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can parrots play with straws?

Are Straws Safe for Parrots? (Natural vs. Synthetic Types)

Last Updated on January 28, 2024 by Carrie Stephens

Parrots like playing with straws because they’re fun and provide mental stimulation. Straws are good toys for parrots when they’re made from natural and organic materials.

Paper and biodegradable straws are safe for parrots because there’s little likelihood of them causing crop impaction. Stainless steel straws are another parrot-safe option.

Plastic straws are unsafe. If a parrot swallows plastic, it can get lodged or damage the intestines.

Whenever a parrot plays with a straw, monitor it closely to ensure it doesn’t choke.

Why Parrots Chew on Straws

It may surprise you to discover that parrots like biting on straws. If they’re unfamiliar with straws, they’ll nip at them to explore further.

Straws offer the following benefits for pet birds:

Mental Enrichment

Life is dull in a cage, so playtime is essential. Without stimulation, parrots become bored and stressed.

According to The Open Access Journal for Life and Environment Research, chronic stress results in behavioral disorders in captive parrots, such as:

These behaviors are exclusive to or common among captive parrots. For example, there are no recorded cases of feather picking among wild parrots due to an absence of environmental enrichment.

Beak Grinding

Parrots’ beaks continuously grow because they consist of keratin. They must wear them down. Parrots can’t eat, drink, or perform specific actions if their beaks grow too long.

Parrots grind their beaks by eating hard foods (like nuts and seeds) and rubbing their beaks on abrasive items. Allowing parrots to chew on straws keeps their beaks in good order.

Foraging Instincts

Pecking and tearing straws enable parrots to fulfill their natural foraging instincts.

In addition, parrots have the urge to tear things apart with their beaks. Toys also fulfill their desire to forage, so chewing straws can keep parrots’ instincts sharp.

can parrots chew on straws?

Dangers of Straws for Parrots

Some straws carry more risk than others for the following reasons:

Crop Impaction

When foreign bodies become trapped, infections occur. Small straws are more dangerous because they can get stuck in the crop. 

If plastic or stainless steel straws make their way through the digestive tract, they can create holes in the intestines. Left unresolved, this can be life-threatening.

Nutritional Deficiencies

If a parrot swallows a straw and it enters the stomach, it takes up room intended for food. Parrots risk going hungry and becoming malnourished until the straw is surgically removed.

Parrots Can Play with Straws

Choosing the wrong straw is risky. So, what type of straws are suitable for parrots?

Plastic Straws

Plastic straws aren’t safe for parrots to chew or play with because they’re manufactured from polypropene and other toxic substances.

Plastic straws can impact the crop. Small pieces of straw are easy to swallow but can get stuck inside the parrot’s crop because plastic doesn’t break down.

Parrots can’t release their waste, so they must be removed surgically.

Paper Straws

Parrots may not find paper straws fun because they’re softer and less satisfying to chew.

Paper straws break down in the digestive system, allowing parrots to excrete them if they’re intentionally or accidentally ingested. There’s no risk of a straw piercing the intestines.

They’ll also provide mental stimulation because they’re easier to bite and peck.

Biodegradable Straws

Also known as PLA (polylactic acid), biodegradable straws are comprised of plant starches and oil, most commonly corn. Some are also made from wheat, which parrots can safely consume.

Because these bird-safe straws are derived from organic materials, they break down in the stomach, minimizing the impact of crop impaction or internal injuries.

Ensure it doesn’t contain other unsafe ingredients by checking the ingredients list.

Stainless Steel Straws

Undamaged nickel-plated metals are among the safer bird toy materials. Stainless steel cages are the best option for birds, meaning stainless steel straws are also suitable.

Only provide straws that parrots can’t swallow. If they’re tiny, large parrots can easily swallow them. You can wash stainless steel straws with hot, soapy water to remove germs and bacteria.

However, parrots can’t chew on or tear stainless steel straws like biodegradable or paper straws.

How To Make Parrot Toys with Straws

Instead of giving the parrot a single straw to chew or play with, turn them into a fun foraging toy the bird will enjoy using. You’ll need the following materials:

  • Plastic drinking straws.
  • Cable ties.
  • Metal quick links.

Method:

  1. Grasp a large handful of straws. Lay a cable tie in the middle of the bunch, ensuring it lies in the same direction as the straws.
  2. Pick up the straws in one hand, keep the cable tie in the middle, and pick up another tie. Wrap it around the straws and fasten it, pulling it tightly.
  3. Grab the undone cable tie and fasten it, closing it off while ensuring it isn’t too tight.
  4. Attach the quick link to the looser cable tie and hang it on the cage so it can bite and chew the straws at leisure.

Monitor the parrot when it plays with new straw toys in case of problems.

While paper, biodegradable, and stainless steel straws are safe for parrots, it’s always better to provide parrot-safe toys designed with mental and physical stimulation in mind.