A few new toy ideas...

[Chief's Mom]

Here's a few pictures of some new toys I've been working on lately. We've already learned that Tootie can chew through the plastic rope on the beaded ball toy in about 2.5 seconds...so no more of that rope for her Other than that, the wood comes from Casey's Wood from the big birdie box special they sell. I dyed all the wood myself with colors from www.vitakritter.com, beads, regular coffee filters, and supreme cotton rope. For some of the smaller toys, I use the plastic rope from CA Bird Nerds, but it seems that its best for only the little ones Don't know why the last picture came out weird.

I'm keeping a pile of extras on the side to send to TGF and Anna's rescue as well. As soon as the boxes are full, I hope to ship them over.

[RicosMom]

Wow! Those are amazing!

[becca623]

Your toys look great....very professional.

[Peanutbutter]

Wonderful job! Bet you're tired of tying knots! :)

[Chief's Mom]

Actually I only have a few basic designs with my toys, but for variety, I just add different types, colors, and textures of things....I'll alternate natural wood with craft wood, or plastic with something shreddable. For the macaws, I have long lengths of PVC pipe and wooden rolling pins with holes drilled all around, that I put cotton rope through and tie all kinds of things to it. The only toys I buy are acrylic/foraging toys, boings, and stuff that's on sale. I even find a lot of the craft wood on clearance in the back of Hobby Lobby. The cashiers always look at me funny when I walk up with 40 bags of little tulips or apples or whatever, but when they're 6 cents a bag, she can look all she wants

I also have OCD, so as much as I try to be spontaneous, there always seems to be some alternating pattern that shows up in the toys...it never fails The knots really aren't so bad with the Supreme cotton rope, but I tear my fingers up working with sisal or coconut rope. I like the cotton too, because it unbraids into three strands. If you look at the toy that looks sort of like a butterfly, that's only about a 3' piece of rope that I tied in the middle to make a loop, then unbraided to make 6 strands total. I like the wood to be tight on the rope when I make toys, so I drill the holes smaller, to fit the unbraided rope size. It takes the birds just a little bit longer to break the wood off the rope if its a tight sqeeze to put the wood on there

[nene142]

These are great you are amazing ya that's alot of knots too! My severe loves knots thoght too! lol great job though

[becca623]

I'm going to have to check out the back of the local hobby lobby. thanks for the tip. I have a question. You said you like the cotton rope because you can separate it....how do you get it through the wood without it unraveling? I have tried it but then I can't get it through the wood because it pulls apart so easy. Where do you get Supreme cotton rope?

[Chief's Mom]

I usually order the rope from California Bird Nerds--Simple Joys and Safer Bird Toys or

Bird Toys by Grey Feather Toy Creations. Parrot Swings, Bird Boings, Bird Toy Parts, Bird Play Gyms, Natural Parrot Food, Stainless Steel Hardware, Oxine, Bulk Toy Parts & More!.

I usually order 100' or 200' at a time, as I try not to run out. ( I make toys pretty often...at least two a night while watching TV when my husbands home from working overseas.) All I do is tape the end of the rope with packing tape. I find it's a little stiffer than regular tape, and I just cut the end of it off when I'm done. Definitely check out your Hobby Lobby. I know ours has a clearance section along the back wall. Sometimes you have to dig, but there have been days when I've walked out of there with two full shopping bags full of wood for less than $6. Can't complain about that