After seeing homemade toys with bright and shiny colours advertised and sold as “non-toxic” in a budgie group, I decided to write this post for Paints & Varnishes.
Commercial paints and varnishes
It should be obvious to everyone that common paints and varnishes are toxic to both humans and budgies.
However, it is often forgotten that cages with painted bars, are safe for canaries, etc., but not for budgies. Unfortunately, these often tend to nibble at the grille and can easily swallow paint chips.
Colors for children toys
Saliva-resistant paints used for toys for babies and toddlers may seem like a good idea; after all, they are designed to allow children to safely put colored objects in their mouths without releasing toxic substances in their saliva.
On closer inspection, however, the experienced budgie owner will quickly realise the error of thinking in this consideration.
While these saliva-resistant colours may be harmless for canaries etc., the situation is quite different for budgies, as they are more likely to be classified as “rodents” in this respect.
Unlike toddlers or canaries, budgies will gnaw the dyed items and thus swallow the dye, allowing it to enter the digestive system.
Of course there are limits for “toy paints”, i.e. saliva-resistant paints. Of course, there are limits for toxic or harmful substances in “toy paints”, i.e. saliva-resistant paints, but these are based on the body weight of a human being and not that of a budgie.
Food Colors
This leaves only food coloring for coloring materials for budgies, as they are non-toxic even if swallowed.
So when you buy colorful materials for crafting budgies, you should always carefully check whether food coloring was also used for coloring.
The same applies, of course, to purchased toys. Strong and/or shiny colors are always “suspicious” and should rather be avoided.
In addition, of course, you can use most untreated natural materials .