Bird Toy Safety

The safety of your companion bird is your responsibility. Parrots are playful, inquisitive and mischievous and require your constant guardianship to keep them safe. Practicing toy safety is only one of your important roles when it comes to your bird. By performing the following recommendations you will go a long way towards maintaining a safe environment for your bird:

• Purchase toys that are appropriate for your bird's size and activity level. Too large rings can be places where heads can get stuck, too small components can be easily broken and the pieces swallowed (See: Choosing the Right Toy).

  *Check toys daily for frayed rope in which your bird could get entangled. Trim back the frays, replace the rope or replace the toy.

• To be extra safe always supervise your bird while playing with his toys. This is especially important when new toys are introduced; watch your bird until you are sure he is interacting safely with his new toy.

• The purpose of a toy is to be destroyed; destroyed toys should be replaced entirely or replace damaged components individually as needed.

  *Check for loose parts on toys continuously.

• Check for broken, sharp or otherwise dangerous parts continuously.

  *Make sure your birds perches are tight and affixed.

• If your bird likes to soak his toys, realize this can promote bacterial growth. Discard toy or thoroughly clean and dry completely.

• When hanging toys always make sure they are hung close to the surface from which they are hung. This is done to prevent there being enough rope or chain in which your bird can become entangled and even hang itself.

• Continuously monitor toys as components are chewed to keep an eye on the length of rope or chain which may begin to lengthen.

• Don't overcrowd your bird's cage with toys; 6-8 different types will suffice depending on cage size.

Please remember no toy is 100% safe. Always supervise your bird with a new toy. Please read our article on toy materials and components to make sure you are not unwittingly adding dangerous items to your bird's environment (See: Toy Safe/Unsafe Materials)