How to Make Parrot Toys

Toys are essential to creating a complete, healthy lifestyle for your parrot.

Parrots are very intelligent creatures that require constant stimulation. Providing them with toys is a great way to keep them stimulated. Many pet stores sell them, but they are often expensive, and could contain toxic ingredients. The best way to ensure your parrot is playing with something safe is to make the toy yourself. Homemade toys are relatively cheap to make, and can be fully customizable to fit your bird's personality.

Things You'll Need

• 15-inch pieces all natural cotton fiber rope
• Wiffle Balls
• Leather strips cut in 12-inch strips
• Wooden spools or beads
• Colorful beads
• Colorful yarn cut in 12-inch strips
• Quick links (to hang in cage)
• Construction paper or newspapers

Instructions

Preparation

1. Size up your bird. Think of how the toy is going to look from your parrot's perspective. If you have a conure, your bird's needs are different then if you have a macaw. Size matters. Too large of a toy may frighten the bird, yet too small of a toy could pose a choking hazard.

2. Take into account how much cage space there is for a hanging toy. While you might think a large, complicated toy would be fun for your parrot, if it cuts into his flying and living space, he may not even touch it. Every toy does not need to be a hanging toy; parrots love foot toys. Parrots have many needs that can be fulfilled by many different types of toys, so pick the design that you think best suits the needs of your bird.

3. Gather your materials. Parrots are naturally curious creatures. Bright colors and different shapes, sizes and textures will attract your bird's attention to the toy. The materials required are cheap and easy to find. Remember, parrots can be pretty destructive, so use strong materials.

Hanging Wiffle Ball

1. Thread the cotton rope through the Wiffle Ball. Tie a knot at the end of the rope to secure the ball.

2. 

   Adjust the length of the rope depending on its hanging length in your bird's cage, and attach a quick link to the top of the rope.

3. Thread the leather strips through the Wiffle Ball and tie knots at their ends. Be creative with your knots: Tie multiple knots on each strip, use different kinds of knots or braid the leather.

4. 

   Attach the spools or beads to yarn using knots. Thread the yarn through the Wiffle Ball and secure by tying knots in the end of the yarn.

Foot Wiffle Ball

1. 

   Cut construction paper into strips, varying the thickness and length of each piece.

2. Tie three pieces of leather to the Wiffle Ball.

3. Stuff the Wiffle Ball with the strips of paper. Make sure there is enough room for your bird to pull the paper out through the holes of the ball.

4. 

   Give the toy to your bird when he is outside of the cage and let him do the rest.

Tips & Warnings

• Always introduce new toys to your bird slowly. This gives your parrot time to adjust to the toy as well as intriguing his attention.

• Do not to use nylon rope, as it can fray and cause harm to your bird. Never tie the ropes in loops. Your parrot could get caught and become severely injured.

Resources

• Parrot Toy Safety Information
• How to Select the Right Parrot Toy