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Toys for parrots these days are expensive!
It can cost heaps of money just for simple perches, which are basically just wood with two slots in the end!
Then when it comes to swings, they can cost a further amount of money that could be saved!
I've never been good at DIY, but these are pretty easy, and if I can make them, I bet anyone could!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Simple perches (not natural perches)
STEP 1: find the right size doweling (circular wood) for your parrot. The parrot should be able to reach around the perch without having it's toes touch.
You can find doweling at your local hardware store, and by just looking you should be able to tell the right size. Use only untreated wood, and ask someone if they would be poisonous if chewed.
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STEP 2: Measure your birds cage, whichever way the perches are to go. Take that measurement and draw a line on the wood, the right length.
Remember to add on 2cm, because the slots will be 1cm each side.
![]()
STEP 3: Using a saw, cut the doweling to the length needed.
OPTIONAL: you may want to use a vice to hold it in place.
![]()
STEP 4: Cut slots in the end of the wood so that it can slot into the cage bars. They must be at the same angle, so draw them before you cut with a saw. They should be about 1 cm, or less.
STEP 5: Put in the birds cage!
STEP 6: Make more perches until you reach the desired amount.
NOTE: A bird should have a variety of natural and normal perches. As well as making these normal perches, I would advise you to purchase or adapt these steps to make some natural perches. If you make them, make sure you use non-toxic wood.
Simple Swing:
STEP 1: Cut a piece of doweling suitable for your parrot to the desired length, usually not more than 20 cm depending on the bird, but you don't want the swing to take up too much room in the cage.
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STEP 2: Find 2 strong pieces of metal wire you can find this at a hardware store. Make sure it is not thin, and stong enough that it can be bent with only a lot of pressure.
STEP 3: Cut the wire to about 20 cm. Then bend the tops of each piece (only about 2 cm) down so that it can be hung onto the cage.
![]()
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STEP 4: Using a drill (with the end about the same size as the wire or slightly bigger, drill two holes about 1.5 cm into the end of the wood.
STEP 5: Now bend the wire (3cm) so that it will go into the drilled holes like this:
![]()
STEP 6: Now try and remove the wire from the holes. If it comes out, then use a hammer and nail it in until it is quite firmly stuck in place. Most parrots will not be able to remove it.
STEP 7: Your swing should now be finished!
![]()
OPTIONAL: Before STEP 5 or 2, you can add some non-toxic wooden beads or cotton spools on to the wire!
You can also adapt these steps if you want so that instead of using doweling, you could use natural wood that is not poisonous.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
I hope you enjoy making these things for your birds. It will save you a lot of money, and you can have fun making toys that your bird will love!
Some steps may need to be adapted to fit your bird, I made these objects for a budgie, but they will also fit birds of similar size.
Please offer me any suggestions, feedback, or ask any questions you might have about these toys.
Enjoy! :thumbsup:
It can cost heaps of money just for simple perches, which are basically just wood with two slots in the end!
Then when it comes to swings, they can cost a further amount of money that could be saved!
I've never been good at DIY, but these are pretty easy, and if I can make them, I bet anyone could!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Simple perches (not natural perches)
STEP 1: find the right size doweling (circular wood) for your parrot. The parrot should be able to reach around the perch without having it's toes touch.
You can find doweling at your local hardware store, and by just looking you should be able to tell the right size. Use only untreated wood, and ask someone if they would be poisonous if chewed.
STEP 2: Measure your birds cage, whichever way the perches are to go. Take that measurement and draw a line on the wood, the right length.
Remember to add on 2cm, because the slots will be 1cm each side.
STEP 3: Using a saw, cut the doweling to the length needed.
OPTIONAL: you may want to use a vice to hold it in place.
STEP 4: Cut slots in the end of the wood so that it can slot into the cage bars. They must be at the same angle, so draw them before you cut with a saw. They should be about 1 cm, or less.
STEP 5: Put in the birds cage!
STEP 6: Make more perches until you reach the desired amount.
NOTE: A bird should have a variety of natural and normal perches. As well as making these normal perches, I would advise you to purchase or adapt these steps to make some natural perches. If you make them, make sure you use non-toxic wood.
Simple Swing:
STEP 1: Cut a piece of doweling suitable for your parrot to the desired length, usually not more than 20 cm depending on the bird, but you don't want the swing to take up too much room in the cage.
STEP 2: Find 2 strong pieces of metal wire you can find this at a hardware store. Make sure it is not thin, and stong enough that it can be bent with only a lot of pressure.
STEP 3: Cut the wire to about 20 cm. Then bend the tops of each piece (only about 2 cm) down so that it can be hung onto the cage.
STEP 4: Using a drill (with the end about the same size as the wire or slightly bigger, drill two holes about 1.5 cm into the end of the wood.
STEP 5: Now bend the wire (3cm) so that it will go into the drilled holes like this:
STEP 6: Now try and remove the wire from the holes. If it comes out, then use a hammer and nail it in until it is quite firmly stuck in place. Most parrots will not be able to remove it.
STEP 7: Your swing should now be finished!
OPTIONAL: Before STEP 5 or 2, you can add some non-toxic wooden beads or cotton spools on to the wire!
You can also adapt these steps if you want so that instead of using doweling, you could use natural wood that is not poisonous.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
I hope you enjoy making these things for your birds. It will save you a lot of money, and you can have fun making toys that your bird will love!
Some steps may need to be adapted to fit your bird, I made these objects for a budgie, but they will also fit birds of similar size.
Please offer me any suggestions, feedback, or ask any questions you might have about these toys.
Enjoy! :thumbsup:
