Maiosameru Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 I don't have much money at all, and my grey didn't have but one toy when I took him from my parents. I know the poor guy has to be bored stiff with the one thats in his cage (he's probably had it over 5 years) I want to keep him entertained and help to make him a bit more cuddly and less jumpy around my husband and I..what would be a good cheap toy to use in play between me and the bird? What would really get him thinking, and challenge him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoom Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 You could make him toys for next to nothing, using things like empty paper towel rolls, paper and beads. I buy baby toys at the thrift shop for Simon - they're usually about three for a dollar. I spend a fair amount of time watching him play, because it's interesting and it gives me a better idea of what kinds of things he likes to play with at this stage of his life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eshana Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 After five years a bird will certainly get bored of a toy! Try switching things around several times a month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray P Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 We make toys out of plastic bottle tops old medicine bottles with caps they can pull off and toss the bottle around or hang then on a string. Corky loves to play in my wifes tall boy laundry basket. She will climb up and down the basket for hours. We also have about a million dollars worth of store bought toys. We live in a log cabin so we have to keep her off the walls because with all that wood she thinks died and went to heaven. To keep her out of trouble is a full time job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenabrd Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 whiffle balls, bendy straws, folded/rolled newspaper,plastic baby keys, coffee filters (hide treats in them), check for safe wood species and if you have some of those around, cut some branches, if you can afford it-bells, plastic practice golf balls. check on line, there's lots of great ideas out there! good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Please check thru the Homemade toys and playstands room for lots of threads with ideas of cheap or free toys you can make from common things found around most households as sometimes they get the most enjoyment from those instead of those expensive made for bird toys found on the market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiosameru Posted April 28, 2011 Author Share Posted April 28, 2011 I was able to get some baby toys that were hand-me-downs from my sister. He was playing like crazy with one of the rattle things earlier today..making all sorts of noise ^^ I take it that means it was a hit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bran Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Hi There!! I discovered at the grocery store the little cat toys with bells in them are great usually two dollars for a pack of six, and "lots of links" plastic teething rings 44 for $3 (target), and got some cotton rope from the local hardware store to make some hanging toys (using recycled toys that have been destroyed) and there are kits you can buy online for "build it yourself" toys too! I never thought I would enjoy arts and crafts after several years at camp as a kid.... but hey, maybe it was training for having parrots! lol! Judygram is right, there are also a ton of ideas for toy ideas in the archives! Have Fun!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDS5607 Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Wiffle balls, chunks of wood, and bottle caps are great toys! Just make sure anything you Get from a yardsale or thrift store is a newer toy, as some older toys have lead and other dangerous things in them Oh- and greys live to chew-- get him some chunks of pine and drill a hole in them and put them on a string! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munch Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I stink at toy making but this was soooo easy even I couldn't screw it up and my birdie loves it (got the idea somewhere here)- A fist full of straws (cheap!) and a zip tie (cheap!), pull that zip tie around the straws as tight as possible until it forms a sunburst. Attched it to her cage with a key chain clip. Done and it's a favorite even more than her store bought toys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allie Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 We noticed an affinity for the TV remote and the Playstation controller. He preferred these over his expensive wood-and-leather-and-screws toy. Now we've given him a watertight map box from kayaking. It clasps shut which is an interesting challenge, and it's on a string (Knots!). Plus, it's black and plastic like our remotes and controllers. I'm happy we found a free stand-in for our expensive electronics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butttaxi Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 I suck at toy making but I try. Toys can get pretty pricy and since the main purpose is for them to destroy it really feels like you are throwing away money so I try my best and using whatever I can find cheap or recycle whatever I can in the house that could be fun to shred or break. w A little shredable toy I made that was loved was made with things I found around the house: paper rolls shredded paper coffee filters string or yarn treats I stuffed the paper rolls with shredded paper and treats, tied coffee filters around the ends to close them up using yarn. Made 3 of these and then tied them together and hung them in the cage. He had them shredded in no time and loved every minute of it. It cost me nothing to make I did have to be careful with the yarn so he wouldn't get it tied around his leg so when he finished with the toy I removed the yarn right away. Also fill a coffee filter with treats, tie it with string or a bendy straw to the cage is a very easy and cheap foraging toy. Allowing them to help you read your "junk" Mail haha they LOVE ripping and shredding paper. I was over my moms one day and they have Lovebirds. I had them out of the cage but they didn't interact with me so much until I picked up some paper that I pretend to read. The lovebirds jumped off the cage onto the arm of the chair I was in and started chomping the edges of the paper lol they were so cute. These are just a few ideas, there are sooo many other things you can do and find to help entertain your bird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoom Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 I've made simple cardboard mailboxes for my birds, and every day I play mailman with them. I announced a "special delivery" as I put things in their mailboxes. A wrapped treat or foot toy, anything little and interesting and that requires a bit of effort on their part to open. They really love this. It's a highlight of their day. It's easy and cheap and fun and they get so excited every time I announce a Special Delivery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butttaxi Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 I've made simple cardboard mailboxes for my birds, and every day I play mailman with them. I announced a "special delivery" as I put things in their mailboxes. A wrapped treat or foot toy, anything little and interesting and that requires a bit of effort on their part to open. They really love this. It's a highlight of their day. It's easy and cheap and fun and they get so excited every time I announce a Special Delivery. I really like this idea I think I will be crafting when I am off work next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray P Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 Some times It`s the simple things they enjoy the most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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