What homemade toys are safe for a bird? Or things around the house are safe for a bird to play with?

Question

I have a parakeet and a lovebird. My parakeet doesn't really like to play with anything but the expensive bell toys, but my lovebird will play with anything. My parakeet does love to chew on my baskets which I hate. Is there anything close to a basket that he will like that he can chew on? He doesn't like bird chew toys.

Answer 1

Bell toys don't have to be expensive. You can buy bells in bulk from places like http://www.parrotdiseperch.com and you can pick up your own materials to make your own toys from typical craft stores. You can also get some cheap baskets to divert your budgie's attention to those. Birds like to be able to chew something somewhat challenging, like tough cardboards (lovebirds especially), so you can tear apart any box to get those. Just be aware so you don't end up giving your birds glues, adhesives, or tape residue that could be toxic. Also, toilet paper rolls use an adhesive to stick the paper to it that could be damaging to birds, so avoid using those.

Again, craft stores are great. They carry a wealth of neat materials; beads, hemp, rope, squishy shapes, sometimes bells, doll heads, candle covers, etc. If you can find a way to make them forage for treats, it keeps them busy and is rewarding. I like using candle covers, stringing some hemp through it so it hangs in the cage (along with some beads, straws, and squishy shapes), hiding a piece of millet or maybe a Lafeber Nutriberry inside, then covering it with another squishy shape and let my birds go hunting.

Sometimes, also, since he likes bells, you could pick up some cheap cat balls without any catnip. You can usually buy them in fours for a dollar or something, and let him play with those under supervision.

Answer 2

I like to take a sheet of paper and fold it many times lengthwise like a fan. Then I fold it in the middle and hang it over a cage roof wire above a perch, so two "fans" hang down. The birds like to play with and shred the paper; it generally lasts several days.