My parakeet recently decided he enjoys chewing his cage bars instead of all the toys and cuttlebone he has available. I'm concerned it's bad for him because he's chewing the paint off. I have been making the Tsst! noise when he does it, and he stops, but then continues after a few seconds of looking around. Is the paint non-toxic and safe for birds as small as parakeets?

It shouldn't hurt him. Cages are painted with safe paint if there really is such a thing. My African grey has chewed on her cage forever (she's 26 now) and she's fine. I hate it though. I doubt if they actually injest much of it. Still hate it though.

Parrot breeder

I should think so! My budgies chew on them all the time, there's big patches that have no paint at all! They wouldn't paint any animal cage with toxic paint anyway.

Me