The smell hit me first, that almost-sweet scent of fresh-cut balsa. It always takes me back to my apprenticeship, painstakingly carving out intricate parrot perches for my mentor. A craft I still love, by the way. This SB50016 balsa block toy from Super Bird Creations… well, it brought those memories flooding back, right there in the bird supply aisle.

The whole premise is simple: a collection of untreated balsa wood cubes, presented as the avian equivalent of an all-you-can-eat salad bar. It’s meant to be shredded, disassembled, and generally annihilated by a determined beak. And frankly, this is precisely what a parrot should be doing. Boredom is a bird’s enemy, and the resulting destructive behavior can be minimized by providing suitable chew toys.

I’ve seen so many toys, you see – shiny plastic monstrosities, bells that jangle with a discordant clang, and ropes that unravel into a hazardous mess. But these balsa blocks? They’re pure, unadulterated, safe fun. The beauty lies in the simplicity. The lack of varnish, paint, or anything artificial is key. Think of it like this: your bird isn’t ingesting anything questionable, unlike some other, more questionable, products on the market.

Now, I will say, the cubes, at roughly 1.5 inches each, are a bit small for larger macaws. You might end up going through a bag of these quicker than a budgie would. But it isn’t a problem, just a different cadence of replacement for the owner.

Contrast this, for example, with those composite toys with the pre-drilled holes. Sure, they provide a structure, a challenge, but you’re paying a premium for a design that may frustrate your bird.

My suggestion for anyone considering this is to get a few sizes. Get some extra pieces to add to other toys. You can string them together with sisal rope for a quick and easy foraging toy. You could even get your own creative juices flowing and try a little project, too. The possibilities are really only limited by your imagination.

If you have a medium-sized parrot, like an Amazon or African Grey, this SB50016 bag is a fantastic starting point. Just grab a few, and watch your feathered friend have a blast. You might even find yourself strangely relaxed watching them tear it up. Enjoy!