Can you make homemade bird toys?

What are the benefits of homemade bird toys?

Making your own bird toys at home has many benefits compared to buying commercial toys:

• Cheap – Homemade toys are much cheaper than store-bought ones. You can make a variety of toys from materials you already have at home like cardboard, paper and wood.
• Safe – You can carefully select safe, non-toxic materials. Many commercial bird toys contain heavy metals or harmful chemicals.
• Customizable – You can make toys in different shapes, colors and textures to suit your bird’s preferences. Store toys often look identical.
• Engaging – Making the toys together provides mental stimulation. Birds also enjoy destroying homemade toys made of natural materials.
• Eco-Friendly – Reusing household items reduces waste. Commercial toy manufacturing has environmental impacts.

In summary, homemade toys are budget-friendly, safe, customizable, fun to make together, and eco-friendly. Your bird benefits enormously from the extra enrichment.

What household materials can be used to make bird toys?

Many reusable household items make great DIY bird toys:

Paper
– Toilet paper/paper towel rolls
– Cardboard boxes (remove any tape/staples)
– Egg cartons
– Uncoated paper plates
– Paper bags
– Old mail/newspapers

Wood
– Popsicle sticks
– Corks
– Twigs, branches, pinecones from safe trees
– Untreated wood blocks, planks or dowels

Natural fibers
– Rope made from natural fibers
– Seagrass mats
– Sisal fabric strips or twine
– Cotton rope
– Jute

Kitchen items
– Wooden spoons
– Bamboo steamer baskets
– Loofahs
– Small wicker baskets

Avoid any toxic/sharp materials like metal, plastic, rubber, foam or painted/varnished wood. Check items are bird-safe.

What bird toy shapes can you make from household materials?

With a bit of creativity, you can transform household materials into fun bird toys of different shapes and textures:

Foraging toys
– Fill toilet rolls with treats, then stack, loop or bunch them together
– Punch holes in a cardboard box and fill with shredded paper or crumpled newspaper balls
– Stuff paper bags with hay/shredded paper for birds to demolish

Wind chimes
– String together corks, wooden beads, opened-out popsicle sticks, feathers
– Punch holes in a paper plate, thread and dangle craft materials from each hole

Swings, ropes and perches
– Hang natural fiber rope, seagrass mat strips, wooden dowels or branches from the cage ceiling for swinging, climbing and chewing

Piñatas
– Fill paper mâché shapes with treats for birds to tear open

Ball pit
– Fill a box with scrunched-up waste paper for birds to rummage and nest in

Let your imagination run wild! Check online for tutorials on making more complex bird toy shapes like ladders, beads and puzzles.

What are some step-by-step examples of making homemade bird toys?

Here are a few easy homemade bird toy ideas to try:

Paper basket foraging toy

Materials:

• Small paper food or shopping bag
• Scissors
• Birdseed, millet spray, diced fruit/veg

Steps:

1. Cut off bag handles if present
2. Open up bag and flatten out
3. Fill with foraging materials like birdseed
4. Scrunch and twist bag shut to seal
5. Hang bag securely inside cage for bird to rip up and forage

Paper plate foraging wheel

Materials:

• Paper plate
• Marker
• Scissors
• String/twine
• Bird treats

Steps:

1. On back of plate, mark a circle near outer rim and several holes in the circle
2. Cut slits following the circle marking to create flaps
3. Cut holes in the circle area
4. Thread string through a hole and tie ends together to hang wheel inside cage
5. Hide treats in flaps and holes for bird to forage

Natural wood perch

Materials:

• Wooden dowel, branch or plank
• Sandpaper
• Rope/twine

Steps:

1. Sand down any rough edges from wood piece
2. Wash and dry branch thoroughly
3. Tie rope securely around each end for hanging
4. Hang wood swing inside cage at a safe height for perching and chewing

Have fun making toys together with your bird – get creative! Always supervise your bird when playing.

What precautions should you take when making homemade bird toys?

While DIY bird toys offer great benefits, you need to take some basic safety precautions:

• Use non-toxic materials – Avoid plastics, rubber, foam, adhesives/glue, paints and any metals.
• Clean materials – Wash, disinfect and dry components thoroughly before use.
• Remove hazards – Trim away sharp points or edges. Take out pins, staples, etc.
• Check size – Toys and parts must be bigger than your bird’s head to prevent choking.
• Secure attachments – Use sturdy bird-safe hooks, cords and fasteners that can’t be easily destroyed.
• Supervise play – Always watch your bird interacting with new toys in case of any issues.

Check any craft materials are non-toxic for birds before using. Natural, sustainable materials are ideal. Avoid toxic fumes from paint, adhesives or preservatives. With basic safety and supervision, you can make great toys!

What are some ideas for where to hang bird toys in a cage?

When hanging bird toys in your cage, aim to place them:

• At varying heights – For jumping/climbing to reach toys
• Opposing perches – So birds fly across the cage to play
• Near food/water – For foraging enrichment while eating
• By cage doors – For interaction when you open the door
• In busy areas – Where your bird spends most of their time
• In open spaces – Avoid congesting their flight paths

Also:

• Use S-hooks on cage wires to easily reposition toys
• Securely attach toys to prevent falling on birds underneath
• Rotate toys weekly to keep things interesting
• Match toys to cage size – Don’t overcrowd their space

Trying toys in new spots keeps your bird challenged and exercising. Place them strategically around your cage for enrichment.

How often should you replace bird toys? How can you extend their lifespan?

Most bird toys should be replaced every 1-3 months for safety and cleanliness, though natural wood/rope toys may last 6 months.

To extend your bird toys’ lifespan:

• Wash plastic/metal parts in mild soap/water and rinse well monthly
• Disinfect wood toys with gentle chemical/UV cleaners every 3-6 months
• Frequently check toys for damage and discard immediately if any pieces come loose or are chewed off
• Rotate toys in and out of rotation to vary your bird’s options
• Make your own using reusable components like stainless steel bells, plastic chains and natural wood

Routinely cleaning and inspecting toys helps them stay usable longer. Homemade toys using durable parts can be revamped with new materials too. Remember to always supervise toy condition for safety.

Conclusion

Making your own bird toys is easy, fun and rewarding. With a little creativity, you can craft amazing foraging, chewing, swinging and climbing toys from recycled household materials. Your birds will love ripping into cardboard, paper, wood and natural fibers much more than store-bought plastic toys. Customize toys to their preferences for greater enrichment. Just be sure to use safe, non-toxic components only. Place toys thoughtfully around their cage setup to encourage exercise and exploration. Clean and inspect toys regularly to identify wear and tear. With some simple safety precautions, DIY toys can bring your birds endless hours of enrichment!