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Chinese finger traps

MattP

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Matthew
Finger traps seem to be a popular part of many toys/foraging set ups. I can't find any here in China and nobody knows what they are. I am wondering what is it specifically that makes them popular... what characteristics do they have that make them appealing? Bamboo seems a common material in their construction and i could probably aource aome. Bird-safe glue is something i will need to look into.
 

:)C&B

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Hi, you can use paper and flour glue to make your own finger traps. Below is a tutorial from YouTube and for flour glue, mix flour and water in the proportion of 3:1
Good luck
(These are ones I made IMG_20220727_072336_HDR.jpg IMG_20220727_072358_HDR.jpg
 
Last edited:

MattP

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Matthew
Hi, you can use paper and flour glue to make your own finger traps. Below is a tutorial from YouTube and for flour glue, mix flour and water in the proportion of 3:1
Good luck
(These are ones I made View attachment 411021 View attachment 411020
Thank you for the information. I will try to find somewhere else to learn how to make it... YouTube is blocked in China. Why do birds/bird owners like finger traps as toys?
 

MattP

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I very much appreciate the links... I am interested in the WHY more than the HOW... I'm wondering what the appeal is. What is it that makes them suitable for/appealing to birds, as opposed to just a paper straw, for example?
 

:)C&B

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Treat can be stuffed in with crinkle paper and bird spend a lot of time shredding it to piece. Also it keeps your bird busy.
 

MattP

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Treat can be stuffed in with crinkle paper and bird spend a lot of time shredding it to piece. Also it keeps your bird busy.
Yes i understand it's engaging but a paper straw can also be stuffed with a treat and paper. It's a little fiddley to make thus i am interested to know how it differs from a paper straw, also a cyclindrical object made from paper that can be stuffed with things...
 

AussieBird

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I think mine like the crunchiness and carrying them around. I actually dont often put anything inside I just give as is or as apart of a toy.
 

MattP

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I think mine like the crunchiness and carrying them around. I actually dont often put anything inside I just give as is or as apart of a toy.
Cool... if texture is an important element then maybe bamboo might be a better choice than paper. Cheers!
 

Shezbug

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They are made of palm leaf I’m pretty sure.
I once made paper ones for Burt and he was not impressed- they must be the palm leaf ones for him. They are a really awesome texture and move in a fun fiddly way, they crack and break in a very satisfying manner.
My budgie loves them and Burt will fiddle with them for ages sometimes.
 

Mizzely

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Palm leaf and thin bamboo both have a crunchy texture that is different from paper. In the US they can be bought very cheaply so it's a good filler for toys. Plus they can be stuffed with treats and shredded paper.

They are also wider than a paper straw, so larger treats can be put inside it.
 

MattP

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Matthew
They are made of palm leaf I’m pretty sure.
I once made paper ones for Burt and he was not impressed- they must be the palm leaf ones for him. They are a really awesome texture and move in a fun fiddly way, they crack and break in a very satisfying manner.
My budgie loves them and Burt will fiddle with them for ages sometimes.
Thanks! Sounds great. I can't find palm leaf but are bamboo strips ok for their construction? Would flour glue hold them together? I have to be really careful buying toys here as most of them have unidentifiable dyes or small unsafe parts. I'm trying to go the DIY route as much as possible so i can verify the safety of every single component. I bought balsa wood and put squares of it with cardboard on skewers (the ones used for bird toys)... very happy to see one of my boys make immediate and enthusiastic use of that. Also filled a dixie cup (unwaxed) with millet seeds in wraps of tissue. Another of my boys (still in quarantine) prefers shredding unbleached toilet paper (which is also on a skewer). I would like to find or make some boings next. Maybe will just try to import those.
 
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