Updated: December 10, 2023
Bird Kabob is a range of chewable and shreddable toys made from natural materials. They are surely one of the most popular toys we buy for our parrots.
Why are these yucca based toys such a hit with virtually any parrot?
They’re made of a soft cactus-like shrub called the yucca (did you know the famous Joshua Tree is a species of yucca?).
Yucca is a genus in the Asparagaceae family of plants. This is the same family of plant that the familiar asparagus comes from (as well as about 2500 other plants).
Although the plant looks a bit like a cactus, it is not a cactus. The best way to give your bird yucca is with the safe and sterilized Bird Kabob range of products which are sold as both hanging toys, and “chips” that are fantastic parrot foot toys.
So are they totally safe?
Yes. I have 100% confidence in the quality and safety of the Bird Kabob range. You might find some darkened discoloration on some of the yucca chips and pieces. This is not fungus or anything else to be concerned about – it’s simply the natural varation in coloring that you have to expect with any plant product.
The key is this: the company completely kills off any organic matter that might be present on the yucca by sterilizing it at high heat. This makes the Bird Kabob range completely safe for parrots.
The soft wood means every species of parrot can get their beaks into it. From Budgerigars to Macaws and all in between. Yes, it won’t always last long with the larger species.
They come in multiple designs – chips that can be used as foot toys, and hanging toys of all different shapes. There’s no boredom or same-same with Bird Kabob toys.
Even though all the toys are made of the same material, they all look different and some are tailored more for larger birds (make no mistake; cockatoos will shred most yucca pieces in minutes!).
What about harvesting your own yucca from the wild?
Finding your own wild yucca is different to buying the material from the main manufacturer of yucca based toys for parrots – Bird Kabob. The company ensures their yucca based Bird Kabob toys are safe and free of any possible nasties like fungus by putting them through heat sterilization. This means Bird Kabob yucca is safe for parrots and all birds.