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Toy Information
Parrots need toys to keep them physically and mentally healthy. This article explains the importance of toys (see points 4 and 5 in the article).
Please use caution
when choosing or making a toy for your bird. Examine
it for ways that it may cause harm.
Toy
Rotation: The importance of rotating toys and making the best use
of cage space.
Bangles,
Baubles and Beads:
Great all around info on bird toys. What to look for in a toy. Also information
the dangers of some toys.
Caiques
Are People Too: This site is the unofficial site for the Caique Mailing
List. Visit the toy picks to see some wonderfully humorous pictures of
caiques having fun.
Toy
Hazards at Caiques Are People Too: Pictures to accompany some toy
hazzards and firsthand accounts of other dangers.
Toy Stores On-line:
Busy
Beaks: "Busy beaks are happy beaks". "Busy Beaks' bird
toys are veterinarian approved and loved by parrots of every size from
literally all over the world..." Busy Beaks' has a large selection
of toys of every kind; big, small, chewable, indestructible, snack holders,
puzzles, foot toys, toy parts, and the list goes on and on.
Featherbutt Bird
Toys: Wide variety of toys made from coconuts. Check out the picture!
Featherbutts does some amazing stuff with coconuts. They are also constantly
adding new non-coconut items to there store so for a great variety check
them out.
All
Birds Toys:This site not only has toys but has extensive information
on avian nutrition.
Birds
n Ways Bird Toys page: No need to use a search engine to find toys,
just visit this Birds n Ways' Bird Toys page. More links to toy websites
than you can shake a stick at.
TalonToys:
Bird toys and some parts for making your own.
Your
Parrot Place: Bird toys and some parts for making your own.
Pet
Tents: Little
tents for you fids to play in. NOTE: The link may not go directly to the
bird tents, but by clicking on links they are pretty easy to find.
Chopper's
Toys: They have some unique items. "Safe, Destructible, Textured
Tear-up Parrot Toys by Design-Rite."
For Fids'
Sake: Toys and cage accessories
Make Your Own Toys:
Birds
Just Wanna Have Fun: I think this site may have everything you need
to make your own toys. This page
has several good ideas including: Bird Toy Info -- toy box, remake an
old toy, toy making basics, how to color bird toys, homemade bird toys,
and games. It also has Toy Instructions-- tamale toy, hanging wood toy,
paper roll toy, how to attach dice.
Cyber
Beaks: Some
great toy material ideas.
The
Aviary: More great toy ideas.
Birds
n Ways: Make your own toys.
TalonToys:
Bird toys and some parts for making your own.
Your
Parrot Place: Bird toys and some parts for making your own.
Toy
Ideas:
Pine Cones:
How to prepare
and disinfect them.
Cap Lids:
From milk containers, soda lids, etc. Just watch your parrot and make
sure he is not ingesting the plastic if she/he likes to shred the cap.
Dowel Rods:
Pencil sized dowel rods are almost as fun as real pencils.
Crock for Toys:
I placed a crock in Cleo's cage and filled it with her foot toys. She
takes great delight in emptying the bowl several times through the day.
Her favorite past time is to leave a lone round wooden ball in the crock.
She then positions herself over the crock, beak on one side, rearend on
the other, feet dangling down into the crock just shy of touching the
bottom. She flails her feet around in search for the ball. When she finally
grabs it she stands on the side of the crock and drops the ball back into
the crock. And the whole process is repeated again, and again, and again...
Timber Hide-a-way:
Janet
T. says that her guys like to go into a Timber Hide-a-way and wrestle.
You can see a picture of one here.
I am not in anyway promoting this vendor... it is just the best picture
I could find.
Igloo: Cleo and Monte like to play in their igloo. You can
purchase one in the guinea pig/ferret isle of almost any pet store. I
got the idea from Julie when she posted this
picture of Rio in his igloo. To see Cleo and Monte wrestling in there
igloo click here.
Hanging Toys:
This idea came from Darlene F. She buys a swag hook from the hardware
stoer and screws it into the ceiling. She then attachesa a length of chain
from the hardward store that will inside a 3/4" PVC pipe. Next she
threads the chain through the PVC, then attaches the top of the cain to
the swag hook. She uses a quick link to attach any toy to the bottom link
of the chain. She suggest a 12" section of PVC, stating that it is
plenty to keep her caiques from climbing up the chain to the ceiling.
She says that she has several toys hung this way.
Empty Round Oatmeal
Container (or Neslie's Chocolate, Ovaltene, etc): Jayne S. came
up with this one. Her fiddos like to get into the container and roll and
sing. She also suggest poking a hole in the container and says "pretty
soon you will see a beak sticking out." She adds, "If you put
one of his/her favorite toys in there he will waller around until he is
worn out!"
Empty 16oz Water
Bottles: Gina W. says that both of her caiques love to drag them
all over their cages, bonging them against the sides of the cages, dragging
them to upper perches to be dropped with a racket, etc."
Baskets: It
is great fun to destroy a basket, or play in a basket. Be sure to purchase
untreated baskets (no shinny coating or paint). Also look for wires and
staples.
Other Toy Sources
Feed Stores:
While chain stores such as PetCo and PetSmart carry an assortment of bird
items you may find a treasure trove of merchandise at a local feed store.
In my case a local feed store, OK Feed, has the largest selection of bird
products. They carry a wide variety of cholla, manzaneta, and grapevine
perches. They also have large cages for sale, toys galore, shower perches,
leather and other toy parts for making your own toys, pellets, and seed
mixes. So, when shopping for your bird give some feed stores a call!
Cat/Dog Toys,
etc.:Don't limit yourself to the bird isle. Some cat toys make
good bird toys. And rawhide chews are a favorite of some birds (especially
the little rawhide shoe). When walking down isles keep your eye open for
something that may be appealing to your little friend.
Note: I have searched for information on whether catnip is bad for birds.
I found nothing on the Internet. I asked my vet for advice on this matter.
He told me that cat nip is not harmful to birds. He advised me to do all
things in moderation concerning the birds and as with all toys, even bird
toys,check to see if they are safe. Use caution when buying any toy for
your bird, even a bird toy. Examine it for ways that it may cause harm.
If you have information that catnip is harmful please e-mail
me. Please read the troubling experience
with catnip that a visitor to Cleo's Corner had.