IndianRingNeck.com

I've given my Sophie a balsa wood toy, and she's very happy chewing it into tiny pieces. But I've noticed that every now and then when she's chewing on this stuff, she gets it down really small, and then it seems to disappear down her throat. Anyone else had this happen?

I know she sometimes eats a bit of paper after she works it over a while in her mouth (she gets the piece of paper rolled down so tiny, it looks like she's making spitballs), and so I am cautious with her around any paper that would be bad for her. But I'm thinking this wood is okay, as it seems clean enough.

(BTW, she gets veggies and salad greens every day, as well as pellets with a bit of seed, so I'm guessing that she can't be agitating for more fiber.)

Parrots are natural chewers... and IRN's are only mildly behind conures in their chewing nature from what i know about my guys..

The only thing I would suggest you check is the balsowood is bird safe (ie, home made? or proper bird product?) home made balsa wood toys can have gums / glues in the wood itself in the manufacturing process... the bird might find that tastes 'interesting' and might be fueling it to eat it...

however I am sure it is more facination with the wood and normal parrot behaviour than a real problem...

My boys destroy a branch in no time.. and i notice they chomp and sometimes eat it... why? i sure as heck dont know... but they love it..