit, orange, lemon)
CORK -
(not wood from cork oak, but cork)
CORN PLANTS
COTTONWOOD - Populus
CRABAPPLE - Malus
CRAPE MYRTLE -
(not the same as myrtle)
DATE
DOGWOOD - Cornus
DOUGLAS FIR - Pseudotsuga
DRACAENA
ELM - Ulmus
ESCALLONIA
EUCALYPTUS
FIG
FIR - genus Abies
GINKGO
GRAPE VINES
GRAPE PALM
GUAVA
HACKBERRY
HAWTHORN - Crataegus
HIBISCUS
HICKORY
IRONWOOD - apparently toxic leaves
JADE PLANT
KALANCHOE
LARCH - Larix
LILAC - Syringa
MADRONA / MADRONE - Arbutus
MAGNOLIA
MAPLE - Acer
MANZANITA - Arctostaphylos
MESQUITE - remove sharp parts
MIMOSA
MOUNTAIN ASH - Sorbus
MULBERRY - Morus
NANDINA -common name is heavenly bamboo
NORFOLK ISLAND PINE - Araucaria
NUT TREES - exclude chestnut
ORANGE - several sources lean toward safe
OREGON GRAPE - Mahonia
PALM
PAPAYA
PEAR
PECAN
PINE - Pinus:
PHOTINIA
POPLAR - Populus
***** WILLOW - Salix
RAPHIOLEPSIS - Indian Hawthorn
RIBBONWOOD
ROSE - Rosa
RUBBER PLANT - Ficus elastica - Weeping Fig in bad column
RUSSIAN OLIVE
SASSAFRAS
SILK TREE
SPIRAEA
SPRUCE - Picea
STAGHORN SUMAC
STRAWBERRY TREE - Arbutus like Madrone
SWEET GUM
SYCAMORE
THURLOW
TREE FERN
VIBURNUM
VINE MAPLE - Acer
WEEPING WILLOW - Salix
WIEGELA
YUCCA
and i really like using straws and plastic bottle tops for toys! baby toys are usually pretty good for something too i use whatever random things i can get

 

[Freespin]

Is plastic pretty safe in general?

 

[MarciaLove]

yes plastic is safe but not all things made of plastic are totally safe like some can get your birds toes, heads, or leg bands caught if the have bands but its fairly easy to tell if some plastic thingy can harm your bird.

 

[Freespin]

Thanks =D Silly Barry somehow managed to get a stick caught in his band one night, scared the hell out of me!!! No idea how he managed it the poor little burdy

 

[MomtoPercy]

In addition to what Marcia said regarding plastic - avoid the hard brittle type that your bird can break into sharp splinters.
It is relatively easy to determine what are "safe" toy making materials by doing a few online searches (and asking here ) but there are some proviso's that you must remember -
* Even the 'safest' toy can become unsafe if wear and tear occurs. Check your toys regularly for broken parts, frayed rope, etc.
* What may be safe for one bird may not be so for another. Each bird is unique and their individual play styles will determine what you can and cannot give them. And even that can change over time. My bird never touched the rope or string parts of toys and so I could make him toys using quite thin twine. However I noticed just yesterday that he's now starting to chew on ropes and trying to undo knots so I'm removing everything that used the thin twine before. Keep an eye out all the time, birds are so clever!

 

[Freespin]

In addition to what Marcia said regarding plastic - avoid the hard brittle type that your bird can break into sharp splinters.
It is relatively easy to determine what are "safe" toy making materials by doing a few online searches (and asking here ) but there are some proviso's that you must remember -
* Even the 'safest' toy can become unsafe if wear and tear occurs. Check your toys regularly for broken parts, frayed rope, etc.
* What may be safe for one bird may not be so for another. Each bird is unique and their individual play styles will determine what you can and cannot give them. And even that can change over time. My bird never touched the rope or string parts of toys and so I could make him toys using quite thin twine. However I noticed just yesterday that he's now starting to chew on ropes and trying to undo knots so I'm removing everything that used the thin twine before. Keep an eye out all the time, birds are so clever!

Thanks, Barry is easy because he wont even rip paper on his toys but Nelson is just a baby and though he is unco now i imagine he will become pretty rough on his toys as he gets older =D

 

[Freespin]

Oh i have read a lot about the use of Vet wrap (which i admit surprised me!), does it have to be the 3m variety or any brand of vet wrap?

 

[Kalidasa]

I noticed kalanchoe on that list as safe, and on every other list I've seen it's listed as toxic. Also the rubber plant, which is listed as toxic everywhere. Is it different if its the wood?

 

[pomonabill221]

I have a 3D printer that uses either ABS or PLA.
ABS is what Leggos are made of and I was thinking of making some toys for my guys.
ABS is also stronger than PLA and should hold up to chewing/gnawing, but I don't know if it is safe for birds.
I think that those bright colored rings that are sold as bird toys are made from nylon or ABS as well... haven't been able to get an answer about the plastic that is used though.
Anyone have any ideas about ABS/PLA?

 

[Carmalita]

when it comes to plastic my rule of thumb is if it's safe for infants, it's safe for my animals.

you can get all natural dyes and flavors at natural food stores or if you look at specialty cake decorating websites or natural food sites.

think "food safe", so popsicle sticks labeled food safe etc...

though toliet paper tubes have been a favourite in my house with both my pionus and rabbits. and the rabbits are 11 and 6!