Creating bird toys from household items is a fantastic way to engage your feathered friends while being economical and environmentally friendly. Not only does this activity provide mental and physical stimulation for your pet, but it also encourages bonding as you observe your bird’s delight in exploring new playthings.
Repurposing everyday materials into fun and safe toys can be both simple and rewarding. In this guide, we’ll explore how to make bird toys out of household items to ensure your pet bird remains entertained and happy using items you already have at home.
Why DIY Bird Toys Matter
Creating DIY bird toys serves several important purposes for both pet owners and their avian companions. Firstly, these toys cater specifically to the individual preferences and needs of your bird, ensuring they receive tailored enrichment that mass-produced toys may not provide.
Additionally, by crafting toys from repurposed household items, you reduce waste and promote sustainability, supporting a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Moreover, designing and constructing these toys at home fosters creativity and ingenuity, allowing owners to engage in a rewarding problem-solving process.
Providing your bird with a variety of stimulating toys not only enhances their physical activity levels but also boosts their mental well-being by preventing boredom and potential behavioral issues. Ultimately, DIY bird toys contribute to a happier, healthier life for your bird while strengthening the bond you share with them.
Benefits of DIY Bird Toys
Creating DIY bird toys offers numerous benefits for both birds and their owners. One of the most significant advantages is the opportunity to customize toys to suit your bird’s specific personality and preferences. This personalized approach ensures that your feathered companion stays engaged and interested in their playtime activities.
Additionally, making toys at home is a cost-effective solution, allowing you to repurpose household materials and save money that would otherwise be spent on store-bought toys.
The process of crafting these toys also strengthens the bond between you and your bird, as it provides a unique chance to understand their behavior and interests better.
Furthermore, DIY toys can aid in developing your bird’s problem-solving skills and coordination, contributing to their overall physical and mental well-being.
By incorporating a variety of materials and designs, you keep playtime fresh and exciting, offering continuous stimulation and reducing the likelihood of destructive behavior due to boredom. Ultimately, DIY bird toys promote a nurturing environment that encourages growth, exploration, and learning for your feathered friend, all while adhering to sustainable practices.
10 Methods How to Make Bird Toys Out of Household Items
1. Paper Towel Roll Shredders
One of the easiest bird toys you can make at home is a shredder using paper towel or toilet paper rolls. Birds, especially parrots, love to chew and tear things apart, and cardboard tubes are perfect for this.
Simply cut slits along the length of the roll or fringe the edges to make it more interesting for your bird. You can leave the tube whole or flatten it. Hang the roll in your bird’s cage or place it on the cage floor for your bird to explore. If you want to add variety, stuff the roll with small treats or crinkled paper for added fun.
2. String of Bottle Caps
Save plastic bottle caps from soda or water bottles to create a colorful, rattling toy that birds will love. Wash the caps thoroughly, then poke holes through the center of each cap using a nail or awl.
Thread the caps onto a piece of bird-safe string, rope, or even wire (if supervised), tying knots between each cap to keep them spaced apart. Hang the string in your bird’s cage, and watch as they peck at the caps or enjoy the sound the caps make when they move. You can add beads, wooden blocks, or other safe items between the caps for extra stimulation.
3. Fabric Knots and Ribbons
Old cotton t-shirts, towels, or bed sheets can be repurposed into fabric knot toys for birds. Cut strips of fabric about 1 to 2 inches wide and tie them into knots. Birds enjoy playing with and chewing on fabric toys, especially if they have loose ends or fringes to tug on.
You can also create a chain of knots or tie fabric around a bird-safe ring for hanging. Just make sure the fabric is made of natural materials like cotton, which is safer for birds, and avoid anything with loose threads that could get tangled around their feet or beak.
4. Egg Carton Foraging Toy
Cardboard egg cartons make excellent foraging toys, as birds love to explore and figure out how to access treats. Fill the compartments of an egg carton with bird-safe snacks, shredded paper, or small wooden toys. Close the carton and punch a few holes in the top to give your bird a peek at what’s inside.
Birds will peck and tear through the carton to get to the treats, providing them with mental stimulation and the joy of problem-solving. You can also cut the egg carton into smaller sections to create multiple toys.
5. Plastic Straws and Beads
Plastic straws, which are often overlooked as a bird toy material, can be repurposed into a fun, colorful toy for your feathered friend. Cut straws into short lengths and string them together with bird-safe beads using cotton twine or string.
The combination of the beads and straws will create a toy that makes noise when moved, which birds love. You can hang this toy in the cage or let it dangle from a perch. This is a particularly good option for smaller birds like parakeets or cockatiels, who enjoy lightweight, manipulable toys.
6. Cereal Box Tunnels
Empty cereal boxes can be repurposed into tunnels or chewing toys for birds. Cut openings in the sides of the box to create “windows,” then leave it whole as a tunnel or shred it slightly to encourage your bird to chew on it.
You can place it on the floor of your bird’s play area or inside the cage as a hiding spot. Foraging opportunities can be added by placing small treats or crinkled paper inside the box. Birds will enjoy crawling through the tunnel and nibbling on the cardboard.
7. Old Keys and Rings
If you have old metal keys or rings from keychains lying around, they can be transformed into bird toys. Birds enjoy the jingling sound of metal, and keys provide a shiny, interactive toy for them to explore.
Make sure to clean the keys thoroughly and ensure they are free of rust or harmful chemicals. You can tie the keys to a string or ribbon and hang them in your bird’s cage, or simply place them on the cage floor for your bird to pick up and explore. This toy is particularly stimulating for birds that enjoy auditory feedback.
8. Pinecones as Chew Toys
Pinecones are a fantastic natural material for bird toys. If you have access to clean, pesticide-free pinecones, you can use them to create chew toys. Before giving them to your bird, bake the pinecones in the oven at a low temperature (around 200°F) for about 30 minutes to kill any potential pests.
Once cool, the pinecones can be hung in the cage or placed on the floor as a chewable, shreddable toy. You can also smear a small amount of bird-safe peanut butter or honey in the crevices and sprinkle seeds on top to turn the pinecone into a foraging toy.
9. Paper Chain Garland
You can make a simple but engaging bird toy by creating a paper chain garland. Cut strips of plain, untreated paper, loop them into circles, and attach each circle to the next to form a chain. Hang the garland across your bird’s cage or on a play stand.
Birds love to chew and tear at the paper, and the chain design gives them plenty of different sections to nibble on. You can add variations by using different colors of paper or attaching small beads or treats to some of the links.
10. Puzzle Treat Balls
For an interactive foraging toy, you can make puzzle treat balls out of crumpled paper or cardboard. Take a small amount of bird-safe treats and wrap them in a ball of paper, layering the paper until you have a small, tightly wrapped ball.
You can also use small cardboard tubes or cupcake liners to hold the treats. Birds will enjoy figuring out how to unwrap the paper to get to the treat, and it encourages their natural foraging instincts. Place the puzzle balls in the cage or on a play surface to provide mental stimulation and a rewarding challenge.
Conclusion
Creating bird toys from household items is a rewarding and cost-effective way to enrich your bird’s environment. By using simple materials like paper, cardboard, fabric, and everyday objects, you can craft toys that stimulate your bird’s natural behaviors, such as foraging, chewing, and exploring.
These DIY toys not only keep your bird entertained but also help reduce boredom and anxiety. Thanks for reading, and we hope this has given you some inspiration on how to make bird toys out of household items!
