thank you for your response friend2parrots. It is very resourceful.
hmmmm cleaning and binding agents. Good criteria question when inquiring about products like from hobby lobby, etc: "These are more criteria to add to our list. What artificial cleaning and binding agents are used if any?"
more good criteria to look for regarding rope - (stringing materials as such).
Now here's another question for you. You had said to always look for rope materials that specifically say "untreated" or "organic". So, if it does say untreated, would that mean that artificial cleaning and binding agents were not used?
It is also interesting to note that these cords of rope in hobby lobby look the same as the ones I'd ordered from that herman's bird toy parts store on ebay, only without any labels. He also has a parrot, and says his ropes are 100% natural, UNoiled, and safe. That 1/4 inch thick sisal rope I'd ordered from him came with a little type of tear in the plastic packaging, where it looks like the label could've been taken out. It could appear, then, that these were purchased from hobby lobby or an arts and crafts store/place, then sold also on ebay.
Another good thing I found out from hobby lobby was that their customer service department said that if an item is in "children's crafts" section, it is going to be "non-toxic". I am also going to double check which section these ropes are in at the store and inquire, because they are very close to where the beads are in children's crafts, and they are also used for stringing materials for making keychains, jewelry for children, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, bookmarks, scrapbooks, memory albums, handmade cards, photo frames, etc. So this may very well be part of the children's crafts section which these ropes are also in. I just need to double check. And there's even hemp rope/cord in the same isle as the sisal and jute, just right across from it, on the other side of the isle.
And my next step will be to also email hobby lobby, to inquire specifically about the criteria of these ropes. They may turn out to be safe, and if so, we can buy them like this at arts and craft stores rather than pay shipping ordering online.
here is hobby lobby's link for the hemp:
http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/380 ... ll-756189/the hemp label in the store said 100% hemp, made in hungary.