Tips on How to Make Bird Toys

Toys are important diversions for birds as birds are highly curious and playful creatures. Birds need to have a variety of different toys as they often grow bored with one toy and seek out new ones for stimulation. Store-bought bird toys can be expensive, but with a little time and ingenuity, it is easy to provide your bird with homemade toys. Below are some tips on making safe and enjoyable toys for your pet bird.

  1. Construction

    • String different objects--building blocks, large wooden beads--together and hang them from the bird's cage, either across it or hanging in a loop. You bird will like climbing or walking on it, as well as playing with the different objects.

    Materials

    • Birds love discovering and manipulating new materials. Challenge your bird by using a different materials for toys, such as leather, rope, metal, wood, cardboard and plastic in your bird toys. Use items of different textures--birds like things they can shred, puncture,and manipulate. Make sure all of the items are short enough so your bird won't get entangled.

    Shiny Objects

    • Shiny and metallic objects attract a bird's attention, so attach shiny baubles like bells and aluminum keys to your bird toys. You can even attach a mirror to your bird toy--birds like to see their reflections. Just be sure the metallic objects you use are durable and not coated with chemicals. Be especially careful about objects coated in metallic paint, because birds will often try to peel paint coatings off with their beaks. Even if a paint or other product is non-toxic to humans, it might still be dangerous to your bird.

    Safety

    • Safety comes first. Birds usually play with toys by holding them with one foot and manipulating them with their beaks, so do not use materials like small beads that can easily get lodged in your bird's throat. Avoid using hinges that can snap together and crush your bird's beak or feet.

      Think of your bird as a small child when it comes to safety. If you would not trust the item or material with a child, don't trust it with your bird. Also consider the size of your bird. The type of items you use to build a toy for a large macaw or cockatoo will be different than those for a parakeet or lovebird. In general, bigger birds should have toys containing bigger objects and smaller birds should have toys with smaller objects. This will minimize the risk of a big bird swallowing a small item or a small bird getting trapped in the parts of a big toy.