For those of us who are owned by a parrot it's a well known fact that purchasing toys for them can be expensive.
I have found that even if they are reasonably long lasting and tough, Henry, my Amazon parrot soon gets bored of them. There have also been several occasions when I have purchased some rather costly items and he has totally ignored them. So after some research, trial and error and suggestions from other owners I have put together a few ideas of how to keep parrots entertained on a budget.
Not only are these suggestions cheap and cheerful, but they are safe and make fun little projects too.
For those of you who still prefer to go shopping I have also added some links to reliable toy stockists that I have found to be competitively priced and reliable.
DIY CARGO NET
Many parrots love to climb and so cargo nets are often a great addition to any cage or bird room.
They are relatively simple to make and all you really need is sisal rope.
I do think it important to emphasize that sisal rope is the best option as other string and twine can be dangerous. I have seen birds become badly tangled in string products which has sadly resulted in amputation and even death. Sisal is a natural product and very safe.
It's also fairly inexpensive if you purchase from the right stockist. The natural colour is the cheapest but you can also get the coloured options if you want to make something a little more funky!
Sisal rope also varies in size so you can buy according to the size of your parrot.
It is usually sold by the meter. Below is a link to an ebay stockist.
Cardboard Tubes
If your parrot loves to shred things then this could be just perfect for him.
Carpet retailers are very happy to give these away as they are what carpets are rolled on. You can often find them in skips around the back of the stores. Just please ask before you take them.
They are actually quite long but you can easily cut them down to size and your feathered friend will have a ball getting stuck in. Each piece should last a fair while too as they are pretty tough!
Pine Cone Toys
Many pet stores sell parrot toys made from pine cones and charge a high price for them too! Why not make your own. Some thin sisal rope with a pine cone hanging from it may just equal hours of fun for your bird.
You can collect them for free from woods and local parks. You could even collect them when you go on holiday and keep a stash of them.
Cardboard & Shoe Boxes
Ever noticed how when you buy a child a present he or she ends up spending more time playing with the box? Parrots are similar so make use of this free commodity.
Supermarkets are happy to give them away and who of us doesn't have a shoe box or two hanging about around the house?
Simply fill a box with pine cones, newspaper, almonds and favourite treats and let your parrot get stuck into destroying it.
The down side is that you will have a mess to clean up but it's something we parrot owners are very used to anyway!
Foraging Bags & Boxes
Zoe Danielle Doubleday makes these cute toys for her parrot. Here is what she said:
"A cardboard box or sweet bag, fill with shredded paper you can buy or your birds create for you a few nuts and treats and any bits off old toys, hang up or place somewhere. I made loads for the aviary birds at our local shelter."
What parrot in his or her right mind would not enjoy getting stuck into these little babies!
Simply fill a sweet bag with shredded paper and treats and then tie up with sisal and away he goes!
The sweet bags are very inexpensive at just 99p for 100. You can buy from ebay. Below is a sample link:
You could also make some for local bird sanctuaries like Zoe does!
Spoon Toys
Lots of pet stores sell parrot toys made out of dessert spoons and teaspoons. Why not make your own?
Some parrots love just throwing a spoon about due to the sound it makes.
Recycle Old Toys
Rather than throwing old or rejected toys away consider breaking them up and using their parts to make new ones. You will get more and more creative as you go. It's still a bit of trial and error but good fun!
Baby Toys
I am a big fan of buying baby toys for my parrot. I have found that they are much stronger and safer than pet toys.
I spend hours looking on ebay for baby rattles and have picked up some great bargains.
You can also buy them from carboot sales.
Please be sure to clean and disinfect them with a bird safe formula first though.
Below are some photos of toys that I have purchased for Henry. He favours foot toys so I tend to go for baby rattles.
I paid just £2.95 for all four of these brand new baby toys (above) ! You can purchase them at the link below.
If You Still Prefer To Buy New
For those who still feel more comfortable purchasing parrot toys from pet retailers, here are some links to good stockists that I have found to be reliable.
1. Scarlett's Parrot Essentials.
You can find pretty much everything you need for your bird here as well as some really good quality foods.
The prices are slightly cheaper than other places but do bear in mind that postage is always about £5 which can be very expensive depending on how small your order is.
Delivery is always very quick and Scarlett, the business owner, is very helpful. These are genuine "bird people" so you can be sure you are speaking to and dealing with someone in the know.
Here is a link to Scarlett's Parrot Essentials:
2. Northern Parrots
I love Northern Parrots. Their products are slightly more expensive than scarlett's but as mentioned above it really depends how large or small your order is as postage here is cheaper.
They have a wide selection of toys and there are plenty of reviews on them them buyers which helps you to see which ones are good value for money. This is something which Scarlett's has yet to develop although the option to leave a review is there - it's just that no one really has yet bothered.
I have noticed that the seed available at Northen Parrots is not as good quality is the Avian Specific available at Scarlett's. A good tell tale sign is whether or not monkey nuts are present in the mix - there are in nearly all the choices at Northern Parrots which is not good as they can be dangerous to birds.
Another plus to Northern Parrots is that they are quick to deliver. They even put freebies and samples in with your order which is always fun. This is something that Scarlett's should aim to do as it helps build good relations with clients.
Northern Parrots are also on TopCashBack so if you like to shop and save its ideal.
Below is a link to Northern Parrots:
I have not been paid for either of these recommendations or for any of the links. They are my own options and experiences and have been included for your convenience.
Thanks to all the people on Problem Parrots extra for their help and suggestions including:
Teri Humber
Scotty Dunkley
Gordon Brightey
Zoe Danielle Doubleday
Simon Price
Thanks for reading :)
No comments:
Post a Comment