First, let me share that I have had "domesticated" birds since I was a little girl. I have learned…read morea great deal since those days and some of the industry that sells and provides goods and services for captive birds has evolved, however slowly.
This is a huge subject and I have strong opinions about the responsibilities we have when we bring an animal, any animal, into our human environment. We need to be thoroughly educated on their care and habits before we do that, in my opinion. If we can't provide as close to a natural but safe and healthy home for our companion animals, we should not take one on. This goes especially for birds who, unlike dogs and cats, are just a few generations from the wild. Few people really understand what is required to properly care for and have a happy bird in our homes.
One important aspect of providing health and happiness is to provide birds, especially parrots, with a variety of safe and entertaining, if not educational when possible, activities. We can think of them as toys, but in the wild parrots spend very little time in frivolous activity. Since we feed them (another subject that requires education) in our houses, they have more time to do something other than look for food. They can easily become bored.
Not all toys sold for birds, parrots, etc. are safe. And, a good variety is hard to come by. If there is wood on a toy, it has to be a soft, non-toxic wood that won't hurt them; if wooden toys are dyed, the dyes should be natural; if there is metal on the toy, only pure stainless steel is safe -- all other metal will slowly poison the bird.
We go out of our way to purchase toys, regularly so the birds don't become bored, at places like The Perfect Parrot. I am sure others have mentioned in their reviews that this store is clean, incredibly well stocked, and overseen by knowledgeable people who are informed and care about birds and the products they sell to us.
Cheap toys endanger your bird. Buy fewer, but better quality, safe, entertaining toys appropriate to the bird's size and species. Birds become beloved family members. They are smarter than most other species including dogs and cats. We need to care for and respect them or we shouldn't have them, as that is cruel. The Perfect Parrot has everything we need to understand our new family member and provide them with a wonderful life as our companions.
