How to Make a Bird Toy Out of Newspaper

Giving enrichment, or toys, to your bird not only prevents boredom, it provides a mental challenge and exercise. Birds are intelligent and active creatures that should be given something new to do every day. This can be difficult and expensive, especially for owners of large parrots, such as macaws and cockatoos, as these birds can shred and chew through large store bought toys in a matter of minutes. If you are short on time, or funds, you can make a toy with newspaper that any bird, from a parakeet to a cockatoo, will enjoy shredding.

Things You'll Need

  • Newspaper
  • Nuts or seeds
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay a section of newspaper on a table. Keep it folded so that you have a large rectangle, as if you were about to open and read the paper.

    • 2

      Roll the newspaper from one end tightly. Stop when you have rolled about 1/4 of the entire paper length.

    • 3

      Place nuts or seeds up against the rolled section. Now roll the paper a few more times, enclosing the nuts or seeds, until about 1/2 of the paper is rolled.

    • 4

      Add some more seeds or nuts to the inside of the newspaper. Then roll the paper to the end. You should now have a very tightly rolled tube of newspaper with nuts or seeds buried inside.

    • 5

      Fold both ends of the newspaper roll tightly so that the seeds or nuts are less likely to fall out.

    • 6

      Weave the rolled newspaper in and out of the bars of the cage. Your bird can now rip apart the newspaper to find a surprise inside.