sciencechi
I am volunteering at a zoo and helping to care for most of the birds, ranging from a ton of budgies and cockatiels to cockatoos and a military macaw.
The birds haven't been getting a on of enrichment stuff, so I was thinking about ways to keep them busy. I feel bad because many of them are likely very bored. Some have toys, but they don't get changed around as much. They also have people walking by them all day, but they don't get that much one on one interaction with people they know.
I have been thinking of trying to give them more whole chunks of fruit, like a whole orange or a big chunk of watermelon rind, or small pumpkin once I can get them. It may be tough to be able to grab enough for everyone though.
What kinds of rope can I use to maybe start stringing up their food to give them something to pick at? What is safe to secure it with?
It can be tough to clean the cages and constantly replace things, so while I understand they need to destroy things stuff that will last as long as possible is preferred.
I don't have a ton of money to spend on this stuff either, so easy to find inexpensive things are preferred.
I know that is a lot to ask, so thanks in advance to anyone that responds!
Answer
Hi boy do I have alot of things that may help you...First off I think that if you posted a wanted ad for baby toys such as rattlers crib toys etc on your local Craigslist you might get alot of responses.. I personally go to alot of garage sales and buy them and then I take them apart and reuse them in toy making.. Some of them can just be washed and hung in the cage the way they are .. Second of all if you contact a local furniture maker and ask them what do they do with thier leather cut offs.. Most places simply throw them away so they might be willing to let you come and take a box or two.. Tell them why you want them and possibly see if you could put a small sign near the birds area that says what companies have donated stuff in the care of the birds.. Ok ropes or plastic chain all good you can go to farm and fleet and get plastic chain there pretty cheap and also marine rope .. Other ropes that can be used are sisal but that might be expensive especially if you need it in bulk.. I use zinc free wire that you can buy at home depot menards lowes ... It is harmless to the birds and it is indestructable you can use that to string stuff on and attatch to the cage.. Also with the furniture maker ask about the wood cuts again they throw them away they are untreated and alot of it is really good hard woods.. Anything like buttons dollar store small frisbees plastic lids old tupperware all good stuff to make toys out of.. I also go to home depot and get the stainless steel washers carriage bolts and nuts these are awesome items to put on a toy especially a cockatoo or macaw would love this they like to tinker with stuff... Whew ok depending on where you live ( California for instance ) wooded areas with manzanita trees make the neatest perches and can also be cut into rounds for toy making..But ask land owner first ;-) shells and pumice can also be used just make sure that they have been washed thouroughly .. To make dies for the leathers and woods use food coloring and water simple huh... Food can be the easiest of all Grocery store throw out foods that have expired but there is nothing wrong with them see if you have a local store that will let you take the fruits and vegies... They do here so I would assume that you could any where again remind folks that it is for the animals and thie names would be on the plaque.. People will be more likely to give if it benefits them right... Now for a simple easy vegie or fruit holder take a yogurt cup drill a few holes around the outside and thru the bottom take a half an apple or whatever ( make sure the seeds are out of the apple they are toxic to birds )shove a piece of the wire thru it attach a large washer to the end of the wire pull the wire thru the cage and wrap around the bar once or so... Walla holds the food and gives the birds something to chew on as well.. I also take small suet holders for outside birds and stuff it with romaine leaves kale mustard greens turnip greens close it then hook to inside cage perfect food holder !!! Another great thing is old phone books birds like to shred paper you can take an old phone book or paperback drill a hole thru it add a rope with a knot then maybe a piece of wood or a shell hang in the cage ... I also buy from the dollar store natural wooden rings these make great swings or you can make a design in the center and hang it or just hang it the way it is... I usally buy as many as they have in stock that way whe they run out ( and they have ) I still have plenty..if you take the wisps of bark off of a tree that can also be used to weave thru the cage bars make sure they are untreated and bird safe trees first tho.. I could go on and on oh goodness almost forgot this one wiffle balls string wire and rope thru it tie a knot at the ends of the rope so it cant be pulled thru use the wire to attach stuff like drilled out dice nuts washer anything you can think of that will last a long time straws are another cheap way to make a toy that birds like to chew on take a zip tie wrap it around a good bunch of straws and tighten hang from cage .. Easy huh pasta is another real cheap item you can use in making toys get the big pinwheels those seem to work the best for me ...all you need is a small tool box a drill and a jigsaw .. Plastic 3 gallon generic ice cream containers are awesome for left over coloring it can be stored in that untill next time you need to use it... I usually buy that online it is cheaper and you can get it in bulk... Well I hope I gave you some ideas I have a bunch more and all used in my home let me know how it goes I would be very interested to see your progress .. If you dont have tools again garage sales are the best way to go about getting them Good luck!!!!!
Hi boy do I have alot of things that may help you...First off I think that if you posted a wanted ad for baby toys such as rattlers crib toys etc on your local Craigslist you might get alot of responses.. I personally go to alot of garage sales and buy them and then I take them apart and reuse them in toy making.. Some of them can just be washed and hung in the cage the way they are .. Second of all if you contact a local furniture maker and ask them what do they do with thier leather cut offs.. Most places simply throw them away so they might be willing to let you come and take a box or two.. Tell them why you want them and possibly see if you could put a small sign near the birds area that says what companies have donated stuff in the care of the birds.. Ok ropes or plastic chain all good you can go to farm and fleet and get plastic chain there pretty cheap and also marine rope .. Other ropes that can be used are sisal but that might be expensive especially if you need it in bulk.. I use zinc free wire that you can buy at home depot menards lowes ... It is harmless to the birds and it is indestructable you can use that to string stuff on and attatch to the cage.. Also with the furniture maker ask about the wood cuts again they throw them away they are untreated and alot of it is really good hard woods.. Anything like buttons dollar store small frisbees plastic lids old tupperware all good stuff to make toys out of.. I also go to home depot and get the stainless steel washers carriage bolts and nuts these are awesome items to put on a toy especially a cockatoo or macaw would love this they like to tinker with stuff... Whew ok depending on where you live ( California for instance ) wooded areas with manzanita trees make the neatest perches and can also be cut into rounds for toy making..But ask land owner first ;-) shells and pumice can also be used just make sure that they have been washed thouroughly .. To make dies for the leathers and woods use food coloring and water simple huh... Food can be the easiest of all Grocery store throw out foods that have expired but there is nothing wrong with them see if you have a local store that will let you take the fruits and vegies... They do here so I would assume that you could any where again remind folks that it is for the animals and thie names would be on the plaque.. People will be more likely to give if it benefits them right... Now for a simple easy vegie or fruit holder take a yogurt cup drill a few holes around the outside and thru the bottom take a half an apple or whatever ( make sure the seeds are out of the apple they are toxic to birds )shove a piece of the wire thru it attach a large washer to the end of the wire pull the wire thru the cage and wrap around the bar once or so... Walla holds the food and gives the birds something to chew on as well.. I also take small suet holders for outside birds and stuff it with romaine leaves kale mustard greens turnip greens close it then hook to inside cage perfect food holder !!! Another great thing is old phone books birds like to shred paper you can take an old phone book or paperback drill a hole thru it add a rope with a knot then maybe a piece of wood or a shell hang in the cage ... I also buy from the dollar store natural wooden rings these make great swings or you can make a design in the center and hang it or just hang it the way it is... I usally buy as many as they have in stock that way whe they run out ( and they have ) I still have plenty..if you take the wisps of bark off of a tree that can also be used to weave thru the cage bars make sure they are untreated and bird safe trees first tho.. I could go on and on oh goodness almost forgot this one wiffle balls string wire and rope thru it tie a knot at the ends of the rope so it cant be pulled thru use the wire to attach stuff like drilled out dice nuts washer anything you can think of that will last a long time straws are another cheap way to make a toy that birds like to chew on take a zip tie wrap it around a good bunch of straws and tighten hang from cage .. Easy huh pasta is another real cheap item you can use in making toys get the big pinwheels those seem to work the best for me ...all you need is a small tool box a drill and a jigsaw .. Plastic 3 gallon generic ice cream containers are awesome for left over coloring it can be stored in that untill next time you need to use it... I usually buy that online it is cheaper and you can get it in bulk... Well I hope I gave you some ideas I have a bunch more and all used in my home let me know how it goes I would be very interested to see your progress .. If you dont have tools again garage sales are the best way to go about getting them Good luck!!!!!
what to buy an 8 year old boy?
Q. I know an 8 year old boy and I have to get him a christmas present!!! he likes break dancing and soccer!!! The present can only be 10 dollars!!!
Answer
a cheap boy toy
like a truck
a race car
an action figure
you should be able to get something cheap with $10
a cheap boy toy
like a truck
a race car
an action figure
you should be able to get something cheap with $10
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