macaw toys

[chickensmom]

What are some of the best toy or obejects these birds like.
I spead a furtune on toys weekly, want ideas on toys that are cheaper or that I can make , just throw your ideas to me.

Tell me what all of you do to keep the bird happy on a budget. I am open to all ideas. My macaw is loving toys and is really working them over and i am glad she has stuff to to keep her busy but just a few ways to cut the pet store bill a little

[r2rusmc]

Infant toys.

The connecting rings amuse mine for a good bit. Eventually they get chewed beyond use but they last longer than wood and they are washable.

The toys that make noises amuse them as well but you have to keep tabs that they haven't started to dismantle.

I've invested in some indestructible pipe bells. If you get them, get some earplugs for yourself.

The acrylic foraging toys work.

The cargo net, they always have some Tarzan act to emulate and perfect.

Quarter inch sisal braided into a large lanyard holds their attention.

Then of course anything in my hands seems to captivate them and be a must have item.

Cinnamon sticks, the 12 inchers. They love playing with and chewing on them. Even better and longer if wrapped with sisal then knotted up.

Those of some of the things that amuse mine without breaking the bank.

[nene142]

i do alot of baby toys that's for sure!

[Chief's Mom]

One of the best (and cheapest) things I've found is the cash register receipt tape. I buy the big box at Sams with 48 rolls for less than $12 and it lasts a long time. Every once in a while I take a peice of leather rope or cotton rope and tie the roll to the side of their cage (I take the plastic middle piece out) and let them go to town. The next morning I usually wake up to completely redecorated cages. I don't always leave the paper in there...I'll put it up for two or three days then take it down for a while.

All my macaws also have big stainless steel buckets hanging from their cages (got this idea from Newt and Elliot's Mom!) I fill them with random things like pieces of torn up paper (from above), dried corn husks, woods toys parts from destroyed toys, foot toys, in-shell nuts, etc. They love to dig and see whats new in there. I also find its a great way to use random pieces left over from expensive toys that otherwise would be difficult to use.

I also second the use of the stainless pipe bells mentioned above. At first they cost a bit, but if you get the proper size for your bird, you'll get your money's worth. Chief and Mando both love to ring bells, and I find stainless sounds a lot better than the other metal versions. Either way, you always have to check on the moving parts!! I have a few that I just attach to different toys that I make with quick links. That way, if they get too crazy with the bell, I can remove it...but I can also add a bell to almost any toy.

I'm in the middle of making a big batch of toys right now for all the birds, so I'll have to post some pictures once I'm done. Hopefully I can pass on some of my ideas