TOYS:

I love to refer my birds' habitats as "fidsneyland" Corny? Maybe!...... But I offer them many varieties of toys to keep them motivated and even offer some foraging type feeders and hideouts for those hours they spend alone...Their psychological health is very important..you can not be with them every minute, even if you are home all day! They should have, and should learn, to spend time alone to entertain themselves! Toys are so important to reach this goal yet many are potentially dangerous and many have even proven deadly. There are thousands of toys to choose from...look for the following "problematic" items before you purchase:

• Long expanses of leather, chain, rope or wire with no beads or attachments - these can pose a hanging or strangulation danger.
• Sharp points, clips, crevices which can cause legs, toys, beaks to be trapped or punctured.
• Frayed ropes, tassels, anything covered with masses of threads can trap, strangle or be ingested.
• Chains, if not stainless steel can rust(toxic to birds); links should be large enough to allow feet and beaks to pass through freely without chance of entrapment.
• Bells, if not stainless steel will rust; clangers inside which are slivers of metal rather than rounded, heavy and firm, can be ingested or can cut tongues and beaks (copper bells oxidize and give off zinc! can be toxic long term).
• Pear shaped quick links (top has wider space than bottom) have killed birds by piercing their beaks if the bird gets them open or rust on the threads of the screw area cause them to open... they also may contain zinc. Buy stainless steel quick links which are sized for your species of bird or use leather strips to hang toys safely (again don't leave too much exposed leather stripping hanging anywhere in the cage). Key ring type hangers are also hazardous; there have been many reports of injuries to feet, toes, legs and beaks from these.
• If you offer your birds Happy Huts or other types of sleep/play tents, watch to be sure they are not ingesting the fabric. Fuzzy fabrics may invite chewing. There are matte type fabrics available in place of the terry cloth or velour types.
• Any toys you purchase should be checked for correct sizing. A toy with a hole in it should allow your bird to put his/her head, feet, legs completely through and back out or be too small for any part of its body to fit into. A Marbella bead sized for a finch could choke a Grey so if in doubt about size of bird toy is made for, please ask.
• Make sure colored wood and items are dyed with non-toxic vegetable dyes. Leather should be free of color (natural only) and odor. Colored leather may be chemically treated and many woods are chemically treated before being colored. Ask before you purchase. Many toy lines today will state right up front that they only use safe, non-toxic, untreated woods and leather.

Cuttlebones and mineral blocks, which hang with a metal clasp (usually included in box), are deadly. Please purchase newer cuttlebones, which offer a regular perch type bolt fastener. Twist ties BEHIND the mineral blocks are acceptable as long as you have it tied down tight enough that the bird will not reach it.

Watching the birds play with their toys have been some of my favorite moments and they appreciate the challenge in their lives..Don't skimp, give them many and enjoy the fun! Your bird will need a sturdy, safe play stand. There are hundreds available! See our links.

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