Natural toys for finches - share your suggestions with pics

[Anneka]

Many of us are probably tired of seeing in pet stores mosty plastic toys for our little guys - finches and canaries. They do like to play but only if they are given appropriate for them, natural toys.

Could we please share pics of natural toys and cage accessories in this thread?

Your own pics are of course better, especially if there is your finch playing with it or at least nearby, so we can see the size comparison of the toy and the bird too. But if you don't have such a pic, post one from Internet please.

[Anneka]

Perches

The Little Perch store can make custom size perches. I have a few, each 5 or 6" long.

http://www.thelittleperchcompany.com/sm ... rches.html


Tiny therapeutic perches my finches and I just love

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Canary-Finch- ... 1793wt_913


Preening perch

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Parakeet-Size-T ... 1912wt_913

Tiny platform perches (or longer if you prefer)
http://www.parroteeliabirdtoys.com/Sir- ... p_207.html

BTW, that blue budgie on a tiny platform was mine

[Beaker'sMom]

I can also vouch for AbeekaToy as I have a swing and pruning perch from her, which Beaker loves. I'll try to get some pics for you, but wow, are birds tough to photograph.

Here's the link to her Etsy shop: AbeekaToy

[Mae]

Mine love silk plants! Currently the favorite is a purple flower vine thing... I'm currently working on building an outdoor aviary, and I'm keeping an eye out for live plants that they can play and hide in

[limeslide]

I can also vouchrbr for AbeekaToy as I have a swing and pruning perch from her, which Beaker loves. I'll try to get some pics for you, but wow, are birds tough to photograph.

Here's the link to her Etsy shop: AbeekaToy

AbeekaToy is great... I have the abacus swing and one of those perches with hemp to preen. The swing is nice and the beads, particularly the leather ring, really entertain the finches. The small perch with the hemp makes a good sort of solitude perch for a bird that wants to be alone, unravelling the hemp also gives them something to do.

[Anneka]

I do agree with you on what you said about the preening perch.

My lil guys just got a bigger cage so more of those perches are needed

[paul-inAZ]

A while back I posted a note about growing my own millet sprays in the garden. Easy to do. I had been clipping off the sprays before they were ripe and before the outside birds got 'em. My gouldians love them. One problem is that the sprays often fall through the bottom cage wires before they are eaten.

Lately I have taken to cutting the entire plant -seed head, leaves, stem and all and hanging it in the cages. I use those spring loaded paper clips and hang the grass from the roof. A clothes pin would work as well.

The birds go after the seeds with gusto and nibble on the leaves. Then for a few days they swing on the stem, seem to play with it and try to nibble at it. It must be good foot exercise to grip the slender vertically hanging 1/8 inch stem instead of the usual perches.

A bonus: these cost nothing and are not plastic.

[chirpy]

I just got the mini perches from abeeka (literally just now) she just replied saying she is sending it today I got it on ebay,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Canary-Finch- ... 45eda2db30

it says its good for little spaces and corners, plus when the finches have enough of having other finches up their butt ;) some alone time when needed they can use these little perches v cheap as well! I will have to get the preening one next time!

[Rox]

I love gardening and I'm always drying out safe plants for my aviary. For example, my Gouldian juvies love chewing on dried palm fronds. I also have safe plants in pots for them that I rotate.

I know it's not as easy with flight cages but go and check out what safe plants are available to you that you can dry out and cut to size for your cage. Or even get some pot plants going and give them fresh cuttings. They will love it once they get used to it!

[wildbill]

if i had finches in a cage - i bet it would be hard to beat a couple of millet sprays tied to the top and seeing the swinging while enjoying a feed. well that's my though - but here in oz where strange anyway lol

[fhgwgads]

I have gotten a few at Petco or Petsmart under the name Planet Pleasures. They are one of the only natural toys I have seen and pretty much the only line to carry a few smaller ones.

This one is their favorite.

Then there is This one and This one.

They are each around $2-$3.. I am not sure of availability in other areas but they can be found online as well. They are only a few inches long, the ball cluster being the smallest at around 3-4".

I also read a lot of options of this site for DIY bird toys:

The Toymaker

[atarasi]

What about the 4 perch "merry go round"? Can find a picture, but it's entertaining to watch when more than 1 finch is playing on it.