Am I crazy?

[idrial]

I am very picky about toys. I don't know if its just me, or most people only want the best for their fid.

I hate Petsmart/Petco's toys. My local stores don't have anything up to my standards either. They want $20 for something that Delenn will destroy within a week. The "hardware" isn't reusable for me to make a custom toy later (in most cases). Its just frustrating.

As of right now Delenn only owns about 4 toys that are reusable (meaning I can add my own parts once she is done chewing off the originals). I think she is at risk already of getting bored with them since most of the pieces are gone and I don't have any parts yet to rebuild them. The others just have rope so once they are gone, they're gone.

So I have been looking at websites and have found some toys (and toy parts) I actually like. So after that long rant... my questions are as follows:

1. Where are the best places to get parts for toys? (websites) I have been looking at Grey Feather Toys
2. Do you think that better toys are more important than the "perfect" cage?
3. Is it horrible that I am thinking of spending $100 on toys when the new cage I want is about the same price? Getting the toys would delay the cage upgrade by about a month.

Perhaps I am crazy, but I sorta think better toys are more important than a cage upgrade. A nice new cage without any good toys in it... well that is just sad IMO.

But please, set me straight if you believe otherwise. I haven't ordered the toys yet because part of me feels stupid for thinking that being bored is worse than not having a fancy house. And her cage *is* pretty small and cheap... which is why I am torn on prioritizing the purchases.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[failurebydesign]

Hmm I don't know I think I would choose a cage.

Alot of simple household things can be used as toys, like cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, toy parts are pretty cheap and you can acquire 20$ of parts at a time if that would help you get the cage any faster. You can put seeds in uncooked pasta to keep them busy for a while too..

I guess it just depends on how many things your bird actually has to keep occupied with.

Maybe I am biased because I have been looking at so many cages lately and have alot of toys already lol

Here is where I have bought toy parts from.
http://www.cabirdnerds.com/

Do you have a climbing net? That would cost you maybe 20-30$ to make, keep you busy for a while, and then keep your bird busy for a while!

[Digital_Fid]

"Toys" in my opinion can by anything that keeps your Fid entertained or engaged. So we have a few purchased toys (things we can't make ourselves) and then we have toys we make up. They don't have to be expensive, just thought provoking and birdie safe. We give Gum nuts, plastic rings from food jars - just anything that you come across that they might enjoy and is different and new.

From respected texts on the subject, really your Fid needs a fresh set of toys weekly for the first few years of their life, and then the frequency can decrease a bit. They also need a range of types of toys, ie something chewable, something destroyable, something hard, something soft, something colourful.

As usual, time is money. If you take the time to make toys or invent puzzles, the less money you spend on them. I buy raw toy parts off Ebay for not a lot of money in the form of leather scraps, plastic beads etc.

Hope this helps,
DF

[Astrid660]

I learned quickly after adopting my Cockatoo and seeing how very fast she can shred/chew things up, even things my other birds failed to destroy over the course of six months... Trooper would have it in pieces within minutes... Ten dollar toys became toothpicks over and over and that's when I decided to look into cheaper, more economical options
My African Greys love paper bags, 4L milk jugs (my CAG will bash and chase one around for a while, it's hilarious.) cereal boxes, TP rolls, medium sized boxes (they hide in them and shred them and it takes them all afternoon. Messy for me but they just love it so it's worth it. :P) and popsicle sticks from the dollar store. I just drill holes in them and string them onto pre existing toys.
Making your own toys is definitely cheaper, and reusing parts from old toys that are still salvageable.

[idrial]

You guys are wonderful. I appreciate your advice. I like being able to talk about these sorts of things with people that don't look at me like I have 20 feathered heads.

Ok... I will get the cage and a much smaller portion of the pre-made toys I had planned. I got some birthday money in the mail today that should absorb most of the cost.

Ebay sounds cool for toy part options, and thank you for the link failurebydesign. Please keep posting where you get your toy parts. I am a very crafty person so I would love additional ideas for home made toys.

[Jag]

windycityparrots.com has toy parts, too. They also have occassional sales on toys. I got the boys a leather/bead toy for 99 cents! The shipping was more (of course) but if you buy enough to make it work out .... (I buy birdie bagels there, too). I look at several different websites all the time looking for toys on sale. Yes, I'm HORRIBLE with spending toy money on the fids!

I agree with you on getting the new cage first. Yes, toys are important, but like others have said you can make toys out of really cheap things. I have given the fids milk rings and stuff like that before, too. Mine are more shredders. I did get a shredder that I've already replaced once for the boys in a HUGE size today from the birdstore. Hopefully it will take them longer to destroy!

[Phenomenon]

Yes.... :)

*just answering your question.

[loyallyroyal]

This might give you some cheap ideas:
The Picky Parrot

Foraging toys are a great investment because they are refillable, I have the foraging cage and I put a brown paper bag in it and fill it up with shredded paper, foot toys, and treats.
The Picky Parrot

I have the Creative Foraging System Carousel that I put all of Deweys dry food in and got rid of the bowls, along with the Creative Foraging System 4 big drawers that I put shredded paper in and other goodies.

Another great toy idea is when Michaels has their untreated baskets on sale I get several of the small ones. They make a great cheap toy for $1.50 I buy my toy parts here: http://nalanitoys.com/Woodbirdtoyparts.htm

[idrial]

Originally Posted by Phenomenon

Yes.... :)

*just answering your question.

I know I am crazy... but there are many levels. I should have specified which level I was referring to. lol

[hollyhawkz]

I think your just bird brained crazy! Just like the rest of us. LOL