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My husband and I have two parrots and I am constantly looking for ideas to make my own bird toys for them. I have come up with several ideas for those of you who have parrots and want to make your own toys. Parrot toys are expensive and end up getting destroyed anyway. So here are a few ideas:
There is really no such thing as a completely bird-safe toy. All toys pose some sort of hazard so make sure you supervise your bird with his or her new toy. Also stay away from treated wood from hardware stores as the treated woods contain toxins. Additionally, be aware and stay away from toys that have parts that are too small or too large for your bird as they pose the risk of strangulation and/or getting beaks or toes caught in toys. Finally, remember to rotate, clean, or replace the toys as needed. Happy bird keeping!
By JSRP from Lincoln, NE
I got my African gray parrot (Scout) cuttlebones and mineral blocks. She likes to snap cuttlebones into pieces and then ignore them, and she won't even touch the mineral blocks. I started recycling the pieces of cuttlebone by picking up the pieces and drilling a hole through them, and then hanging them onto bird safe rope (vegetable dyed leather, sisal, cotton, paulie rope, etc.) as a toy. You could also add them onto existing toys! Mineral blocks are easier to work with because they are harder, but the principle is the same: using a small saw, cut into desired pieces, drill, and string them up! This would work for both untouched mineral blocks and expired mineral blocks.
Note: As always, supervise your bird at play and be sure to remove items that may pose a risk to your feathered friend's well-being!
By JSRP from Lincoln, NE
If you have parrots, which I do, I find that the toys and treats are very expensive! What I started doing, at the suggestion of my breeder, is to look in the hamster/gerbil/rodent section at Petco/Petsmart.
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Anyone know where to find a pattern for bird toys or a bird happy hut?
Dawna from Boone, NC
I made some bird toys with large wooden beads and bells and twine. My bird loves them! (01/13/2009)
By Karen
Can you tell how you made them? Do you know where you found the directions? (01/14/2009)
By Marcia S.
Hi Marcia, I have never had birds and wouldn't know the first thing about making toys for them, so sorry in advance if this advice isn't practical.
Is that picture above an example of what the Happy Hut looks like? If so, to me it looks just like one of those natural loofahs you can buy at the store. Like those round, hollow ones (not the mesh ones). I suppose you could find one of those at a dollar store or for a few dollars at Walmart. I'm not sure if that would be ok for birds...but those loofahs are natural sea sponges. Anyway, the top you could attach to the cage with carabiners (that's what they look like in the picture). That's the first thing that came to mind when I saw this picture. Good luck! (01/16/2009)
By khilde
Oh, you know what else I thought of as I looked at this picture? It looks like one of those car washing mitts. I bet you could get one of those and cut off the edges so it's accessible from both ends. I'm not sure if that would work or how frugally you could get one, but I thought I'd mention in case. (01/16/2009)
By khilde
If you don't have toy hangers use Sisal or Hemp to hang it.
Resouce: birdboard.com DIY section
(01/28/2009)
By Guest
We make all of our own toys as we have approximately 100 birds. One easy toy is wooden spoons. You can find them at a dollar store. Make a hole in the handle and hang in the cage. (02/12/2009)
By Diane: Lazicki's Bird House and Rescue
My green cheek conure loves to play with the hard plastic caps that come on soda bottles. They are made of very durable plastic and come in a wide variety of colors. They make great foot toys that he enjoys picking up, banging, and tossing to the ground. I even hide treats in them from time to time. My husband drilled a hole through 3 different colored caps and attached them to the cage with a zip tie so that hangs. Despite all of the pricey bird toys that I have purchased for him, this is what he plays with the most. (02/13/2009)
By Anita
I made some bird toys with large wooden beads and bells and twine. My bird loves them! (01/13/2009)
By Karen
Hi Marcia -- I have never had birds and wouldn't know the first thing about making toys for them, so sorry in advance if this advice isn't practical.
Is that picture above an example of what the Happy Hut looks like? If so, to me it looks just like one of those natural loofahs you can buy at the store. Like those round, hollow ones (not the mesh ones). I suppose you could find one of those at a dollar store or for a few dollars at Walmart. I'm not sure if that would be ok for birds...but those loofahs are natural sea sponges.
Anyway, the top you could attach to the cage with carabiners (that's what they look like in the picture). That's the first thing that came to mind when I saw this picture. Good luck! (01/16/2009)
By khilde
Oh, you know what else I thought of as I looked at this picture? It looks like one of those car washing mitts. I bet you could get one of those and cut off the edges so it's accessible from both ends. I'm not sure if that would work or how frugally you could get one...but I thought I'd mention in case. (01/16/2009)
By khilde
Fleece. (its safest fabric for birds & wont catch toes as easily as other fabrics). Cardboard for the bottom to be sturdy.
hot glue gun *use outside
stainless steel or nickle plated toy hangers
(zinc is TOXIC)
if you don't have toy hangers use Sisal or Hemp to hang it.
resource: birdboard.com DIY section
(01/28/2009)
By Guest
