Shelby play with wood block :)

[mari89]

My honey, Shelby!

 

 

[birdhouse]

:o:o Sorry...!Sorry...!Sorry!...!Sorry...!:eek: But I've got to ask....

 

Were those specifically labelled bird safe? I can't remember the last time I saw a bird safe wood that was colored w/anything but veggie dye & they aren't shiny.

[mari89]

wooden blocks were marketed as toys for children. Non-toxic. So should not be toxic to parrots ... I hope

[birdhouse]

Unfortunately, that isn't necessarily a given. Like one of the potential chemical fillers in latex paint can be zinc. A necessary trace element for humans & toxic for fids. It's a heavy metal that builds up over time in their systems because they can't process it.

 

Even trace elements of lead & arsenic are government approved in small doses for humans. Rice, for instance, naturally has arsenic in it. Near as I can guess, the safest rule of thumb is to limit toys that fids could eat, like painted wood, to the things that are specifically bird safe because they don't have the same metabolism & they're so much smaller.

 

Another problem w/using human safe guidelines for fids is the VOCs (volatile organic chemicals). Until they're dry & cured, some paints, varnishes, resins, glues & other things give off vapors which can be carcinogenic. Some are listed as being safe for humans after a recommended curing period, but may never stop giving off vapors even then. If you google "VOCs & parrots" you'll find some discussions that suggest that because a bird's respiratory system is so much more sensitive than ours, those vapors continue to be a threat for them.

 

Again, really sorry. I hated to be a buzz kill because Shelby really does look adorable & happy. But this might be one of those times where it's just better to be safe than sorry.

Edited November 29, 2013 by birdhouse