Toys from Junk

[The Outlaw]

I save all jewelry boxes from gifts and recycle them to the fildren. I hide a few nuts inside and tape them closed. If you are patient, you can even use a little craft glue instead of the tape and give them their gifts the following day.

Save discarded prescription bottles and wash them very well. You can hide little treats inside and offer them also. I don't recommend them for big macaws, but amazons, greys, conures and smaller birds seem to like them.

Haunt flea markets for good quality toddler toys (V Tech, Fisher Price, etc). Always wash them well and make sure that battery compartments are secure. My macaws just love making the music play and lights flash. I do check them every time the birds have access and remove them when the damage becomes apparent.

I also save ALL plastic lids from water, soda, detergent and shampoo bottles. I run them through the dishwasher, center drill them, and knot them onto toys or use them as spacers on hanging toys. Milk bottle lids work well too. I usually have a box of red, white and blue lids from soda bottles going all the time.

Bottle rattles are great. My macaws happily carry them all over the place. I recommend gluing the lids on with craft glue. Otherwise, you will have pasta and beans all over the place in minutes.

Adding machine tape is always fun for everyone. You can take a choker collar and remove one end Pass the end through the paper tape center and using a quick link, catch both ends of the chain. I hang them from the top cage bars near their highest perch. Sam at Squawkadoodle also sells a washer and bolt paper tape holder. I have made these myself and they are very easy to duplicate. However, he's a good guy and can probably use the business. Buy the first one from him and then make any others yourself.

I offer individual cereal boxes, with the contents left intact, when I'm going to be gone for a while. The macaws delight in destroying the boxes and eating the contents. Please don't opt for little kids sugary stuff.

One again, you can pop your own corn in a common brown lunch bag. I add about a tsp. of olive oil (unnecessary, but my birds like it) to cheap store brand popcorn (about a quarter cup) and twist the top closed tightly. Simply microwave as with any other popcorn. You will probably have to cook it for a short length of time. I think mine cooks in under 2 minutes.

You can take a small piece of PVC and run a chain through the center. Then attach a ball on either end, larger than the PVC. I have used old golf balls, wiffle balls and even rawhide bones. Make sure the chain is at least 4" longer than the pipe. This is a foot toy, but can be hung from a screw eye in the center of the PVC. Be sure to use stainless steel fittings.

You can go outside and cut small limbs from non toxic trees now. Its winter and the sap isn't running. I routinely prune my apple tree and cut rounds for my fids. You can center drill them and string them or just fill up a bucket and hang it from a chain. My birds have an empty block container that hangs on the PVC gym with all kinds of foot toys and chews.

You can fill a treat cage with ping pong balls and walnuts and watch them try to get the nuts. This is great for birds that have longer attention spans.

You can slice used tennis balls in half and run a chain through the center. Now you can hide little treats inside. This same technique can be used with coconut shells.

I also buy cheap wooden spoons from the Dollar Store and give them to my big guys. I give the small birds inexpensive toothbrushes.

I go to Goodwill and Salvation army and purchase old teaspoons. I drill the handles and attach them to chains. The birds like to bang the spoons together like clappers.Don't use housekeys, however, for some are made from toxic metals.

Anytime you see wooden children's blocks at flea markets, buy them and give them to your birds to play with. I usually drill them and string them, but you don't always have to. This is another great thing to add to your toy bucket.

Hope these suggestions help you get started.

[SavvyMoon]

All really Great Ideas, Nancy... Thanks! :icon_smil

[The Outlaw]

I'll have to email you an image. I can't get it to post here.

[melster122]

What absolutely brilliant ideas? I can't wait to start making all these things for Worple.

We have just come back from 15 days away in Austria for Christmas and he has been staying in our local pet shop. I can't tell you how much we all missed him and we are so pleased he is back at home with us now.

I hope everyone had a great holiday.

[LMPego]

Maybe I just missed it in your list, but Cory's new favorite toy is a film canister. Plus, you can put beads or pasta in them to make a rattle for the smaller birds.

[Candice]

Great ideas! :icon_smil

I have always thought about RX bottles because I thought Gillian would like them but I have always swayed against giving because I never knew if I could wash good enough. Do you just wash your by hand?

[Lynjupiter]

I also use frosting containers as toys, my too loves them. Also the red top off my liquid coffeemate creamer. Tyler will sit and click it open and closed for an hour.

I take a hand full of drinking straws and zip tie the handfull around the middle to make a straw star. They love cracking the straws. From what I heard it gives the feel of cracking a feather sheath.

Thanks for the greast suggestions Outlaw

Lynda

[The Outlaw]

Candice:

I usually soak them in some GSE and hot water and then toss them in the dishwasher. However, since all of my meds arein capsule form, I really don't worry too much. I think that so long as you're thorough, you'll be perfectly fine.

Thank, Lynda. I use your suggestions, too.

[Candice]

I don't have a dishwasher so I don't think I will be doing it.

[Sophiestkated2]

So basically, what you're sayin' my dear Nancy, is next time I go to throw something out, stop, wash, and give it to the bird. snicker-snicker!
Really good ideas. I never would have thought of a bunch of them! You have made Oliver a very happy boy...
Jethica