I am a college student. While I can ALWAYS afford to feed and vet both my dog and my Jenday I can't always justify paying 8 or 9 dollars for a bird toy from a pet store (that I am not even sure my Jenday will like) when I can make my own for a lot less using crafte materials as long as they are animal-safe. Now don't get the impression that Frankie lives in an empty cage because that is not true at all.....he lives in a mansion full of food and toys. So the other day I went to petsmat and bought some bird safe fruit falvored wood chunks with holes in them, some leather, some stuff that birds and can shread, some plastic beads, some rafia, and a few bells.....I'm gonna make a few toys for him and see how it goes. Does anyone else make thier own bird toys?

I have to make my own since I have a few suns that make short work of toys. Look in " the workshop" section for some ideas.

I make all my own bird toys, with the exception of those I can't. Acrylic foraging toys like the treasure chest, music playing toys, bullet proof bells, etc...

It's a lot cheaper to order the toy parts online than buy from a petstore, trust me. I have about 30 sites in my favorites that I shop from.

Im a toy making lunatic! Heres my favorite site Birdsnest Specialty bird toy parts toys

I like the bulk section!

Yup I make my own toys...I have bought some stainless steel bases from various companies, but other than that I go direct and order in bulk...much cheaper

I know you posted this a while ago but thought that I would add my thoughts anyway. I often get things from the dollar stores they often have things there that Simon loves. Like monkeys in a barrel he loves them and they come in many different colors. I also get things that he will destroy fairly fast but as the cost so little it is ok. I have gotten things in the dog/baby sections there that he climbs on as well as things I can put together myself. you still need to make sure they are bird safe but we have small baskets to both play in and tear apart. I understand that you don't have much being a student but sometimes I look at the toys in the stores and they are pricey. Simon is picky about what he will play with and often takes months before he will even go near a new toys and the thought of spending that much money on something he won't touch is tough for us. He often "helps" when we are making new toys so when we are finished it is not so new that he won't go near it. Hope it helps.

We make our toys 75% of the time. We have mostly large birds who go through their toys quickly. Mango, our Blue throat watches Gary make his toys daily and figures out how to take them apart! Smart bird! Gary is trying to out smart him! LOL

i am still trying to figure out how to make toys for ivy that are cheaper than buying premade toys. after buying all the parts/dye/hardware/etc, i really don't save much money, if any at all. toy parts are expensive! i might save some money cutting my own wood blocks, but ivy doesn't seem to like blocks too much, especially large ones.

ah well, i am good at buying toys when they are on sale