Food Coloring?

[Kirsten]

So I've been toying around with this idea I got when I found a thing called a "Bird Kabob" which is just like a little pole with a thing you can screw on top and you can put wood blocks, food, etc. on it and then reuse the pole. So I bought a packet of popsicle sticks, some multi-colored beads Skittles likes, and some clothes-hanging clips (the wooden ones) and decided I would drill a hole in them and just slide them on.

Then I wondered if maybe I could color the wood pieces to make them more interesting. I thought about using food color, but I can't stop thinking that I've heard somewhere before that it's dangerous to give certain food coloring to birds. Does anyone know if that's true or what food coloring would be preferable to use if at all?

[marie83]

I haven't heard anything about food colouring being dangerous and I did quite a bit of research into it a year or so ago when I was thinking about making my own toys. I imagine that if your not actually colouring food and it is solely for toys then the amount ingested would be minimal anyway.
If the fact is usually artificial additives and stuff bothers you you can dye stuff using vegetable dyes but the colour will usually only be subtle.

[Grey_Moon]

As with anything artificial it *can* cause issues depending on the bird---not unlike people who have allergies to certain food dyes. However, if you notice a change just remove the coloring.

A bigger issue can be that the birds will eat the wood (some dyed toys are made with a flavored colorant) if colored. But if neither of these things is an issue than food dyes should be fine

[Bobioden]

Most craft stores sell packs of the large Popsicle sticks already colored. I got mine at Hobby Lobby. 75 for @2.99

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/store/item.a ... mId=158419

[Kirsten]

Most craft stores sell packs of the large Popsicle sticks already colored. I got mine at Hobby Lobby. 75 for @2.99

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/store/item.a ... mId=158419

Oooh! We have a Hobby Lobby very close by! I'll be sure to do that the next time I run out of popsicle sticks!

[ljeanne]

soak overnight in strong kool-aid mix without the sugar. fruity flavor and colorful wood.