How to make things at ¨zero¨ cost?

[Skyandkiwi]

For the toy on the left, I used corn husks and dried them myself. We always have a ton of these when we get corn. And then sort of braided some paper in. That’s it!

For the toy on the right, I used an floppy hat I had laying at home and cut it up (yes, a floppy hat!) and some paper straws.

 

[Skyandkiwi]

I also made this toy. I used a wicker ball I got from an old toy, then there’s a toilet role stuffed with crinkle paper I got from a gift, then some woven pieces I from a floppy hat I didn’t need, then some paper straws, cardboard, yuccas pieces from old toys, and lastly paper. Everything was from my house!!

 

[Leih]

Something super easy all of my birds enjoy is taking a treat and wrapping it up in paper. I leave a little tail so I can weave it through the cage bars, or a use a claw hair clip. My linnies especially love this!

 

[Wardy]

Foraging box made from a small cereal box few treats inside and crinkle paper.

 

[Leih]

This cardboard thing came with my chewy order today and it will make a great forager. I shredded paper (also packing material) and stuffed the holes and put in some treats. I added some colored shredded paper because it was looking monochrome, but even with no color they love to dig in things like this!

 

[Wardy]

I used a parrot pipe but can easily replace with a kitchen roll tube and some paper straws ( they can be picked up cheaply from amazon for a few hundred )
Stuff the pipe with straws cut to a few different lengths stuff a couple of seeds in the shorter straws.

 

[Wardy]

Similar idea but hanging in cage no treats inside though ( that would be to easy ) but they love to destroy straws.

 

[Zara]

some paper straws ( they can be picked up cheaply from amazon for a few hundred )

If anyone is really struggling, you can get free straws from coffee shops (costa, starbucks) or mcdonalds, burger king etc. Obviously only taking a few, or asking beforehand.

 

[adenbarnab]

Actually found some pictures and I also remember adding extra things inside like beads, bits of sea grass, paper strips, etc.
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Absolutely love it could be used for birds of any size

 

[BluJay]

This thread is fire! Great ideas so far! Keep them coming everyone.

 

[AussieBird]

I know it's not a viable option for everyone but natural toys save me heaps of money. This one I just gave to Nautilus. Banksia pod with sunflower seeds, it'll be his first foraging toy

 

[Xoetix]

I know it's not a viable option for everyone but natural toys save me heaps of money. This one I just gave to Nautilus. Banksia pod with sunflower seeds, it'll be his first foraging toy
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Well that's nifty! Is it from a native tree or did you find it online?

 

[AussieBird]

Well that's nifty! Is it from a native tree or did you find it online?

It is a native tree, but they grow more by the coast. I grabbed some awhile ago when I was there. You generally can buy them online here though.

 

[Shezbug]

I know it's not a viable option for everyone but natural toys save me heaps of money. This one I just gave to Nautilus. Banksia pod with sunflower seeds, it'll be his first foraging toy
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I collected a huge bag full of these for my birds and none of them were interested in them ungrateful brats they are!

 

[AussieBird]

I collected a huge bag full of these for my birds and none of them were interested in them ungrateful brats they are!

Quarter liked the one I gave him ages ago. I still haven't tried them with the budgies yet.
Your's won't use them for treats?

 

[Shezbug]

Quarter liked the one I gave him ages ago. I still haven't tried them with the budgies yet.
Your's won't use them for treats?

No, only one bird really has an interest in treats and he’s realised with a treat container like that cb particular one he just has to shake it, throw it or drop it and his treats are on show on the floor and easy to retrieve.
The Squeakster and The Birdie Turdie would rather starve than work for their meals and as neither is fat I won’t force them to forage for meals.

 

[VanSwss]

LOVE this thread!!

 

[Tiki Tiel]

My cockatiel loves wires and paper so I just cut thin strips of paper and she’ll make spitballs and rip them up. She also LOVES chewing on the stick of millet when all of the millet has all been eaten off of it. So I like to make little bowls of just paper and millet sticks. Can also put on a toy skewer that all the toys have been removed from.

 

[Zara]

She also LOVES chewing on the stick of millet when all of the millet has all been eaten off of it.

That is a favourite amongst my girls too

 

[LiveLolBrd]

Here are the toy's I made this morning. Not exactly ZERO cost but pretty close. Just some craft supplies I had laying around.