Making toys from household and collected items?

[Dragooness]

Little snot destroyed the only toy (well the chew-able wicker stuff) as soon as I gave him it. Last owner swore he never touched toys. Need a few things to hold me over for a week and a half until I can get paid again, already planning an order from Cali Bird Nerds!

So out of things native near me I have yucca and bamboo I know of. The yucca here seems thinner than what is used in the toy making industry. I think its a smaller species is all. The bamboo should make a darn good swing.

Any other growing things I can use? Maybe cattail?

I know toilet paper tubes, as well as paper towel. Shredded newspaper. Paper cupcake tins (NO WAX)... any other things?

Thanks for yall's help

 

[AkasyaEllric]

There are quite a few things you can pick up at the Dollar Tree that are acceptable toys also to hold you over. A small bird only pencil sharpener and some plastic or paper straws can make some pretty fun toys. Cardboard is also a good destructible. Dixie cups cut so you can put them in on themselves with a treat and krinkle paper (again Dollar Tree) can make a fun foraging toy as well. If you use facebook I would recommend looking for some bird toy making groups since they have files on safe stuff as well usually.

 

[Dragooness]

The dye in the paper is not unsafe? what about the dollar tree raffia? I can spare 10$ to hold him over. But good god he DESTROYED it. Such a happy baby

 

[AkasyaEllric]

The dye in the paper is not unsafe? what about the dollar tree raffia? I can spare 10$ to hold him over. But good god he DESTROYED it. Such a happy baby

Stuff like this is safe, as long as it isn't the plastic kind, paper only. https://www.dollartree.com/voila-crinkle-cut-red-decorative-paper-shreds-2oz-bags/195262. Raffia is fine to be played with, but, it needs to be short because it doesn't break easily and is a strangulation risk. Tissue paper isn't safe though because glue is used in it. Oh, you could also just get plain old coffee filters too!

 

[Dragooness]

Oooo. The rafia was for stringing. I used to do this thing with cupcake papers that drove my tiels NUTS. String one, use a bead or something to make a gap, string anther.. on and on. Then dump seed in the many many folds. May try that with this guy, I can knot the raffia.

 

[Mizzely]

Raffia I only use in small sections as it is unforgiving if it gets wrapped around a leg.

From the dollar store: coin wrappers, paper straws, puzzle pieces, some of the baby shower plastic charms, the willow wreaths.

My quaker also loves qtips.

 

[Rain Bow]

Raffia I only use in small sections as it is unforgiving if it gets wrapped around a leg.

From the dollar store: coin wrappers, paper straws, puzzle pieces, some of the baby shower plastic charms, the willow wreaths.

My quaker also loves qtips.

I don't like the thin raffia from the Dollar Tree. It smells like dirt & sort of musty. I'd avoid tbis one, if it's from dollar tree not because of the dirt, but the musty type of smell. Although, I did try it w/ beads & it wked well. I like the crinkle paper from there. But alas, not Buddy's scene.

The paper straws work great!

I got a large tube of cupcake thingies @ walmart. Really cheap compared to our grocery. But you can't go wrong w/ Ann's stuff from Cabirdnerds. Check the site though because I believe shes got a week or 2 where the shop is closed, coming up soon!

 

[redindiaink]

I'd skip toilet paper rolls and make your own with poster board/card stock, or use cereal boxes instead.

 

[rocky'smom]

Paper towel tubes & coffee filters.

 

[Zara]

I'd skip toilet paper rolls and make your own with poster board/card stock, or use cereal boxes instead.

Kitchen towel rolls are good alternatives. They can be cult in half to be the same size as a toilet paper tube.
I always have a toilet paper roll or two in my living room that I use to clean up after the birds etc and so they are safe/clean.

Check out DIY Drive | Avian Avenue Parrot Forum for toy making ideas

 

[Dragooness]

Thank you guy, so may ideas! Ill toss a few toys together after work and see what we end up with!

 

[redindiaink]

I always have a toilet paper roll or two in my living room that I use to clean up after the birds etc and so they are safe/clean.

We tend to assume they are. I love science which has made me more keenly aware of my surroundings. Me? I stick my fingers down into the tubes to peel off a bit from the roll and my hands aren't always spotless ... unless it's on a roll holder I assume they're not suitable for bird toys. It's just not worth the risk to save a few pennies.