Toys from Junk

[TooLover]

I have hubby "trained" well as far as saving stuff for the fids! Nothing gets thrown out until I make that determination!

[Willow]

Great ideas! I recently joined a yahoo group called Frugal_Parrot_Owners and it is all about how to make your own toys. I bet they would love to hear your ideas!

[willowbirdy218]

thanks for all the great ideas nancy!! I'm always looking for new easy toys for my birds, but it is hard because willow's beak is so strong he can chew up almost anything. I'm gonna have to try out some of your ideas...I think he will really enjoy the adding machine tape. I never knew how to hang it in the cage and your idea sounds easy enough :icon_smil Where do you find the adding machine tape? I was going to buy some wooden spoons before for willow but didnt kno if the wood was safe (couldn't even find out what kind it was anyway).

[The Outlaw]

The wood from the kitchen utensil wooden spoons is of course safe. After all, they are designed to be used in human cooking. I buy my adding machine tape by the case at BJs or Office Depot. With 10 parrots, I think you can see why.

Please don't use old egg cartons, however. I recently saw that on another group and you have to realize how dirty they really are. Salmonella often contaminates egg cartons.

[The Outlaw]

Oh, I forgot another favorite one around here. I save my Quaker Oats boxes and using a hole saw, cut smallish round holes around the perimeter. Then, simply insert some little toys. I usually throw in the ones from fast food joints once Miss Lily has tired of them. Wiffle balls or ping pong balls would be fun too. Make sure to really glue the lid on. Let it sit overnight.

[wizard's#1]

i love this pengun pic it's great! kinda reminds me of me and wizard( ha ha )

[wizard's#1]

wizard has a baby rattle & and a teething ring from play school that sings 5 different songs how ever he's always knocking himself in the head with them and sometimes bruces his face with them. so i take them away for awhile. he sure does love them though.

[tamaran2]

Here is what I did. Go to ebay. Search of lots of toys. I bought a huge lot of baby toys for $22.00. I got the box in and it had over 100 different baby toys in there (Vtech, rattlers, baby key rings and alot of other baby stuff, both big and small)
Once I searched thru the toys for what the birds could have, that would be safe for them. I washed them in the dishwasher. Then I put a easter basket, unpainted; on top of the cage for the foot toys. I covered the handle with cotten rope so they could climb on it, attached the plastic keys and wooden balls and such from the handle with leather strips. Then under the basket; I attached it to the cage top with those plastic tyes, because it would turn over with big birds on it. They also have the pleasure of chewing up the basket. When it is down to just the bottom and can't hold the toys anymore, I replace the basket for a few dollars.

The extra bonus here is I have a whole lot of extra toys that the birds couldn't have or was to big for them. They look brand new, so I have toys to give as baby gifts when my friends and family have babies.


Tamaran

[Freedomoflight]

Thanks for all the ideas!
Its spring now- that means lots of garage sales- which means lots of baby items. I cant wait!

[felisdomesticus]

Wow! what great ideas! Scarlett isn't much of a "destroyer" so her wood toys last FOREVER. I don't think she has demolished any of them since we got her almost a year ago.

The brown bag/popcorn and mini-cereal box ideas are great, though! The little pig will do anything to get some food.