Handmade Toy Ideas!

[MiaCarter]

Another thread got me thinking of fun ideas for handmade toys or any other fun cage accessories (perches, swings, etc.) for finches or other pet birds.

I don't really have any good ones to share off the top of my head, which is why I thought I'd start a thread!

I've got an idea for a nice little swing.

I'm going to take a wire clothes hanger and use wire snips to cut where I've marked in red.

The black line goes through the areas I'm going to discard.



I'm going to reduce the size of the hanger hook bit at the top. I'll cover the end in electrical tape or similar so it's not sharp.
I'm using one of the plastic-coated wire hangers, so the area where the wires are twisted together at the top are not sharp.

As indicated by the arrows, I'm going to pull the wires in and bend make a "D" shape (with the flat part of the D being the bottom where they actually hold on to swing.)

I'm not sure what I'm going to use to make and cover the perch area. (The straight side of the D.)
I could wrap with some paper towels for padding, then cover with duct tape, then self-adhering bandage?
Not sure. I'll have to play with it a bit. I'll post some photos when I'm done!

I've also got my Kool Aid day nests. They're a super popular spot for hanging out during the day.
They're simple to make. You get a Kool Aid canister like this:


Remove the label.
Use a pair of scissors to poke two holes in the side, about an inch apart.
I'll use a section of clothes hanger wire and bend it into a double hook and hang on the side of the cage.
OR
I'll take some hemp twine, get two lengths. Tie a couple knots in the end of each one, so it's large enough to stay inside the nest, without pulling through the hole. Then use the twine to tie it up, usually in a corner.

You could also use them as hanging food bowls.

So whatcha got, folks? Any goodies to share?

[MiaCarter]

Here's a graphic I made for showing how to bend the wire for the nest hanger.

[Sheather]

Mia, I have a few coat hanger swings, I wedge in a 3/5 - 1/2 inch natural branch from an outdoor tree roughly 1/2 inch above the flat part of the coat hanger (so they can get their toes all around it but not get one stuck between branch and coat hanger). It works great.

It's the one between the sunflowers and clamp-on light here with my silverbill going for a ride.

[KarenB]

Which birds are you making the swing for? If it's a finch, canary or the like, it should be no problem, but I would not use it for a hookbill because of the wire and paint on the wire, or coating or whatever that is. If you are making a swing for a hookbill, a natural fiber is best unless you can make it from stainless or something that is non-toxic if ingested.

[MiaCarter]

KarenB -- Indeed, swing is for the finches.

I don't think it would be big enough for Hunter the cockatiel and the 'keets already have a couple.
Though I could use the wood idea to make a large one for Hunter. Love that idea, Sheather!!

I'd probably use a heavy craft wire and wrap around the stick. Or drill a hole in the stick and run it through?

[Galtnurse]

Iam new to owning finches and am excited to learn more about making things for them. Thanks for sharing.

[Sam007]

Sheather
Good idea. You can drill hole on each side of the perch and insert coat hanger wires in the holes & bend the edges of wire under the perch and remove the bottom part of the hanger. Like this,

[Sam007]

You can also use slightly thinner wire available at Waltmart and Home Depot which is easier to bend and cut to make swings. You can insert beads in the wire of swings to decorate them. Many types of colorful beads and perches that are not expensive available at Waltmart and Michaels.