Safe natural materials for birds

[Lia and Sky]

Ive seen lots of toys in petstores that hve been made for small animals and birds. They use alot of natural materials like loofa, seagrass, sisal, corn husk and things, just wanted to be sure that these are safe and are there any materials that I should avoid. Thanks

[Pajarita]

All of those are fine. I don't like the toys with chains, bells or cloth material that shreds. But then, my birds hardly ever get a commercial toy...

[Navre]

I bought a potted, Norfolk Island Pine yesterday. I know that they are on the safe list for birds, but I'm wondering if there might be something dangerous on the plant. Pesticides, or something.

The plan was to let my GCC climb around on the tree, but now I'm not sure.

The plant was grown at Costa Farms in Goulds FL. Maybe I'll contact them.

[Wolf]

Good idea!

[liz]

One of the things I have found is corn husk. When I peel the husk off a cob, I leave it in one piece. I then take the first layer of husk off and rinse the rest real good. Lifting and twisting the layers before they dry will keep them fluffed. They thought that was wonderful. While ripping it apart they even played tug of war.

[Pajarita]

I bought a potted, Norfolk Island Pine yesterday. I know that they are on the safe list for birds, but I'm wondering if there might be something dangerous on the plant. Pesticides, or something.

The plan was to let my GCC climb around on the tree, but now I'm not sure.

The plant was grown at Costa Farms in Goulds FL. Maybe I'll contact them.

If it was grown for a Christmas tree, it would have nothing on it - but, if it was grown as ornamental, it most likely does.

[Navre]

I bought a potted, Norfolk Island Pine yesterday. I know that they are on the safe list for birds, but I'm wondering if there might be something dangerous on the plant. Pesticides, or something.

The plan was to let my GCC climb around on the tree, but now I'm not sure.

The plant was grown at Costa Farms in Goulds FL. Maybe I'll contact them.

If it was grown for a Christmas tree, it would have nothing on it - but, if it was grown as ornamental, it most likely does.

It was sold as a Christmas tree, but the website of the grower warns that Norfolk Pines are poisonous to both humans and animals. I was sure that Norfolks were on the list of safe plants for birds. I'll have to look into it more.

[Wolf]

Norfolk Pine is on the safe for birds list.

[Pajarita]

It is toxic to dogs and cats (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, etc), I don't know about birds but my motto is "when in doubt, don't'" so I would not use it in the birdroom, just in case. Sometimes, they list a species as non-toxic to birds but it only means species like passerines or corvids which don't chew on wood, branches or needle-like leaves - but parrots would. Why don't you try a fir? They are perfectly safe so that's what I get for Christmas and, when I take the ornaments down, I put it in the birdroom.

[liz]

Don't put a Christmas cactus in the bird room. Charlene had cactus on her beak, then I found a paddle missing. She was special and she knew it. She found as much to get into as these Amazons do.