Toy Problem/Bath Question

Question
Hi! I have a couple of things to ask you. First off, my budgie has this toy he just loves but I'm worried it may not be safe. It has 3 small pieces of wood on it that kind of look like mini firewood pieces chopped up, with bark and all. Well, tonight I heard him playing with this toy & looked up to see him with a big piece of the bark stuff in his mouth and chewing on it and having a ball. It had come off the toy! So I took it out of his cage because that just doesn't seem like a good thing. Or is that OK? I got the toy at PetSmart, and it seems like they'd have safe toys there, but I don't know. Do you think it would be ok to give him his toy back or is that a bad idea? Also, tonight he took his first bath. He would dunk his head in the water for a second, and when he came up he'd make this high pitched noise that sounded like a sneeze. But I've heard him sneeze before and it's always real quiet. Do you know what that noise he made is? I'm really curious about it. Thank you in advance for your help!
Krisi  

Answer
Dear Krisi,
thank you for your question.

Your budgie got water into his nose and sneezed it out, it's nothing to worry about.
The toy is probably made of hardwood, willow is often used. I'd say it's safe for the bird to eat, especially if the pieces are uncoloured. If you have access to untreated hardwood like hazel, birch, beech or oak, you can make such toys yourself. Branches from those trees can be used as   perches, too. They are healthier than the perches sold in pet shops because they train the birds muscels and prevent ulcers on the birds feet often caused by the smooth perches.
Parakeets can eat the bark of those branches, it supplies them with minerals and besides it's fun for them.

Do your keep your budgie alone? Budgerigars, as all parrots, are highly social animals and should be kept at least in pairs, either two males or a male and a female (two females often fight). While they seem to enjoy interacting with their human partner, they only do so because they have no alternative. A human just cannot speak to them in their own language and is not there for them 24 hours a day - which is what they need.
Two birds can be just as tame as a single bird, especially if the first bird is already tame. And you don't have to worry about your budgie being lonely when you are not there. Take a look at these websites to see pictures of whole flocks of tame budgies:
http://www.vwfd.de/gegeneinzel/zahmschwarm.php
http://www.vwfd.de/gegeneinzel/bilder.php

I hope you don't mind me bringing this up, but it's an issue that's close to my heart and that I think is important. There's just too much outdated info out there about budgerigars.
I hope I was of some help to you
Jennifer