The following are ideas for toys you can make. Please keep safety and
your individual bird's personality in mind as you consider these ideas - some of
these toys may be suitable for one bird, yet not for another. Food skewers: Drill holes in pieces of wood of various shapes, composition and color; string on the skewer and hang in the cage. Source: Ginny Bender, W. Covina, CA
Adding
machine tape: Buy lint-free tape from an office supply store; hang from
the top or side of the with a zip tie, making sure that the length of the tie is
long enough that your bird cannot get caught. Source: Maggie
Buchanan, Las Vegas, NV. (Note: From the PBR, a variation on this is
to use lint-free bathroom tissue.)
Newspaper and magazines: Cut newspapers into strips and thread through the cage bars. Roll up newspaper and stick through the cage bars. Drill holes in the corners of magazines (remove staples) like Reader's Digest, take a quick link and attach to a piece of welded chain, and hang either inside or outside the cage.
This toy can be made out of a piece of stainless steel welded chain. Use a quick link at the top to attach to the cage. You can thread paper towels or napkins in the links for a renewable toy that can be shredded over and over again. Add beads, rings, or bells at the bottom, depending on your bird's preference. Source: Maggie Buchanan, Las Vegas, NV
PVC: The possibilities of PVC are endless!!!! If you have a bird that gets him/herself tangled and wrapped in toys, select a diameter of PVC that will slide over the chain and cut pieces into 1 and 2 inch lengths, and thread on the chain. A variation on this is to use various lengths and diameters of PVC to create individual toys; these can have holes drilled into them so that they can be threaded on jute, leather, chain, or wire. For color and variation, you can add Marbella beads, rings, and squares. Yet another idea is to take a length of PVC and put rolled up paper inside it; this will make either a wonderful foot toy or hanging toy for the cage. Sources: Ginny Bender, Emily Dombrowski, Maggie Buchanan Chenille bedspread or robe: You can buy these from a thrift shop or garage/yard sale. Cut into small sections and give to your bird as food toys. Source: Elly Gustavson-Held, idea obtained from bird club member Tube Socks: Stuff with with clothespins, chunks of wood and/or fabric pieces (100% cotton) and some favorite seeds or nuts, then tie off the top with a small strip of fabric or leather. On either of these you could put pony/marbella beads or pieces of wood to throw. Usually leave the strings about 3-4 inches long so the beads will clang together. Source: Allexis Wooden cooking spoons:
You can buy a package of four at
the Dollar Store. You can either use the spoons plain, or you can dress
them up a bit. You can drill a hole in the handle and put a plastic ring
on the handle and then tie a piece of colorful material through the drilled hole. Source: Jasmine Angel Note: Due to safety issues, the Webmistress has modified this suggestion to change it to wood bolts. Many thanx go to Marilyn Kulp for recommending wood bolts. Fabric: Make fabric bows and tie to toys. Purchase loosely woven fabrics, like burlap, wash and dry without softeners. Used pinking shears to cut 6" strips and simply tied them between beads of existing toys. Source: Cheryl Mopheads: Another favorite are some cotton strings gathered from a clean unused mophead that has been taken apart. String with beads and toys. The cotton fibers are very loose and will break away in case your bird gets caught up in them. Source: Cheryl
Wood chews: Cut up untreated fir into pieces. Put into a large pot and cover with water. Boil for 20 minutes, let soak until cool. If you let them soak overnight, they really absorb a lot of water. Drain until they stop dripping & hand them out. These soaked pieces of wood can keep a bird busy for hours. Source: Denise Newkirk, Skye Diamond Ranch Sources of safe components (ropes, stainless steel bells, links and chain, etc.): Feather Fantasy (Carries the Boing Toy, recommended by Brian Speer, DVM, for pluckers)
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Last Update: 09/11/01 |