Hi everyone,

 

I want to make some budgie toys but thought to check here first to make sure my materials are safe. The only thing I am unclear on is some rope that I bought from Lincraft. The label said it was Rayon, and the other word mentioned was Viscose (which I know is synthetic)

 

Do any members know whether these materials are bird safe? I plan to use the rope to thread through beads, so I don't anticipate that there will be any large exposed sections of Rayon that my budgies could get tangled in. I just want to know that if they nibble on the rope (or shred as the case may be with the new addition to my flock!) that they won't be harmed.

 

As to treatments, it is uncoloured rope and doesn't have an obvious chemical smell about it (I read somewhere that this is an easy way to detect treatment for white ropes) and the lady who served me didn't think it had been bleached or treated with chemicals.

 

Thanks for your help!

*BUMP*

 

Does anyone know the answer? It's a public holiday today in Canberra and I'd like to make toys

Personally, I would avoid the synthetic rope, because of the "don't know" factor. Cotton or sisal rope are safe (natural, undyed), but also give a thought to leather thongs/strips. You can get these quite thin and are great to thread beads on to. Again natural, and not dyed, of course. The leather is more lasting than rope too, so if replacing it is a factor, give it a try. I have used leather a couple of times now without a problem, - only a couple of times because the leather is still going strong. And another thing you don't have to worry about is the bird getting caught up in the rope when it frays.