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There is this website that I alwyas buy Rosie stuff from www.parrotdiseperch.com and they have Apple Sticks there but the last time I placed an order they were sold out.

Well today I went to pets mart and was looking for the Healthy Toppings and the guy said that had moved them to the "small animal section" and he took me to where they have stuff for rabbits, hamsters, etc... Well they had some apple sticks and a few other kind of sticks there. I asked if they were ok for birds and he said "Well birds don't usually chew on stuff like this but they are safe for them" .. Well Rosie loves to chew and shred everything she can get her little beak on. All 3 of her playgyms that have wood on them have little bites out of the wood. So I was gonna buy her some but was afraid to because they said they were for gerbils, rabbits etc.. I am wondering if they would be safe? I just usually stay away from stuff if I don't feel in my heart that it is safe or if I have any type of question about it at all.. There were some other sticks that said they were all natural. I am thinking that it's best to just stay away from them but thought I would get some opinions..

What did the package say they're made of? Is the package air-tight?

I didn't read the ingrediants to be honest.. I just was looking to see if it mentioned anything about birds.. And the pkg was NOT airtight it just was in a plastic that was sealed..

Without knowing what the ingredients are, I don't think there's any way for any of us to know if they're safe for birds ...

I don't understand why something sealed in plastic isn't airtight, but it's not an issue unless you discover that the ingredients ARE safe for birds. Then you'd want to be certain the package is airtight to ensure the sticks haven't gotten contaminated by the bacteria in many Petsmarts, Petcos, Petlands, and and other stores with live birds for sale.

http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/v ... tores.aspx

Well I am glad that I didn't buy them.. That was stupid of me not to know the ingrediants before asking. Duh.. I know there is this edible perch that I have seen at both petsmart and petco that I want for Rosie BUT it is just screwed onto the cardboard that it comes in, it's not in plastic or anything to protect it from germs and all that nasty stuff so I haven't bought it. Usually I am ok because I bring everything home and wash it really well with hot water and oxyfresh but since this can be consumed as much as I think she would love it since shes a little shredding machine I don't buy it..

Thanks for your help

Rosies Mommy wrote:... Usually I am ok because I bring everything home and wash it really well with hot water and oxyfresh but since this can be consumed as much as I think she would love it since shes a little shredding machine I don't buy it...

If the things you've bought in the past were made of wood -- for the pleasure of your shredding machine -- even washing would not necessarily have made them safe unless they came in airtight packages. Wood and fabric (like rope perches, cozy tents, cage covers, etc) are porous and difficult, if not impossible, to clean if infected with certain dangerous bacteria that Oxyfresh doesn't kill. Best to simply buy from a place with less risk of contamination.

If the apple sticks were in airtight packaging and you're still interested, you could go back to see what's in them. Or maybe you can find them on-line and read there what they're made from. Goggle is a marvel!

Yeah I would probably buy them from that site that I posted above instead of pets mart.. Hmmm, I always thought we would be safe with just washing really well with oxyfresh and hot water .. I guess I have been really lucky then.. I like to order from catalogs but sometimes I wonder if there is still risk because for instance I bought a paper shredder thing from Dr Foster and Smith about a year ago and it was HUGE so Rosie never even got near it and a few months ago when I called to place an order I inquired about sending it back and they said "yeah no problem". Of course I never sent it back because I never get around to sending stuff back. But I would think that they sell their returns if they do not look used or old, yet I would assume that they come into contact with birds when they enter the home of a bird parent. I guess I should ask them about that, but I wonder if they would even tell the truth.. Sorry kinda just thinking out loud here.

Rosies Mommy wrote:... I would think that they sell their returns if they do not look used or old, yet I would assume that they come into contact with birds when they enter the home of a bird parent ...

You're absolutely right. This is exactly why most/many vendors will NOT take things back unless they've shipped the wrong thing, meaning the vendor's mistake. I order 'most everything except seed and pellets from Grey Feather Toys, which has a no-return policy for safety's sake. See their ad blinking up top (left side) of this page? Monica, who owns it, has been a member here on UAS for 10 years or so and is a VERY good bird person

When I have something like your too-large perch, I either give it to a friend who trusts my birds to be healthy or donate it to our local bird rescue organization. Birds are so picky about what they like to play with that almost every time bird friends come to visit me, they bring along a bagful of toys their birds don't like or have grown tired of. I see which my flock like and pass along the rest to others. No need to let them go to waste

Would you consider a cajeput perch for Rosie? It is a 'shredder" perch.I bought one for Button and she LOVED it. It kept her busy from picking at herself. The prch is now completely shredded and it is now a regular perch.
www.superbirdtoys.net

That would be cute yeah!! I am lost tho I can't find where to order stuff on that website. I found some cute toys that she would like. But I don't see prices or an order area, I will continue to look.. Thanks..

BB I have never went to that site either, I will check that out now too.. Thanks..

I am always looking for little toys that I can keep in her toybox because she is really not on/in her house ever, she spends more time playing in her toy box, on my desk, on the couch, on one of her playgyms etc... She likes to take her toys out of her toybox and carry them around or throw them out of her toybox and yell at them

Thanks ladies I will check out both those sites.. I need to get her Christmas presents ordered VERY soon.

Rosies Mommy wrote:That would be cute yeah!! ... I am always looking for little toys that I can keep in her toybox ... She likes to take her toys out of her toybox and carry them around or throw them out of her toybox and yell at them ... I need to get her Christmas presents ordered VERY soon.

To illustrate cajeput branches: http://www.greyfeathertoys.com/cgi-bin/quikstore.cgi And here are 6 pgs of cute foot toys: http://www.greyfeathertoys.com/cgi-bin/ ... base_talon

And dozens more at ParroToys.com: http://parrotoys.com/foot-toys.html The owner and chief birdie Santa is another decade-long UAS member who reads about our Rosie frequently, altho her toymaking duties keep her too busy for posting more than occasionally anymore.

Yep, you need to get those orders in!

Cool, thanks for the links.. I ordered my Baby a stocking filled with stuff, a few little toys for her toy box, a big shredder and a balsa candy cane for her house.. I can't wait to get her stuff.. I have her a fluffy pink stocking at home so hopefully the plastic one I get from this site will fit into her fluffy one.. I love the stocking idea, I am so glad you pointed out that site to me.

You guys are soooo lucky! The selection of bird toys here in Oz is pretty dismal for the most part. And the good stuff is very pricey!

I honestly wish that I could find stuff locally more often. I hate to sound like a cheap a$$ but paying between 10 & 20 dollars for shipping alone (depending on the size of your order) kills me. I always think of how I could have bought another toy or two with that money instead of paying for shipping with it. But oh well what can you do.. I am just so excited to get her stocking Hehe.