Very cheap toys

[midge]

Hi there,

I am getting a lot of fun with Regina, my cockatiel. I try to keep her interested and occupied wit a variety of actvities and toys. I did buy all the usual toys but I found the choice still limited. So I decided to find other things for her to enjoy. Here are three very cheap ideas that she really enjoys them.

1) I read a fair bit and when I was reading I noticed that she wanted to turn the pages , well she pecked at my book. So I got an old technical manual of mine, but could have bought a book at a fair for 50 cents . I folded a couple of pages thoughout the book (two consecutive ones every 20-30 pages), I now, leave the book open somewhere (even on my lap. It naturally opens on the folded pages which sort of stand up and it does occupy Regina forever.

2) I got some pipe cleaners (pure white cotton). The interesting things about those is that you can bend them whichever way, loop them, string them together, make spring like shape by winding them around your finger, etc... For a couple of dollars you get 50 or so in a pack. Makes toys galore!

3) Regina also likes to play with wooden toothpicks, she moves them from one edge to the other with her beak and again seems to have endless fun. She doesn't easily get bored with those.

Anyway, I'll keep on looking for other ideas.

Enjoy


MidGe

[silvercloud]

They're great ideas Midge. I know Sunshine my ringy loves to chew at the pages when I'm reading so I have to give here some paper of her own or my books get wrecked. LOL

[midge]

Continuing on my discovery with Regina (my weero) and having observed her more in her activities, here are a few more toys I developed for her.

1) Using pipe cleaners, I make a tight spring like loop that I thread on another pipe cleaner in which I make many kinks. She already has gotten used to unstring them and bring the loose spring one to me to rethread and restart the process.

2) ear cleaners sticks with wad of cotton wool on both end. With her beak she uses them loke a sergeant major.

3) Making a small hole in a business card sized, or bigger but lighter paper, and pushing thru a earcleaner, so that it does lay flat.

4) from my local woolworths I got sonme scoobidoo strings (40 for $8), each about 30 cm long or more. It's like spaghetti but doesn't go off. Also she can pull out the tight knots I can make in them (that I could not undo without needles or whatever).

5) oregami... whichever, the rigid edges and soft paper surfaces seem to occupy her for ever. She seems to like to pick them up by the rigid side and enjoy the large movements of the attached surfaces as she move her body and head around.

I will start combining all of the above and create more challenges for her. It also seems she enjoy those toys more than any ready made one (including the gym) I bought her.

The nice thing is that by observing her, I can try to guess what she enjoys and construct accordingly.

[silvercloud]

Wow that is great Midge, there's heaps you can do to keep them amused when you think about it.

[melzawelza]

What great ideas!! and what a great mummy you are!!

[Bow]

Hi All,
Here is a very cheap toy that ya can get at a $2 shop. A set of Magnetic Alphabet Letters. I got one for $2 and each of the letters are different colors. Just take the magnets out of the back of them and wash them really well. These letters will keep ya Fid busy for hrs. I would say that they are great for small to medium Fids. A large parrot would chew them to bits. lol

Also while ya there check to see in their pet area and ya should find some great toys that are $2 - $4 odd dollars. I got nearlly all of Bow's Toys at a $2 shop near me. He has more toys than 10 kids. LOL

Hope this post helps some people, as there is really no need to spend loads on toys.

[vankarhi]

I also buy second hand baby toys for my birds...........very cheap like under $1 most times and the birds get hours of fun from them.

[Jane]

Thanks Bow! Good hint

[Bow]

Here is a great link that I found for you all on how to make cheap toys.

www.cheepparrottoysntips.com/index.html

The site is a bit slow to load but well worth it. There is HEAPS of stuff on this site for ya'll to make.

Cheers Gang.

[vankarhi]

very good ideas in there Bow. I have broadband by the way and it did not take long to open for me.

[Bow]

Hope ya have fun making some of them.