Bells are a common feature on many toys and accessories marketed for pet birds. The pleasant chiming sound provides auditory enrichment and many owners believe their birds enjoy activating the bells with their beaks or feet. However, there are some potential safety issues to consider when it comes to bird toys with bells. Understanding the risks and how to minimize them can help ensure our avian companions can safely play with these interactive toys.
What are the potential risks of bells on bird toys?
There are a few safety concerns regarding bells that owners should be aware of:
- Choking hazard if bells detach. Bells can potentially become loose or fall off toys. Swallowed bells could become lodged in a bird’s throat or digestive tract.
- Injury from broken bells. Brittle bells made of inexpensive metals may shatter into sharp pieces if chewed or crashed into things forcefully by larger/stronger birds.
- Heavy metal toxicity. Some bells are made with metals like zinc or lead that can be toxic. Birds may chew and ingest small amounts over time.
- Noise causing stress. Loud, repetitive bell noises in close quarters could potentially stress out noise-sensitive birds.
However, not all bells pose the same level of risk. With some safety awareness and selective toy choices, birds can enjoy safe playtime with bells.
Tips for choosing bird toys with safe bells
When selecting bird toys featuring bells, there are some features to look for and potential dangers to avoid:
Bell construction material
- Avoid cheap, brittle metal bells likely to shatter into shards if crushed. Opt for more durable bells made from stainless steel, nickel, or iron.
- Stay away from bells with zinc or lead components that could be toxic if chewed on and ingested over time.
- Make sure any paints on metal bells are non-toxic.
- Bells made of aluminum are durable and bird-safe (non-toxic).
- Plastic bells are also a safer choice to prevent heavy metal exposure.
Bell attachment method
- Bells glued onto toys can detach more easily. Choose bells that are securely crimped, riveted, or screwed onto toys.
- Avoid bells with loops or open attachments that allow bills/heads to get caught.
- Examine toy bells for signs of loosening and remove toy from use if bells seem unsecured.
Bell noise volume
- Avoid very loud, shrill bells in enclosed spaces. Lower volume bells reduce noise stress.
- For noise-sensitive birds, provide toys with multiple softer bells rather than one big, loud bell.
- Place bell toys inside/outside cages to adjust noise levels for your bird’s comfort.
Bell size
- Very large bells may allow bird bills to become stuck inside the bell cavity.
- Bells sized appropriately for your bird species are safest.
- Tiny bells pose greater choking risks and should be avoided.
Selecting well-made bells sized properly for your bird and securely fastened to toys is the best way to minimize hazards.
Making existing bell toys safer
For birds already having toys with bells, there are some steps owners can take to reduce potential risks:
- Inspect toy bells for any signs of loosening and remove or re-secure as needed.
- Consider looping toy strings through bells or using zip ties to provide secondary securing of loose bells.
- Use protective clear tape wrapped around bell ends to prevent sharp edges if a brittle bell breaks.
- Muffle excessively loud bells by placing small pieces of foam inside or around them.
- Restrict unsupervised access to toys with risky bells and only allow play when you are available to monitor.
Making some simple modifications can help minimize hazards with existing toys featuring bells until safer replacements can be acquired.
Best bird species for bell toys
While all birds will likely enjoy interacting with bells, some species are better candidates for bell toys than others:
Better suited for bells
- Large parrots (macaws, cockatoos, Greys) – big enough to manipulate bells safely.
- Smaller parrots with weaker bites (conures, parrotlets, budgies) – less likely to crack brittle bells.
- Mellower, less aggressive birds who won’t violently bash toy bells.
Use extra bell safety precautions for:
- Small parakeets – increased choking risk from detached bells.
- Stronger parrots ( Amazons, caiques) – can bite hard enough to break poorer quality bells.
- Aggressive chewers (cockatiels, lovebirds) – more likely to crack brittle bells.
- Noise-sensitive birds (African greys, budgies).
Tailoring bell toy access and supervision to your specific bird’s size, tendencies, and sensitivities is recommended.
Ideal bell toys for different sized birds
Small birds
Budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds, parrotlets
- Mini bell toys with plastic or stainless steel bells from 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch diameter
- Single bell per toy to limit noise overload in confined spaces
- Bells securely crimped or screwed onto toys, not glued
- Prefers bells made of plastic, nickel, aluminum – avoid lead/zinc
- Supervise playtime with bell toys
Medium birds
Conures, quakers, rosellas, Pionus parrots
- Bells 3⁄4 to 1 inch diameter made of durable nickel or stainless steel
- Avoid brittle metallic bells prone to shattering
- Bells attached via closed crimped hoops or screw fittings
- 1-3 bells per toy sufficient for enrichment
- Still supervise play sessions with bell toys
Large birds
Amazons, caiques, greys, cockatoos, macaws
- Larger bells from 1 to 11⁄2 inches suit their size
- Durable stainless steel or welded iron bells resist cracking
- Bells secured by tightly crimped steel loops or nickel rivets
- Can handle more bells per toy – 4-6 typically well-tolerated
- Supervise initial introductions to bell toys
Selecting bells sized appropriately for a bird’s body size and chewing strength is key for safety.
Best practices when using bell toys
To allow birds to enjoy bell toys as safely as possible, owners should follow certain precautions:
- Monitor playtime with new bell toys – don’t leave unsupervised until safety is confirmed.
- Remove and replace broken bell toys promptly.
- Don’t hang bell toys on cage wiring within reach and chewing distance.
- Avoid positioning bell toys where bird could get a body part caught while playing.
- Provide ample other perches/toys without bells to allow birds an escape from bell noises.
- Don’t rattle bell toys constantly in bird’s face or startle them with noise.
- Consider a bell toy rotation schedule for noise relief if needed.
With sensible supervision and access control, bell toys can provide birds great interactive enrichment.
Health risks if bells are ingested
While supervision can help prevent ingestion, birds may still accidentally swallow small bells in some cases. Depending on the bell size and material, this can pose certain health risks:
Choking hazard
Bells small enough to become lodged in the esophagus, glottis, or trachea can obstruct breathing and require emergency removal by a vet.
Digestive tract obstruction
Swallowed bells may become blocked in the crop area or intestines, causing dangerous backups requiring surgery to clear in some cases.
Heavy metal toxicity
Bells made with toxic metals like zinc or lead can accumulate in tissues and blood over time if pieces are swallowed, leading to poisoning.
Internal physical damage
Sharp bell pieces can potentially puncture or lacerate the crop, stomach, or intestinal linings if ingested.
Immediately consulting an avian vet is imperative if a bird ingests a bell to assess extraction needs before serious harm occurs. Prevention through owner supervision is best to avoid ingestion risks whenever possible.
Emergency steps if a bell is swallowed
If a bird accidentally swallows a bell, quick action is important:
- Remove other bell toys immediately to prevent further ingestion.
- Don’t attempt to retrieve the bell from the bird’s mouth yourself.
- Save the bell itself or note details on size and material to inform the vet.
- Call your avian vet right away to schedule emergency evaluation.
- Monitor bird closely until appointment for any signs of choking or distress.
- Don’t allow bird to eat or drink which could push bell further in tract.
- Seek emergency vet care if breathing problems indicate choke risk.
Getting prompt veterinary attention provides the best chance of safe bell removal or passage with limited harm. Never take a wait and see approach after ingestion.
Are bell collars safe for birds?
Small stretchy collars with bells are marketed for birds to wear on their necks. However, these fashion accessories pose some notable safety issues:
Potential dangers of bell collars on birds
- Strangulation risk from catching collars on objects
- Injury potential if collar gets wrapped around body parts
- Bird can chew and swallow bell or collar pieces
- Collar may irritate skin on neck over time
- Adding unfamiliar bell noise constantly near head may cause stress
Given the multitude of risks, bell collars cannot be recommended as safe accessories for pet birds. Owners are better off using stationary bell toys that can be easily removed when unsupervised.
Are cat balls with bells safe for birds?
Small plastic balls filled with metal bells are popular cat toys. However, they pose multiple dangers to birds and should be kept away from them:
Hazards of cat balls for birds
- Brittle plastic can shatter into sharp fragments if chewed
- Bells often detach easily and pose ingestion risk
- Contains small parts that can easily lodge in airways
- Bells may contain toxic metals like zinc or lead
- Choking and intestinal blockage hazard
Cat toy sections at many stores now warn to keep these ball toys away from birds due to the clear risks. Birds should never be allowed access to bat these balls around.
Conclusion
With proper safety precautions and owner supervision, bell toys can provide birds mentally stimulating playtime. Choosing bells made from bird-safe metals that are sized appropriately and securely attached to toys is crucial. Avoiding cheaper bells prone to cracking or detaching minimizes ingestion and injury risks. Bell toys require close monitoring, especially at first introduction and for smaller or more destructive birds. With some simple safety practices, bells can be a fun enrichment addition for our avian pets. However, bells also have the potential to be hazardous if misused, so maintaining vigilance and quick response if accidents occur is key to keeping our birds healthy while enjoying this popular interactive toy feature.