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Making your own homemade parrot toys can greatly cut down the cost of owning a pet bird. Many online and retail parrot supply stores sell loose parts at a discounted rate. You could also make your own parts from common items.

Safe Materials for Bird Toys

It is very important to use only safe materials when building a homemade parrot toy. Never use chain or wire made of zinc. Zinc is a heavy metal and can build up in a bird's system, eventually leading to death. All chain and other metal parts should be stainless steel or at the very least nickle plated, never zinc.

If you are going to make your own wooden parrot toys parts it is important to know what type of wood you are using. Pine and birch are both safe, but oak is considered a toxic wood. If you are buying wood from a hardware store, always make sure that it is untreated. Stained or pressure treated wood contains chemicals that can harm or kill a bird.

Using Other Common Materials

Many pet bird and parrot toys are comprised of parts including those found in the baby and toddler section of the local toy store. For the most part, anything that is safe for a baby is also safe for a bird. Common items used in parrot toys are wooden baby blocks, plastic baby chain links and plastic bath toys.

Stay away from toys with small parts that can be easily swallowed by a parrot. Also stay away from toys with metal springs, screws and other hard parts that can chip a birds beak as they bite hard in to a softer part of the toy.

Building Your Own Parrot Toy

Always make sure that your toy is secure. If you use string or rope to build your toy, make sure that it can support your parrot's weight and that the bird can not easily break the rope with its beak. If your bird climbs on to the toy and it falls, your parrot can be harmed or even killed.

As long as you error on the side of caution when choosing your materials, making your own homemade bird toys is a great way to save a little money on your parrot supplies. If you are not confident in your ability to identify safe materials, a little research on the web can lead you to reputable suppliers of bird toy parts. Just remember to have fun and be creative.

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