11 Unsafe Toys to Never Give a Parrotlet

Providing parrotlets with a stimulating environment is crucial for their mental and physical well-being. However, not all toys are suitable for these tiny parrots. With so many options to choose from, you need to be able to easily recognize the top unsafe toys to never give a parrotlet.

While we all want to believe that if a parrot toy is for sale, it’s safe, that’s simply not the case. Unfortunately, many manufacturers are in the market to mass-produce cheap toys for profit, without consideration of a parrot’s health or wellness. If a toy comes from China, please be sure you have done your research and trust the brand.

In this article, we’ll cover unsafe parrotlet toys including plastic pieces, sponges/foam, fabric, rubber, mirrors, bells, tents, nesting boxes, and more.

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What To Never Let Your Parrotlet Play With

Some of the toys in this list are up for debate, but at Arlobird, if there is a chance that it could cause physical, mental, or emotional harm, we simply avoid it. Besides, there are SOOO many safe toys to choose from that don’t contain any of the items listed below.

1. Plastic Beads/Elements

Plastic beads and other plastic elements may seem harmless, but they can pose a serious threat to parrotlets. While it may not be outwardly visible on a parrot toy, cheap plastic is often soft and/or brittle making it possible for a parrotlet to chew or chip the plastic into pieces. 

If ingested, plastic can lead to serious health issues, such as digestive blockages, penetrating wounds, poisoning, or choking. The bright colors and textures of plastic elements might grab your attention while shopping, but it’s crucial to prioritize your parrotlet’s safety over aesthetics.

2. Sponges/Foam

Sponges and foam are particularly hazardous and should never be offered as a toy for your parrotlet. The good news is, these materials aren’t often found in or on manufactured parrot toys. They can be found in the home and easily torn into small, ingestible pieces, often leading to choking or digestive problems/blockages. 

If choking and blockages aren’t bad enough, the chemicals used in the production of sponges and foam may be toxic to birds. 

While parrotlets don’t typically chew apart furniture like their larger parrot counterparts, if they do, make sure they do not access any foam from the cushions and repair your furniture promptly. Watching your parrotlet closely around bedding is also important as foam pillows are also becoming more and more popular.

3. Fabric

Does your parrotlet chew little holes in your clothing? They love to chew and bite fabric. While fabric may seem like a good addition to your parrotlet’s cage, it can quickly turn into a safety hazard. Parrotlets are notorious chewers, and fabric toys can unravel or tear easily. 

Ingesting threads or small bits of fabric can cause crop impaction or intestinal blockages, which can both be serious and potentially fatal.

4. Tents

While tents may seem like cozy hideaways for parrotlets, they present risks just like fabric. These should be included on your list of toys never to give a parrotlet. Parrotlets are expert chewers, and tents are often made from fabric that can be torn apart easily. Ingesting these materials can lead to the same dangers of fabric listed above.

There have been claims made that parrotlets can become aggressive and territorial when provided with tents. They serve as a similar environment as a nesting box…more on nesting boxes later.

5. Nesting Boxes

It’s hard to pass up a cute little nesting box to add to your parrotlet’s cage. They seem like a harmless place for your bird to explore, sleep, and hide. When not presented with a proper mate, nesting boxes may encourage hormonal surges and territorial behaviors. This can lead to aggression or excessive egg-laying in females. 

It’s essential to create an environment that discourages breeding behavior unless you are actively breeding your parrotlets under controlled conditions.

6. Rubber

Rubber toys, often marketed for birds in the form of foraging toys, should be approached with caution. Parrotlets may be drawn to the soft texture, but depending on the quality of rubber, it can be chewed into small pieces that pose a choking hazard.

Additionally, some rubber toys may contain harmful chemicals or dyes that can be toxic to birds if ingested.

7. Mirrors

Parrot owners originally started putting mirrors in their bird’s cages with the idea that they would keep them from becoming lonely. Parrotlets are highly social creatures and can, surprisingly, form strong bonds with their reflections. Over time, this can lead to behavioral issues and sexual frustration as the reflection (obviously) cannot interact with your bird. 

If you are spending enough quality time with your parrotlet and providing them with toys for stimulation, they will not get lonely. 

If you see a toy that you would really like to purchase for your parrotlet and it has a mirror on it, make sure that the mirror can be removed before purchasing.

8. Bells

Bells are a classic bird toy and can definitely be a source of entertainment. After all, parrotlets love to be loud! However, you need to know what to look for.

Being the inherently curious creatures they are, parrotlets may become fascinated with the small moving parts of bells. This can lead to accidental entrapment, choking, or other injury.  Parrotlet toes and beaks are tiny and can easily become caught in the small slits and openings of jingle bells. Jingle bells should always be avoided. 

Cow bells or liberty bells are the safest type of bell for parrotlets. Make sure the inside clapper cannot be chewed or removed by your bird. If swallowed, it may pose a choking danger.

Additionally, make sure you trust the brand that you’ve sourced the bell (or toy with the bell) from. Oftentimes, bells are soldered at a joint. Solder contains lead and other metals which can cause heavy metal poisoning in your parrotlet if ingested. If you notice soldered joints, include them in your roundup of toys never to give a parrotlet.

9. Painted or Stained Toys

Any parrot toy with paint or wood stain is a definite NO. With all of the chewing that parrotlets do, the surface will chip off and your bird will ultimately ingest little bits of the paint or varnish. Both of which are toxic to parrotlets. 

If the toys are not colored by water-based food dye or vegetable-based dyes, they are not safe.

10. Unwashed or Unsanitized Toys

The virus that causes PBFD (psittacine beak and feather disease) can survive on surfaces for months. It attacks fast-growing epithelial cells, commonly causing visibly abnormal formations of the beak and/or feather follicles. There is no current treatment for PBFD and it’s typically fatal.

While it’s rare for a parrotlet to get PBFD, it is possible. Washing/sanitizing new toys is a good habit to get into. It is essential that you clean and disinfect toys you bring home from a pet store or get from someone else with birds before letting your parrotlet play with them. 

Pet stores that carry parrot toys often sell a variety of parrots or provide grooming services allowing transmission to occur.

To sanitize bird toys, wash them in warm water and bake them in a preheated 250° oven until they are thoroughly dry.

11. Leather

Leather toys can be enriching and entertaining for parrotlets and are a great addition to your bird’s rotation of toys. However, if you offer toys made from leather be sure that the leather is vegetable tanned only. 

Tanning is a transformative process that turns animal hides into leather. While conventional tanning often involves the use of acidic chemicals, there’s an alternative known as vegetable tanning. This method utilizes tannins derived from plant sources. Steering clear of harmful chemicals typically present in traditional tanning processes makes it safe for parrotlets to chew.

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Conclusion of Toys Never to Give to a Parrotlet

Creating a safe and enriching environment for your parrotlet involves careful consideration of the toys you introduce to their cage. 

Plastic beads, sponges/foam, fabric, rubber, mirrors, bells, tents, etc. are all toys never to give a parrotlet due to their potential dangers. 

By selecting bird-safe alternatives made from natural materials and prioritizing mental and physical stimulation, you can ensure that your parrotlet enjoys a happy, healthy, and safe life in captivity. 

Always monitor your bird’s interactions with all toys and consult with a veterinarian if you have any concerns about their well-being.

Have you ever seen unsafe toys on the market? How do we go about getting them removed?