Mophead Question(s)-used for bird toys-please give insight

[Maria]

This video link, where this lady is showing cheap parts etc which she uses to make parrot toys. When you get to the link, scroll to the time on the video: “8:42”, where she starts talking about “the mop”, and showing it. “mophead” is used to make bird toys, sold in parrot shops and pet stores/sections where the bird toys are. Although hers in the video has been colored blue, I’ve seen the regular white on bird toys. My question would be, how do we know mop head just bought from any store (walmart/grocery stores), would be not treated or sprayed with anything to make it last longer, etc. Can anyone please give insight as to researching bird safe mop head materials ? Could there be certain kinds which are “bird safe” which are set aside for the bird toy manufacturing/parts, which the bird toy manufacturers coordinate with the manufacturers of mop head to set aside and not treat, bug proof, insecticide, or spray or coat in any way ? Or can we go to any store and buy mop head and use it to make bird toys ? It comes across to me as a type of cotton roping of course. And of course if you look at bird toys, you are clearly able to tell which has the mophead and which has the “cotton rope”. They’re different. This also comes across to me as why terminology is out there: “mophead” in the bird toy world; I’ve heard it used in several places. It is great also for their preening needs, just like the cotton rope, sisal, jute, and leather strips.

She just says, “the mop”. As it’s coming across you can just use any mop head like you buy from walmart or the grocery store.

Here’s the link: scroll to the time on the video: “8:42” -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB4XD5TCGYQ

[marie83]

No idea if there are toys made for parrots under the name of "mophead" but ones from stores for domestic/commercial use are, as far as I know, always treated.

[Maria]

this is not something which is like "under the name of 'mophead'.

It's just that mop head material is being used to make these toys.

[marie83]

right well in that case claws will get stuck in it, possibly legs/toes getting knotted up in it causing injury and yea mopheads are generally treated. IMO they are not safe toys, even if you can find any that are untreated due to the type and length of the strands.

[Maria]

Very interesting response, Marie.

Lots of bird and parrot toys sold in parrot shops and pet stores have the mop head material in them.

Alot are being made with those plastic wiffle balls, with the mophead for the roping material, tying on the plastic animals like creatures.

The material they're using is what is clearly used to make mops. It looks similar to the cotton rope, with the strands twisted together. You can also clearly tell by seeing the tiny dark speckles, which is in the mophead type materials.

[marie83]

I judge every toy individually and I reject alot of them- mainly bells but theres other things like they type of material your talking about that I either won't use full stop or I will use only under supervision on their playstand, never in their cages.

The reason I am so strict with toys is because my peach fronted conure George died after an accident with a toy.

[Maria]

Let’s start investigating this people! There are three questions in my initial post which also need insight and feedback, so please post your insight/answers/thoughts to those questions! 

If you look at a fresh, clean, unused mophead, it is strands twisted together, just like cotton rope looking, similar looking. In the video, it looks like she untwisted hers, fanned it out a bit, etc., for preening as well. They also separate some of the strands on the mophead for this, to also encourage to preen on it. This is clear on the bird toys I’ve seen, already made, at parrot shops and pet stores.

Birds and ways article, mop head toy – this link:

http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww70e.htm

“Here is a sample of a home made cotton mop head toy. Buy 100% cotton mop head replacements at your grocery or Walmart. Remove any metal. Tie at the top for hanging. String parts to the strands of mop head. This type of cotton shreds easily. See Picture 2.”

This page also includes other ideas of great homemade toys.

Also, Marie? What do you think they might be treated with? And for what purposes?

Here is another article at birds and ways WHICH SAYS BE SURE TO CHECK THE LABELS AND GET ONE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN TREATED. - - - - hmmmm! Well THAT’S good information! So far the criteria we’re learning is 100% cotton, and information regarding treated or not information.

Here is the link for this one: http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww71e.htm

“Mops and Mop-like Toys
Real mops or toys in the shape of mopheads are objects which birds like to preen. The individual strands ressemble feathers and are an invitation to the bird to preen them, taking attention away from their own feathers and keeping the bird busy.
o Purchase a cotton mophead from your local supermarket. Be sure to check the labels and get one which has not been treated. Before using it, wash it to remove any contaminents or loose dust. You can hang the mophead in the cage as is (along the side and near a favorite perch is best). You can also put knots in some of the strands, (especially if your bird likes to undo knots) or tie small pieces of wood, leather or beads to the strands. Experiment to see what your bird prefers. The bird may also treat the mophead as another bird and choose to sleep next to it. “

Here is another great article, which SPECIFIES “they only purchase "cut end" mop heads (#24 "Cut End Mop" from Rubbermaid) to minimize the risk of Coco getting her feet caught or tangled.” MORE GREAT CRITERIA AND “LABELING” TO LOOK FOR.

Here’s the link for this article: http://www.avianweb.com/foragingtoys.html

• Mop Heads: Inexpensive mopheads can be converted into fun toys that particularly benefit feather plucking birds. For extra fun tie extra beads or nuts / seeds wrapped in paper into them.

This idea was submitted by Michael and Diane Rametta who were able to resolve their cockatoo Coco's plucking with inexpensive cotton mop heads that they hang on top of her cage and on her swing. They point out that they only purchase "cut end" mop heads (#24 "Cut End Mop" from Rubbermaid) to minimize the risk of Coco getting her feet caught or tangled.

So far I have found these articles by googling: “mophead for birds parrots”.

We can all continue reading from googling that, from the results list, and post what we find thus far.

[Maria]

Maria, I can certainly understand your views and for your reasons also.

[marie83]

Well tbh I have no idea what they are treated with but if they are treated it will be to improve durability, the way it absorbs stuff, repel insects and improve shelf life probably as that sort of stock isn't always rotated within shops/stores etc.
I have no evidence either way to help you out but I have worked with a variety of different makes of mophead both at work, college and within the home and they all smell chemically when new.

[Maria]

Here are photos of the mophead toy I purchased at the parrot shop with information about them, etc. I’d bought this toy again because my parrot loves it. I wanted to post the photos, so you could get clear picture of what I’m talking about. I see other toys made of mophead at the parrot shop as well.

FULL PICTURE OF TOY


CLOSE UP PHOTO OF MOPHEAD MATERIAL ON THE TOY


PRICE TAG FROM PARROT SHOP STUCK ONTO MANUFACTURER LABEL ON THE TOY (pic too large so some the parrot forum site has cut off, upon uploading from photo bucket. Don't know how to do the sizing for here; not cut off like this in photobucket. Price is $14.99)


Here is the link for that toy on the manufacturer’s website. (note mark up, therefore in parrot shop is approx $5.00; “$14.99”).

http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/hstria ... Detail.bok

Their description on the site of this toy link says "superior cotton rope", but it is mophead. Or mophead could be made of supreme cotton rope. It's soft as supreme cotton rope. Remember in my other post "Buy 100% cotton mop head replacements " - - - mophead made of cotton.

This toy is made with mophead, white plastic waffle ball (4 pack for 99 cents at 99 cent only store), and the Sea Life Animals, (the blow molded plastic ones, which remember you can pick up at U. S. Toy, a 36 pack for $1.95). Chain with O-Rings on each end, and quicklink/pearlink for hang. 4 mophead strings through each hole, with knotting sea life animals on to secure. Doing two holes at a time, with each group of 4 mophead strings, in two holes next to eachother, going all the way around the ball as such, with each row of holes on the ball.

(I am going to take top o-ring off, and string onto the top of this toy on top of the ball an imaginarium create and connect plastic ring from ToysRUs, and another large bead on top of that, to block parrot from chewing top of ball off the chain, so it doesn’t fall to bottom of cage before he gets use out of it, to avoid it falling in poo. He likes to chew the plastic of these balls from around the chain or stringing material, to watch the ball fall lol. I seen this blockage idea in another photo of a toy made with these balls. They used a “Mini Flexi-Builder” which you can get a set of those at U. S. Toy. They are basically the same design and shape as the connect and create rings, only without the ridges in the ball shaped parts, which I’ve seen both of these on parrot toys, ones with the ridges, and ones without.)

This toy by graham’s is “Item Number 2106” Manufacturer is Graham’s Parrot Toy Creations. Also, do the math, in how much less it would cost to buy these parts yourself making the toy yourself, etc. Even if you wanted to use cotton rope instead of mophead.

Bottom line though, mophead is clearly being used by manufacturers to make parrot toys, which are on the market and being sold. As you can see in the photos, 3 or 4 strands are twisted together, into one mophead string or cord thus similarly to cotton rope (we all know how mophead is twisted/put together this way). Then each strand is separated a bit and fluffed up at bit at the ends, to encourage preening, etc. It is a nice, soft, textured feeling mophead material, similar to the feel of supreme cotton rope.