Choosing The Right Wood For Bird Toys
Safe Wood For Bird Toys
Safe and Unsafe Wood For Bird Toy Construction
Birds must be allowed to chew, this is their nature. Wood is an excellent material for the bird to satisfy their natural urge to chew. As a pet bird owner, you need to understand wooden bird toys are meant to be destroyed. Some become frustrated by the destructive nature of the parrot. As I mentioned, chewing is a natural instinct of parrots and is vital to their mental and physical health. It is therefore extremely important you provide your pet bird with ample wooden chew toys.
In this article I will cover woods that are safe for making bird toys. This article will also help you when it comes to choosing a safe bird toy as far as the wood goes. Many woods are not safe for birds to chew on. I'll cover unsafe woods for bird toy construction in this article as well. This is not a complete list but it will surely help you you choose the proper bird toys for your pet bird.
List of Safe Wood
- Pine
- Balsa
- Birch
- Basswood
- Poplar
- Maple
- Walnut
- Ash
- Apple
- Elm
- Cactus(cholla)
- Manzanita (excellent for perches)
List of Unsafe Wood
- Cedar
- Red Cherry
- Plywood
- Particle Board
- Oak
- Never use treated wood (death of the bird would be certain if you use treated lumber)
Avoid using natural branches from outside, could be contaminated. Avoid flavored woods. Most of the flavorings are unhealthy for birds. Sugar used in the flavorings can also promote bacterial growth.
This is just a short list of woods. I'll be listing more articles like this. Your comments are encouraged, leave a comment if you know of some wood to add to the safe or the unsafe list and I'll put them in this article with a credit to you.