Pet Safe wood (Parrot Chew Toys)

[IBMer]

I have a friend that has fallen upon hard times.    Parrot toys are very expensive to buy, and the birds love to destroy them.  It's just what large birds do to keep busy and happy.    I'd like to make her some toys with scraps from my scroll saw.   I plan to use food color since it's non-toxic.

My question, is...  What kind of wood to use?   Is regular, Non-treated pine safe for pets to chew up?  Especially Birds?    I used to buy such toys when I had pet parrots, but I never paid attention if the wood was Pine, or something even softer..   Appreciate any suggestions.


John

[dgman]

Hey John, any North American wood should be ok. Don't use plywood as it will contain glues and resins. Pine would be perfect.

[ToverT]

John,
Parrots love Manzanita wood.  They use it for Bird perches and also in aquariums, since it's non toxic.  It's a real narly wood, and very very hard, (thats why they use it for Parrots).  You might be able to scroll some toy figures out of it.  Here is a link with some info on it.

http://firewoodresource.com/wood-products/manzanita-wood/

Tommy T

[IBMer]

I'm thinking Pine is probably safe too.

@ Tommy, Looks like the Manzanita wood is better for perches.  It says that it's impossible for them to chew up.  Usually bird toys are soft so that they can easily chew them up.   Parrots seem to thrive on destroying toys. 

[Scroll Down]

We have an Umbrella Cockatoo..aka feathered wood chipper..

I just cut 2x4 pine into squares and triangles, spade bit a hole in the center, in season separate them with pine cones, then hang on a chain (old dog choker collar)  with a swivel (old key chain) from different parts of his cage. Wrap the chain in a loop or around the bottom chunk to make a straight hanging toy.

Haven't been told no yet when asking if I could collect pine cones from peoples yards or from the roadside. Most construction sites have lots of free pine cut offs for the asking, just don't grab anything treated.

You can also just twist the pine cones in between the cage bars at various spots to keep them busy.

Bird loves it, and the pine keeps the bottom of the cage smelling fresh.

Large sections of natural rope work in a pinch instead of chain.

Had to do something, he had run out of couch to chew on..

Good Luck, things will get better.

[BilltheDiver]

Maple should also be safe, and is quite hard.  Might last longer.  Whatever you do, don't use walnut.  Not sure about birds, but the sawdust and shavings are toxic to many animals.

[Scroll Down]

Don't want to give them anything too hard. It builds the muscles that work the beak and they do bite sometimes.

Watching mine shred a 2x4 is scary. Gave him an old broomstick once and he bit thru it like butter.

[king310]

Sounds like I would be better off with a deranged Malinois. I wounder why you are asking about a PET SAFE toy. What about a safe pet?

[IBMer]

@ king310,  You have a Malinois?     Me too.   Female, about a year old.     A breeder brought her to Raleigh from Wilmington to show her to a police department.   They decided on a different dog.   The seller called me back, said he'd take 200 rather than drive 3 hours back home empty handed.   Talk about a dog with too much energy.  I bought her to keep my Doberman company, and help her to burn up some energy.   Turns out that the Belgian runs rings around the Doberman.   You can tell she's a working breed dog.  When I ask her if she wants to go outside, she runs upstairs, grabs the doberman and forces her to go out as well.   We know who the boss is.

John

[king310]

No! wish I did. We used them on PD and at the prison.