Rope Perches & Toys

[kaylayuh]

I was reading about the dangers of rope perches and toys in parrot cages and was wondering how many of us use them and how many of us find them to be dangerous for our birds.

I use rope perches and toys in both of my cages. I never really considered the dangers of rope perches, but I have always made a habit of checking for loose threads.

[rebeccaturpeinen]

Joey loves her rope perches and toys so I wouldnt wanna be without them but like with any other toy I check them often. Every two weeks I take all of his toys out and check and clean everything and put new toys in.

[CheekyandMalolo]

Both our cages have a rope ring swing in it that all our birds love, but I check it often for loose threads. We came home from church one day to find our old GCC with her foot stuck in cotton, not hurt, just stuck and a little panicked.
I read something on a blog the other day (I have a feeling the blogger comes on here) about rope toys/perches that have the wire put through the middle of the rope is a lot more dangerous than toys/perches that have had the rope wound around the wire, as the rope is generally tighter wound and less likely to fray.

[Natacha]

I have rope perches and swings, but no toys with lengthy pieces of cotton just dangling there.

I do monitor those perches/swings each day though for fray pieces. Given that the cotton rope in those scenario is nice and tucked in and that my guys don't chew on them, I don't see any immediate reason to take them out.

However, cotton in toys, specially if it's just hanging there to be chewed I find dangerous and have read one too many horror stories of parrot deaths because of it that I will not have it in my cages.

[kaylayuh]

However, cotton in toys, specially if it's just hanging there to be chewed I find dangerous and have read one too many horror stories of parrot deaths because of it that I will not have it in my cages.

I actually do have a couple of the cotton rope toys with loose hanging threads and never really thought about it before reading about a bird injesting them and dying as a result. My birds focus on the knots and wooden bobbles on the ropes and hardly ever touch the ends unless they're moving it around, but now I think I'm a bit paranoid!

[Natacha]

However, cotton in toys, specially if it's just hanging there to be chewed I find dangerous and have read one too many horror stories of parrot deaths because of it that I will not have it in my cages.

I actually do have a couple of the cotton rope toys with loose hanging threads and never really thought about it before reading about a bird injesting them and dying as a result. My birds focus on the knots and wooden bobbles on the ropes and hardly ever touch the ends unless they're moving it around, but now I think I'm a bit paranoid!

Just recently I read of a bird dying being tangled in a toy with long strands of cotton rope.
It's just not worth the risk IMO.

[Nevermore]

Rope toys can be dangerous if you're not careful. I know of a cockatiel that 'tried' to hang himself off an octopus toy. It was a plastic umbrella-shaped top with yawn hanging down as tentacles.

[TheNzJessie]

both my birds have 1 rope perch each all other perches are ti tree wood which does a great job at keeping their nails short

there are dangers with them but like anything you give your bird you have to monitor it. you honestly have to think of your bird as a 2 year old child.