Is copper a safe material for DIY projects?

I'm still working on the Scotty/cork problem. May wind up buying a different style of bottle altogether, but that's an expensive one. I haven't had much luck with the plastic soda bottle approaches -- the geometry just isn't quite right. What I do have a ton of in my studio is sheet copper. If I avoided any polishing compounds or solder and just cut and cold-fit pieces, would that be bird safe? Scotty WILL chew on metal.

It's not the best for them to be chewing on. Copper oxidizes which is not healthy for parrots to ingest. Nickel plated or etched steel is a better choice. Vacuum sealed is another ok metal for birds. For larger birds, anything clapless is recommended. Most larger birds will swallow the clapper and become poisoned by the plated metal breaking down in their system. Hope this helps you make a good decision. I'm with Parrot Toy Angels and we research anything questionable for making toys for parrots.

Vacuum sealed what? That's a process, not a metal!

I can't efffectively work sheet stock in the harder metals, such as stainless. I'm trying to fashion a shield for Scotty's water-bottle cork. I did wonder about the copper oxides... sigh. Back to the drawing board.

That makes sense.

I broke down and ordered a new bottle, an allegedly chewproof one. The rubber stopper should probably be replaced, which costs nearly as much as a new bottle.

I guess brass is right out, too, since it's a zinc alloy. Are stainless steel and aluminum really the only truly safe metal for advanced chewers? I've heard the nickel-plated base metal is questionable because they may chew through the plating and get to the zinc-laden base metal below.

I should clarify I'm not talking about bells, but wire, washers, hangers.... mostly I've bought stainless when I'm buying toy supplies.

When I heard horror stories about large birds eating the clappers out of bells, I designed a clapless stainless steel bell safe for birds. Was a success. My Ding-A-Ling