Tips

Rusty Chain

When cleaning your bird toys that have metal chain make sure to dry the chain as well as you can.

If the metal is rusty, they will eat the rust. This is very toxic to birds 

Please check for rust often and replace the chain if you can, if not replace the whole toy.

Safe metals for bird toys:

• stainless steel
• nickel plated
• aluminum (it will corode over time but unlike rust it is non-toxic to birds)
• Steel and iron are safe metals, but they will rust fast when introduced to water.(not recommended)

Basic First Aid Kit For Birds

• Towel - for wrapping and securing your bird
• Scissors - for cutting tape, bandages, strings etc
• Quik-stop and/or Styptic Pencil (silver nitrate stick) - to stop bleeding
• Hemostats and tweezers - for removing broken blood feathers
• Plyers, needle nose - for pulling blood feathers or unbending chains
• Wire cutters - birds are known to wrap themselves in chain and/or wire.
• Gauze pads - for covering wounds, burns
• Cotton balls - for cleansing 
• Q-tips - for cleaning out small wounds
• Vet wrap (cut into strips and rolled) - for wrapping broken bones, wings, or binding gauze pads to wounds. 
• Micropore tape (paper surgical tape) - for holding gauze in place 
• Penlight or small flashlight (A head-mounted light is even better.)
• Magnifying glasses - a pair of magnifying glasses can come in handy for anyone trying to do detail work.
• Sterile water - for flushing wounds or mixing with food
•  Pedialyte (or generic equivalent) - for rehydrating a dehydrated bird. Can be mixed with food.
•  Betadyne or hibitane (chlorhexidine) - as non-irritating disinfectant. Avoid hydrogen peroxide which is caustic to skin
• Aloe Vera - for very minor burns. Many creams and lotions made for humans are toxic to birds, so make sure that you get 100% pure Aloe Vera
• Hand wipes for personal cleanup

Choosing Your Bird Toys

Compliments of Wyld's Wingdom 

Just like every child needs toys, so do birds!

Toys aren't just a fun extra for their bird, but are an essential part of creating a healthy environment for their bird. Toys are especially vital for birds whose owners who spend time away from home working or with busy schedules. Toys provide relief from boredom, important exercise and the stimulation needed to prevent certain behavioral and health problems.

Take into consideration what various toys have to offer, and make a variety of toys available to their bird.

Toys can offer sounds and colors, as well as textures that stimulate the mouth and feet.

Think of the difference between smooth, brightly colored plastic and a tough rope or wood blocks on a jingly metal chain.

Various sized toys are appropriate for different types of birds, designed to withstand chewing and manipulation of larger or smaller birds.

Birds love to chew and pull things apart, so toys should be checked frequently for signs of wear or for missing pieces.

Toys also offer different degrees of puzzles or challenges.

Birds are intelligent and curious creatures and love mastering a variety of skills when playing with their toys.

Treat toys allow birds to work for their food, much as they would in the wild.

Once you have tried a number of different types of toys, you will start to get a feel for what your individual bird really enjoys.

Most Common Foods That Are Toxic To Birds

• Avocado
• Caffeine
• Chocolate
• Alcohol
• Salt
• Fat
• Fruit pit and apple seeds
• Onions
• Garlic
• Mushrooms
• Xylitol - Commonly used as an artificial sweetener in gum