I loaded two skewers last night in addition to making 6 foraging toys. Look for stainless steel Fun Rings as well (busybeaks.com). Pics below of a Fun Ring and a Skewer.
I pretty much do the same thing as Summer. I have 2 big spaghetti strainers, one gets filled with things that need to be washed, and another is for things that have been washed and are drying. Once they're dry, the go back into the bin. Rocky has been playing in the wood block drawer, which means that there are more splinters in there than wood. I'm going to have to dump the whole thing and pick out salvageable parts. Rocky doesn't always chew toys hanging in his cage, but toss a bunch of stuff on the tray or let him play on the floor, and he'll go to town.
When I use chain or rope, I add a few big acrylic beads with the wood so that it doesn't become just an empty thing to hang themselves with. At some point, I went insane and ordered 100 of the huge acrylic beads, and they are pretty much indestructible. They get a little worn looking, but even Kirby hasn't managed to actually break one. Two of them pictured below with the shape sorter.
The Toos really like these foam alphabet blocks that I picked up somewhere -Walmart or the odd lots store, I think. Kirby, Zuni and Sophia really like to chew up cardboard, so I put sheets of cardboard between the wood blocks. Pooka mostly just wants wood. Jim drilled a bunch with three holes, so the skewer goes through one and then I stuffed the others with pine nuts or pistachios. Zuni likes leather, so I get scraps of leather for him and add it to his toys. He also loves Birdie Bagels. Everyone likes board books - I think I have a board book or two in every single cage right now. Sometimes I make more elaborate toys (Picture), but I just drilled holes near the spines and hung them this time. Sometimes I dye wood, but lately I don't bother because I can't keep up with them. I go through hundreds of pine cones every year. I boil them and bake them to get the germs out. Tuck pine nuts or other treats in there. A paper bag full of pine cones is an easy/fun foraging toy. One of my staple refillable toys is a shape sorter from Wal-mart (picture). I get a new one once or twice a year, and it is in use almost every day. If I'm worried about the safety of something, I offer it when I'm around at first and can keep an eye on them. I'm still a little concerned that Pooka is going to twist his own head off with the Garanimals toy, but he definitely has a good time. Save every cracker or pasta box for foraging toys.
..na, he's fine...it's you I'm worried about..
...the first week I had Elvis I couldnt concentrate at work, all I could think about was getting home to spend time with him and over worried about the same thing you are....It could be a positive thing that he adjusts to being alone for a few hours from the start...I bet ya cant wait to get home...
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so i TOTALLY feel ya!
