Pasta Chains

Submitted by: Unknown - January 15, 1997
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds
Try stringing a variety of different size pastas (uncooked) on ropes and hanging them in your birds cages. My birds love moving the pieces up and down on the ropes and playing with them. They also enjoy a tasty morsel or two and the pasta is good for them.

Rawhide, Nuts and Kool Aid

Submitted by: Ryan - rshauers@linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us - March 31, 1997
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds
I have invented some really cool toys (in my opinion) for my tiel and keet. All you have to do is buy a rawhide dog bone some kool-aid and some nuts (the kind that your bird is obsessed with). Okay first boil some water, when that is done put the rawhide and the kool-aid in the boiling water until the rawhide turns soft. Then all you do is cut holes big enough in the rawhide to slip in the nuts but they cant slip out very easily and just let that dry! And your bird will have fun pulling the nuts out and eating the fruit flavered and colorful rawhide strips! My birds favorite is the strawberry kool-aid with sunflower seeds in it, but obviously a cockatoo would want a bigger nut.

Birdie Kabobs

Submitted by: Ashley - April 3, 1997
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds
Wish your birds would eat more fruits and veggies? Try Birdie Kabobs. Cut up pieces of apple, lettuce (use romaine or one of the types with more vitamins - not iceberg), zucchini, pineapple or your bird's favorites and slide them onto a blunt edged skewer. Hang the skewer in the cage and watch your birds have fun while they get needed vitamins and minerals. You can make your own skewers or use the ones from some of the refillable toys which some toy manufacturers make. One such source is Avian Antics Bird Toys.

Corn Flakes and Raisin Boxes

Submitted by: Becky - corvettes@rocketmail.com and Helen B. Capps - June 17, 1997
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds
My parrots all like those small corn flake boxes. When my boyfriend was in the hospital last year he used to save all those small corn flake boxes for me (he was there for several months) and I give them each one once a week and they all have the best time tearing into them and getting at the corn flakes inside. Once all the corn flakes are gone they proceed in shreading the rest of the box up. - Becky & Feathered Friends

Speaking of wrapped treats my birds absolutely love the little snack size boxes of raisins. I give them box and all and they have fun holding the box in their feet and tearing into them. - Helen

Hanging Nut Logs

Submitted by: Lorraine K. Wade - lorraine@idirect.com - June 5, 1997
Bird toy can be used for Medium/Large Size Birds
Take a strip of pine (soft wood) about 2" wide X 4" long and 1/2" thick into which you drill two holes just smaller than the diameter of whole almonds in the shell: You steam (or wet thouroughly) the wood, then with a mallet, you force the nuts into the holes... With a smaller hole at the top to hang it from.

Pinecone Special

Submitted by: Tonya + Leandra - September 04, 1997
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds
Here are the things you will need for your Pinecone Special.
1 Pinecone
Pure honey
seed
yarn

1. Take your Pinecone and wash it off with water to take off any dirt that may be lurking around on it.
2. Take your honey and coat the pinecone all over, I would say a medium layer of honey.
3. Take the pinecone and roll it all around in the seed until it is covered with it.
4. Take your yarn and tie it around near the top of the pine cone enough to hang from the cage.
whala! Your Pinecone Special!
It is almost like the honey sticks at the store only with this recipe the birds can play with the whole thing. Eat the seed, honey and break off pieces of the pine cone. The pine cone is like a toy in the middle. And honey is okay for birds to eat.

Coconut Surprise

Preening A Towel For Seed

Submitted by: Macawman - December 21, 1997
Bird toy can be used for Small&Medium Size Birds
Take a clean towel and sprinkle seed in it.The bird will
Have a great time preening for seed!

Quick Treat

Submitted by: Rissa - January 10, 1998
Bird toy can be used for Medium&Large Size Birds
Take the cardboard roll from paper towels and make a hole just large enough to insert whatever you have to hang it from the cage with. Spread a thin layer of peanutbutter on it then roll it in your birds favorite seed. My Blue and Gold picks off the seed then eats the peanutbutter and then of course completely destroys the cardboard.

Christmas Decorations?

Food Toys for Picky Eaters

Submitted by: PJ - May 9, 1998
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds
Food toys are great for picky eaters. By food toys I mean food presented in such a way that a finicky eater will be tempted to play with and then nibble on it and eventually learn to eat it. Here are some examples:

Take a carrot or a beet , preferably with the top (greens) still on and make a hole about 3/4 of an inch from the thick end. Put a short piece of sisal through it . Take a carrot peeler and peel down the side of the carrot without removing the peels. Do this all around the carrot or beet and you will have a carrot mop that your bird will hopefully play with and sample.

Take a thick woody carrot preferably with the greens still attached, and place it high up in the cage. Notch or wedge the end without the greens between the bars until it is secure, or secure with screw and washers and if it's the highest perch in the cage, your bird is sure to investigate it. Eventually, they usually rub their beaks on their new perch and then bite and chew on it. Chances are once they start chewing on it, they will learn to eat carrots.

Brussell sprouts on the stalk hung in the cage usually winds up as a half eaten swing. In the case of very timid birds, try hanging a fruit or veggie outside of the cage almost out of the parrot's reach. What parrot do you know that won't reach for something it thinks that you don't want it to have? Be inventive! Make eating nutritiously fun for both of you!

Bead Brigade

Submitted by: Summer Dreams - June 20, 1998
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds
Materials needed:

5-10 medium-size beads in assorted colors
1 piece of twine or THICK string 12" (inches) in length
5-10 multi-colored bird pellets (depending on bird & pellet size)
1 keychain--big enough so bird CANNOT swallow

Step 1- Tie knot on one end of twine leaving 2" (inches). Make knot large enough so the beads cannot slip off.

Step 2- Slip bead on, then leaving some space (about 1"), tie another knot.

Step 3- Repeat "Step 2", this time using pellets. Take turns with beads and pellets, until there are only 2" (inches) left on the twine. Then, tie your final knot.

Step 4- Take the two "finished" ends and make a circle out of the toy by tying the ends onto the keychain. Make sure it is tight enough that the birds can't rip it off.

Finally, put the keychain part of the toy on the top of the birdcage.

Sit back, and watch the fun! It's great for the birds and a little more weight for you're wallet!

Toy/Treat box!!!

Fun Way To Feed Veggies!

Froot Loop Fun!

Popcorn String

Brazilian Walnut Toy

Cheerio Nibble

Peeled Treat

Peanut String

Submitted by: Lisa Dobi - October 25, 1999
Bird toy can be used for Medium&Large Size Birds
You'll need: peanuts in the shell
needle and thread

My goffins cockatoo was doing her usual "I'm-bored-so-I'll-scream-until-someone-can't-take-it-anymore" routine, so I took out my sewing kit and threaded together about twenty peanuts. I just pierced them right through the middle and hung the finished "chain" from her cage. She went after it with great enthusiasm. It was gone far faster than I could make it, but it quieted her down and then gave her great satisfaction, so she just sat there and preened for a while.

Oranges???

Millet Feeder

Raisin Boxes

Submitted by: Lena - December 29, 2000
Bird toy can be used for Medium&Large Size Birds
Get the bags of raisins that are packaged in very small boxes, usually about two inches long. Very simple, open the bag, take a little box out, and hand it to your bird. Of course he'll start in chewing, and find it packed full of raisins. My birds love it. :)

Walnut Ring

Braided Fruit

Tikana's Toy

Submitted by: The human Tikana owns - April 16, 2001
Bird toy can be used for Small&Medium Size Birds
Here is something yummy, easy and fun. All you need is:

Some all-natural flavoured tutti-fruiti dental floss
Corks, leather, beads, rawhide, bells, etc
Kool-aid (prefably natural or un-sweetened) or vegetable dye
Feathered-friend's favourite dried berries

Boil water and add the dye and rawhide. Soak together until the rawhide has turned roughly the colour of the kool-aid. Thread the tutti-fruiti floss with a rather blunt needle and weave through the beads, rawhide, yummy dried berries, etc and tie on a bell at the bottom. Hang from perch, roof of the cage or side of the cage. Birds love it no end! It's

-Tasty (kool-aid flavoured raw-hide, berries, flavoured dental floss)
-Challenging (Pulling the flavoured-and unflavoured!-objects off)
-Fun (all of the above, plus the bell)

Hanging Cup Surprise

Fruity Fun

Bird Candy

Submitted by: Jenni - September 27, 2001
Bird toy can be used for Small Size Birds
I just found this out with my little blue parakeet, Joey. You know the green leafy things at the top of celery stalks? Well, it's Mother Nature's natural "Bird Candy"! Joey LOVES it! It's healthy as long as you don't over-feed your bird. Only one leaf will do every 2 days or so--just to be on the safe side! "Bird Candy" can also be used as a reward if your bird does a special trick! Or hang some at the top or side of your bird's cage for a snack!

Bird of the Rings

Coconut Treat, All Bird Bell Lovers Will Love

Hidy-Hole Stick

Dried Sweet Corn Chew

Edible Frozen Bannana Toy!!!

Submitted by: Sarah - October 03, 2002
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds
This is a great edibale toy for any bird that like's fruit. It's a frozen bannana that is covered. You will need a bannana, a craft stick, foil, wax paper, a srong piece of string, honey or yogurt, granola or graham crackers, knife, bowl and a rolling pin. Just place the graham cracker on the wax paper and roll the rolling pin over it. Then put the yogurt or honey in the bowl and peel the bannana. Cut it in half and insert the craft stick in each half. Dip the bannana halves in the yogurt and roll them in the gram cracker crumbs or the granola. Last place the bannanas in the foil and freeze. This is a good treat for your pet bird and even you!!!!!

For Bird who Won't Eat Greens and Soft Foods

Polly Want a Cracker?

Submitted by: Emma - February 13, 2003
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds
Materials: Paper towel roll (toilet paper rolls may have bacteria on them from the bathroom), cardboard, newspaper (or any paper), bird treats such as seads, dried fruits ect.
Firstly, cut out a circle of cardboard the same size as the end of the paper towel roll. Glue or tape it to the end of the paper roll. I would suggest using non-toxic glue, or masking tape. Then, put some of your birds favourite treats, such as honey covered seeds, or/and some fruit in the open end of the paper towel roll.
Then cover the paper towel roll in old newspaper, like a christmas cracker(make sure the newspaper is only black and white, other wise it could make your pet sick) making sure none of the treats fall out. And walla! This homemade toy will keep your bird occupied for hours on end!
My budgie, Dipsy, loves chewing on the paper towel roll after he's finished eating the treats that he's torn out of the cracker.
I also get a piece or apple, and rub it onto the paper towel roll for Dipsy. He loves licking the flavour off!
Hopefully your bird will enjoy this as much as me and Dipsy!

Fruit Pops

Bird Soccer!

Submitted by: Michael Beasley - April 28, 2003
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds
First, buy a plastic bird ball the type with holes, then simply put bread inside the ball, let your bird ajust to the ball then use it as a ball and play soccer, fetch, use it as an reward or something to keep your bird busy!!! My Rainbow Lorikeet (bluey) loves the ball, its his fav toy but my Cockitiel (Pinchy) is afraid of it!!!
HAVE FUN!!!!

Paper Treat Roll

Submitted by: carly - June 03, 2003
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds
materials:
length of paper - brown paper or lunch wrap paper (the type that comes on a roll)
treats - nuts, dried fruit, seeds, cereal,etc
sisal string

Take a length of paper (depending on the size of your bird and how big you want the toy to be)and fold it in thirds lengthwise. Open it out flat, then place treats along the paper in the middle third. Fold the two edge 'thirds' back over the top of the treats in the middle. Starting at the end, roll the paper carefully into a roll (like a swiss jam roll) being careful that the treats stay spread evenly between the paper. Tie the roll with a couple of lengths of string so that it doesn't come undone. The treats will be inside and should be visible as lumps and bumps under the paper. This is a 'destroy immediately' type toy and is useful if you are going to work for the day - my parrot rips at the paper to get the treats out, and he knows that there is always a big unshelled peanut in the middle, so he destroys the whole thing. Make the toy so that your bird can pick it up and hold it while on his perch, mine are usually about 1.5 inch diamater and 3 inches long.

Goody Bag

Submitted by: Jen - July 28, 2003
Bird toy can be used for Medium&Large Size Birds
Cut a brown paper lunch bag in half and fill it with goodies such as dry noodles, special treats and toys, etc. Fold or crinkle up the top of the bag and place in the cage. My Eclectus loves to open the bag, get the goodies out, and then chew up the bag. I try to put different goodies in each time I give it to him, so he's always surprised.

Hanging Nut Ring

Submitted by: FAITH - April 11, 2004
Bird toy can be used for Medium&Large Size Birds
Open and cut a small gauge wire coat hanger, leaving on the part that is used for hanging, and form a circle. Size depends on bird and cage size..don't close yet...
next.. Drill holes in a varitey of nuts, makeing sure the wire will fit through the holes. Thread the nuts on the wire. Close by twisting the end around the other end ..just below the hanger. When you hang this in the cage, squeeze the hanger tight to keep it from falling...make sure there are no sharp ends for your bird to hurt himself... The birds will love it!

food ball

Office Clip Toy - Edible Version

edible house plant

Submitted by: sarah - June 02, 2004
Bird toy can be used for Small Size Birds
To make sure my lovebirds get their greens, I stuff a small plastic bowl or cottage cheese container with beet greens, dandelion greens, even just the dark lettuces. I add about an inch of water and change it daily. They must not be able to get at the water or they might drown. They must think it is one of my favourite houseplants because they sure tear it up. also... it will last a week if you change the water daily.

Cheerio Cruncher

Submitted by: Anna - June 02, 2004
Bird toy can be used for Small&Medium Size Birds
Put cheerios on a long thin wooden stick and stick it on a playpen where the floor below is clean. Your bird will love it and will crack them off and them eat them after they are on the floor. They are entertaining for both the owner and bird

Peanut Butter Ball Treat

Submitted by: Danielle - November 18, 2004
Bird toy can be used for Medium&Large Size Birds

Here's a treat that my African Grey Parret Zoey absolutly LOVES... get a whole wheat piece of bread and decrust it. On one side, put a layer of peanut butter. After you are done with the peanut butter, sprinkle unsalted sunflower seeds/unshelled peanuts/ any other nuts onto the peanut butter. Then roll it into a ball so that the peanut butter is on the inside. You shouldn't give this treat too often, just every once in a while.

Dried Apple and Corn Toy

Submitted by: Wendy - March 20, 2005
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds

Peel an apple and slice it into pieces about 3" in across (smaller or larger depending on the size of the bird) and about 1/4" thick. Make sure there are no seeds. Slice a cob of corn into slices about two kernels wide. Cut a hole in the middle of each corn and apple slice. Put them in a food dehydrator or an oven at the lowest possible setting until they are completely dry, but leathery and not crispy. Now thread them along with large wooden beads onto a string of sisal and hang from your bird's cage. I hope your bird likes it!

Shredding

Seed Feeder

Submitted by: Kelly - September 17, 2005
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds

You Will Need:
Paper Towel Roll
Thin Cardboard
Scissors
Fishing Wire, or safe bird-friendly String
Tape
Honey
Seed
Millet Spray
Cheerios

1. Cut a hole in the paper towel roll near the top of the roll so your bird can stick his/her beak through it.
2. Cut thin cardboard to fit over holes of paper towel roll, and tape it into place.
3. Mix honey and seed together so you have a large ball.
4. Add honey and seed ball to paper towel feeder, then add millet spray and Cherios.
5. Hang in birds cage and let them snack happy!!

Hanging Munchies

Submitted by: Barbara Hernandez - August 07, 2006
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds

All you need is a link (I prefer to use those baby plastic links) and some cotton rope or old leater strips or sisal. Attach 6 or so to the link. At the bottom of each strip, tie on a "treat" made as follows: Cut plain white paper towel into squares (4/towel), add a treat inside, twist closed and attach the twisted end to a string. When they have chewed through each one, just loosen the tie (I don't usually knot, just pull tight), and slip a new one in. My fids love to chew this one from acrobatic positions, such as hanging from the top of the cage, dangling off a perch, etc.

Seed Stuffed Balls

Corn Flakes Are Miracle Workers

Submitted by: Jadelyn Micow - December 07, 2006
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds

Corn Flakes are my savior! My cockatiel used to refuse everything I offered except a special brand of seed. I tried almost everything. Cheerios, Corn Pops, that kind of thing. It was when my little sister started loving Corn Flakes when I got the big idea. Try Corn Flakes!!! I was amazed that I had not thought of it before. So I hid some in her seed at feeding time and I held my breath when she picked it up with her beak. She started chewing on it and then broke off a huge piece and ate it! I was so excited that I got on the internet to see how she would like them even better. It was a dream come true!

Crunchy Playtime

Submitted by: Jadelyn Micow - December 07, 2006
Bird toy can be used for Small&Medium Size Birds

Hey all you bird lovers! Look here, another good eatible toy coming up. I just did this about two minutes ago. Here's what you need to assemble.

*Fiori noodles or ones with big holes(preferably)
*Two pieces of colorful strings a little longer than your bird(non-toxic)
*Scissors

Okay, first take the two strings and put humongous knots at the ends. Snip the remaining string off at the bottom once you get it tied. Then, put on the noodles of your choice that are not cooked. Now, let's do a material check. You should have two colorful strings with knots at the end and noodles strung on about half way. Next, tie the two strings together at the top. Last, attach the toy to the top of the cage where your bird will reach it. It will probably be a little taller than your bird. Your bird might not reconize it as food at first so be patient. You have just created Crunchy Playtime for your bird!

healthy and fun edible bird food

Submitted by: Abbey - January 25, 2007
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds

my new cockatoo loves this and it keeps him ammused all day. find some milk weed , it is a weed that when you snap it white like pink liquid runs out thread this through the wire on the cage and they will eat and rip parts of the weed off the cage and eat it my bird picks off the tiny flowers first!

Bird Lolly Pops

Submitted by: Abbey - January 25, 2007
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds

my new cockatoo george loves his lolly pops they are great and healthy
you will need
- 1 cup of birdseed
- ½ cup of chopped mixed nuts
- ½ cup of chopped mixed fruit
- 2 eggs
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups/jug
- Lollipop sticks

What to do:

- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C.
- Line the baking tray with baking paper.
- Mix the seeds, nuts and dried fruit together in a bowl.
- Crack the 2 eggs into the bowl and mix well so that the ingredients stick together.
- Spoon small amounts of the mixture onto the baking tray.
- Put a lollipop stick on top of each blob, then add more mixture to each one.
- Shape the mixture around the stick.
- Put the lollipops into the oven for about 20 minutes until golden.
- Allow to cool before pegging a lollipop to the inside of the birdcage.

The Egg Carton Game

Submitted by: Jessett Holorand - March 20, 2007
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds

Is your bird bored to death? This is a great idea that keeps your bird busy and active. When you buy eggs, instead of recycling the carton, just fill it with bird-safe beads/toys and their favorite treat. You can leave the lid on or you can easily take it off. If you have a smaller bird then get the half dozen carton that is smaller. This toy will defintely be a big hit!

Honey

Submitted by: Laura - April 07, 2007
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds

1.honey
2.cheereos
3.pipe cleaners
4.bird seed

1)string cheereos on the pipe cleaners
2)dip in honey
3)dip in bird seed
4)hand in cage

The Millet Swing

Submitted by: Jenny Quindel - April 30, 2007
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds

Tie a millet spray to two thin metal wires. Tie one on each end. Then, tie the other ends of the wires to the top of the cage. Your bird will swing and eat on this toy.

Spray Millet Fun

Submitted by: Bird LOVER - July 31, 2007
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds

Take some spray millet and crumble a few balls from the branch, onto some soil. Keep it the soil very wet, and provide some sunlight. After a few days, the seed will sprout wherever they landed. You can feed it to your birds anytime it is growing. You can pull it out of the soil and put into food containers, let it lean into the cage, or hold your bird next to it and let the bird munch on it. Birds love this! You can even use regular seed! It's cheap, fun, and your birds will appreciate some greens. :)

Egg Carton Surprise

Submitted by: Sarah - November 12, 2007
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds

Take about half an egg carton (depends on size of cage/bird) fill with seeds, veggies, treats, and other things your bird likes to eat. Put it inside your birds cage. They'll chew at it and find seeds inside!

Fresh Seedlings

Submitted by: jo - January 25, 2008
Bird toy can be used for All Size Birds

I keep a pot of garden soil in the bottom of his aviary. I empty his seed container into it every time I refill. I'm not wasting his uneaten seed and he has something similar to a natural environment to dig through with his beak .

I keep another pot of soil outside the cage and also tip old seed into it. I water that one and when I have thick 6inch growth over the top of the pot I put it into the aviary and take the other one out. He has fresh pickings which he loves.

When I take the trays out of his cages and his aviary, I wash them off in the same bit of garden bed each time. It now also grows the seed. When he is really screeching I go pull out either a very long plant or a handful of shorter ones and put in his cage. He is quiet for hours as he nibbles on his fresh seedlings.

Attack The Spaghetti!

Submitted by: Joleen - January 30, 2008
Bird toy can be used for Medium Size Birds

My cockatiel LOVES to chew on noodles so I decided one day to take some spaghetti noodles(uncooked) and make a bamboo style shoot about the circumference of my thumb. I then secured the noodles to the inside of her cage horizontally with 5 or 6 twisty ties. She went NUTS attacking them and pulling them out! She doesn't eat them, but LOVES to destroy them and watch them drop to the bottom of her cage.

~ Max's Paper Fun~