Stuff to make big bird toys out of?

[blah006]

I was wondering whether anyone can suggest things I can use to make bird toys with. I have listed ones I know of and use already at the bottom of the post. Can anyone tell me other things I can use that are readily available in big stores like Home Depot or Michael's, that I haven't really thought of already? This is for a Blue and Gold macaw.

Things I already use:
-Stainless steel chains
-Chunks of untreated bird safe woods
-PVC pipe
-sisal/manilla/cotton rope
-Toilet paper roll insides
-plastic bottles with nuts inside
-scraps of leather

Thanks

[Monica]

Plastic or wooden baby toys
Cat/Dog/Rodent toys

[jessica313]

plastic straws. i cut them up and put them on rope. shadow loves to chew them up

[Copper]

Large acrylic beads.
Baby teething beads
Baby alphabet blocks
Baby rattles that don't shatter.
Baby tub toys.
Rubbermaid storage containers.
Soft plastic sand box toys
Diving rings (no lead)
Tube type bells where the clapper is a *challenge* to remove

I've yet to find a toy that is macaw proof, more difficult to tear apart, but not impossible!

[jriley]

Hmmm...how about those unpainted clothespins at Michael's? Also, we just bought the neatest toy today at the bird fair: little chunks of pine wrapped up like candy in colored paper. So far, Molly, our Umbrella 'too, loves them. You could easily make your own by buying bird-safe paper or even using the Sunday comics to wrap chunks of wood. Hers came in a little bucket that is suspended by chains. You can also offer unhusked corn and let him/her husk and eat it. You can get children's ABC blocks and drill holes in them or use them as foot toys. You might want to also check out Oriental Trading Company (catalog or online) as they have inexpensive plastic toys that can be used.

Hope that helps some,
Julie

[jriley]

Oh yeah, another idea I just saw the other day. If you're handy, you can buy dowels at Home Depot or Michaels and construct a "cage" with a flat top and bottom and dowel "bars". Insert treats or fun-looking toys inside and let your Macaw destroy the dowels to get to the goodies. I'm not sure how to hold it together, but maybe get a really long screw and insert it through the middle and then you could unbolt it to refill? This is one I'm going to try to make as they're really expensive to buy already made.

Julie

[blah006]

About the alphabet blocks.. I considered buying those, but then I wasn't sure if the paint was only human baby safe, and not bird safe. But it looks like people have had good experiences with it, so I guess they're okay?

[jriley]

I haven't heard anything bad about them and many people have specifically told me that if they're human baby safe (babies put everything in their mouths!) then they're fine for birds. The only objection I've had to them is they don't seem to be very chew-friendly. My Amazons didn't touch them. However, they are awfully big for an Amazon and would be bite-sized for a macaw.

Julie

[Michelle8822]

One of the things that I do is collect pine cones, bake them in the oven at about 250 degrees for about 10 minutes (to kill bugs) and tie them in the cage. My cockatoo loves to shred them up and they do not cost me anything. :-)

[jimpierce7]

Walmart has a wonderful assortment of wood building blocks. Make great wood shredders!