How to Make Toys for Parrots

Most large parrots are power chewers and can rip up a section of 2x4 in no time flat. You should always keep a good rotation of toys to keep parrots occupied. This helps to prevent feather plucking that occurs out of boredom.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vegetable tanned leather strap (1/8 inch or ¼ inch)
• Various leather shapes
• Paulie rope
• Various wooden blocks (large)
• Various plastic blocks and beads (large)
• 1/8 inch drill bit and drill
• Stainless steel pear links or quick links

1. 
    
   Bird Toys

   Cut three sections of leather or paulie rope in 36 inch lengths. Knot them at the top. Insert a quick link between the lengths of the material, just below the knot. Starting at the quick link, tightly braid about six inches of the three lengths of material. Make a strong knot at the end of the braid.

2. String various large blocks and plastic pieces on the three lengths of material that are left hanging. Knot the ends off. If you are using paulie rope, you can slightly melt the knot at the end to help make it difficult for a parrot to untie the knot.

3. 
    
   Bird Toy Bases

   Make a second toy by using a wide plastic boomerang shaped piece or other toy base. Drill holes about one inch up from the bottom of the boomerang shaped plastic. One hole should be in the middle (where the bend is), and you should have at least three holes on each side of the middle hole. Make the holes an equal distance apart, and make an even number of holes on each side of the middle hole so the toy is balanced.

4. String 24 inches lengths of paulie rope or leather through the holes. Let the rope hang down evenly on both sides.

5. Knot the two hanging pieces around the bottom of the boomerang. String various blocks and plastic pieces on both ends of the rope. Repeat for the rest of the ropes lengths hanging from the boomerang. Repeat for each hole. Knot the ends off so the parts do not slide off.

Tips & Warnings

• If some of the wood or plastic pieces do not have holes in them, drill holes using the drill bit and drill, so the parts may be strung up.
• Always check the toys, and cut off any extra strings after the parrot has chewed the pieces off. You can either cut and knot off the exposed string or leather, or you can add new parts and knot off at the end.
• If the parrot seems to be afraid of the new toy, put it in the same room, in the parrot’s line of sight. Move it closer to the cage every couple of days, until it is hanging on the outside of the cage. When the parrot begins to chew on the toy, you can safely move the toy to the inside of the cage.

Resources

• Toy Parts for Making Bird Toys