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Hi all. We bought a toy at the pet store that is a tube with tightly wound paper on it. This is the first toy this cockatiel we're bird-sitting has actually taken interest in, but I want to be totally sure it's safe. The paper is dyed - I assume it's non-toxic if it's specifically for birds...? Does anyone give their birds these toys?

Also, she really does appear to be eating the paper. Is that possible?? She absolutely loves chewing it.

We're thrilled she's actually interested in this thing!!

Does she leave bits of torn up paper all over the place or is it all disappearing? Raisin likes to nibble at pieces of paper on my desk, but leaves the bits of paper all over, so I know she's not eating it or at least not all of it! I do worry about this though, so I would like to hear what anyone else has to say too! I don't have any paper toys for her yet, but I would love to get her some.

She doesn't leave paper behind, so we know she's eating it. She really seems to love it, but eating paper can't be good...? I'm limiting her time with it until I find out for sure whether it's bad or not.

I wonder if she's lacking something? I bought some pellets today (she's been on a budgie seed diet for 16 years) and she seemed to like them crushed up, so maybe that'll help if she is deficient.

I think you are definitely doing the right thing by keeping an eye on her and limiting the paper toy. I finally found a decent article (or question and answer) regarding paper ingestion. While it doesn't seem that paper ingestion is a big problem among pet birds, there are some things to be concerned about:

http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-diet-an ... stion.aspx

Its a pity if you have to take this toy away from her though. I wonder if there is a way you could wean her from this behavior while still enjoying the toy and just shredding it. I hope your dietary ideas help. But I would keep trying other toys too. Perhaps other toys that she will enjoy chewing, but can't take apart.