Supplies

• Choose supplies that are safe for the bird if ingested. Select natural rawhide chips and string from a pet store. Unpainted soft wooden shapes and beads made of natural products such as unpainted bone or shell work well in the construction of bird toys. Choose natural papers made of recycled wood pulp or mulberry. Beads and papers can be found at a craft store.
  
  Use flavored drink mix powders to dye rawhide chips or string. Boil enough water to cover the rawhide and add the one drink mix packet. Allow the rawhide to soak until it is colorful and softened. Drain the water, and cool the rawhide before making the bird toys.
  
  

Construction

• Use a sharp thick sewing needle to pierce through the rawhide. Use the holes to tie on rawhide strings full of beads, wooden shapes, dried fruits, whole nuts in shells or metal jingle bells. Braid pieces of natural paper to tie to the rawhide. Create a spider-type pattern with the strings and paper, or make one long vertical toy that dangles. Be creative and observe what patterns the bird enjoys, and duplicate it in future bird toy making sessions. Brush parts of the toys with a small amount of honey, then roll in unflavored popped corn, chopped dried fruits or crushed unsalted nuts.
  
  

Activities

• Create toys that encourage activity and movement from the bird. Chewing is popular with edible toys made of paper, rawhide, dried fruits and nuts. Encourage climbing by making a ladder-style toy from natural twigs that have been washed and oven dried at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes. Connect the twigs by tying them with rawhide string or boring holes for small wooden dowel rods. Make a swing from curved branches. Offer the bird drink mix dyed wooden balls to roll with their beak. Birds enjoy picking up spool-shaped wooden toys with their feet.