Jodi, My Palm Tree toy

[The Outlaw]

Jodi:

I broke my last scroll saw blade today trying to beat you to the punch on this (LOL). Guess that was God's way of say "Stop showing off!"

[Lisa B]

look at you two go!!! Outlaw..that is great!!
when ya get all rich and famous from your wonderful toys..dont forget bout us little people that luv ya!!!!

[TooLover]

lol - or supported you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Vankarhi]

Hey Nancy and Jodie, that is another "pinched" idea. LOL. What type of wood do you use? What type of paint/colouring? I am guessing untreated pine and food colouring!!! Where would you get the wood from to be sure it is untreated? Also maybe you two being experts on this can tell me. I am trying to find some sort of ring clips that I can use to attach baby toys to a dog chain and string across the bird cages for the birds to play with. I found split rings, but they are coated in zinc. I noticed when you buy toys for birds in pet shops they are smaller split rings attaching stuff to them. I used a plastic shower curtain ring, but skye had them destroyed in a matter of mins.

[Vankarhi]

Another question, what type of rope? I would hate to make something and it makes my birds sick. Another question for you Nancy, when you use soft drink plastic bottles for toys don't your birds chew the plastic? Or the lids too, don't they chew them? i am collecting a few water plastic bottles to make toys out of also.

[Doug W]

Those are awesome! Great job! You have such talent!

[The Outlaw]

I also find 1 x 8 pine at Home Depot. Don't use oak, however, for it can be toxic. I like the following vendors for toy parts and hardware on Ebay: Birds Only Toys, BirdToyParts and Windy City Parrots. Another online vendor (not Ebay) who is really a great guy (a personal friend) is Sam at http://www.squawkadoodle.com/.

Make certain that all hardware is either stainless steel, nickel plated or aluminum. NO ZINC. The dull looking steel clips available in most hardware stores are NOT safe. They are coated in zinc to retard rust.

I use many hard plastic parts on my toys. The birds don't eat them: they simply have fun chewing them into pieces. Most parrots love to mouth plastic toys.

You can purchase cheap woven paper plate holders (wicker) uncolored and string them together too. My birds just love to chew them up. I also purchase natural wicker wreaths and baskets for the same reason. I rinse them and spray them with GSE and water to make sure whatever sprays used to ship them is removed. Make sure they are dry before offering them to your birds.

A really simple and inexpensive toy is to simply buy some little paper Dixie cups (unwaxed are better, but either will work) and string them like hanging bells. My birds love to destroy those, too. I buy them by the hundreds at BJs and Sam's clubs. I'm their favorite customer (LOL). Cheap paper plates would also be fun.

I am the one who introduced Vitacritter food coloring to this board. Cheryl Mertens, a pharmacist and fellow parrot owner, formulated an entire line of bird safe dyes that are awesome. Once you try them, you'll use them for everything, including Easter eggs. Try www.vitacritter.com for that.



THE OUTLAW

[Vankarhi]

Thanks guys, have printed off this page and will go to work trying to find the stuff here. I have been to 2 hardware places here and cannot find SS rings, only zinc ones, will have to look some more.