Play Gym and Toys

I am looking for a reasonably priced play gym on wheels for my BFA. He only likes to be on top of his cage if he is out of it and he seems to be bored. I have found a couple for $180+++, but after the recent investment in the bird, cage, perches, toys, etc.. I just can't fork out another $200 bucks at the moment.
Also, the exotic pet store that we purchased some things at seems kind of expensive, but I don't know that much about this stuff yet. We purchased a large (suitable for a macaw) rope toy with colored wood blocks tied within it. It was $30. He won't touch it either. How/where can I find reasonably priced toys (that are safe, of course) that he will enjoy. I want to keep him happy, but I don't want to break the bank either.
Thanks.
Oh, also we have started giving Julio green some fruit and veggies. He is really picky. So far he doesn't like: sweet potato, mango, kiwi, blueberries, raspberries, spinish, brussel sprouts, oranges. The only things he will eat are apples and the occassional carrot slice.
What do your birds like?
Thanks for your time and input!
Tara and Julio

I can't answer the toy question, but...

I'll give you some of my bird's favorite (healthy) foods listed 1-3 in each category.

Veggies:
Broccolli (steamed)
Carrots
Green beans

Fruit:
Mott's natural Strawberry Applesauce
Mott's natural Blueberry Applesauce
Strawberries

Hope this helps.

CheepParrotToysNTips...Welcome!!!

And I will take a pic of play gym I made later.

windycityparrots.com is my favorite online store free shipping over 45 and no tax. Also keep an eye out on ebay - I've bought 2 of my cages from them, and your local craigslist. And do a search on making your own parrot toys to save money. In fact if you are the creative type some people make their own playgyms out of PVC pipes.

Auggie's favorite toys come from Target stores, or grocers. Empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls, old pens, empty boxes, etc.

It seems there is an inverse relationship between the price of a toy and how much a parrot will enjoy it. I think most of us have a crate full of fancy toys that our birds have never touched.

Auggie likes looking out the windows, so I got a shoe rack (small shelving unit) and put it in the window. I have a ladder going up to one shelf, another shelf I lined with scrap from an old towel, I hung some toys on it ....

He loves it, and it was dirt cheap.

Our birds love those plastic baby teething toys. They're colorful, safe and very inexpensive. They also like anything paper (newspaper, coffee filters, etc.) and little bits of sisal rope to tear apart.

Door shims are wonderful, incredibly inexpensive toys. They're made of safe, untreated pine and usually less than $2 for a pack of 20. We drill holes in each end then cut them in half. The ones that break during this process become hand toys, the others get strung on chains from perviously shredded toys. I've used some Wiltons Food Color Paste to dye them (1 gal water to about 1/2 tsp of paste or until the color looks right). Add all of the shims and let them soak for a few days. Then take them out and let them dry. The best part of the shims are there are very thin pieces (razor thin) and then some thicker pieces (abut 1/4 in). With all of this you have 40 pieces of wood that make 3-4 toys that cost about $3 total.

All of this prep is optional, our birds like the plain, un-dyed whole shims, too.

The baby section of one's discount store and the local home improvement store will see one more and more often after one gest a parrot.

Nice work, Gina!! It's great, and I like the idea of a baby's rattle.

Re food, try to gesture eat to him... meaning, sit next to him and eat some of the food you want your bird to eat and then offer him the piece of food. Cockatoo's (and assumably most parrots) learn what is safe to eat by observing their mother feeding, this ensures they do not eat anything that is bad for them. By Gesture feeding you are replicating and showing your bird that the particular foods you want them to eat are safe. (my guy prefers the sweet potato, pumpkin cooked - cold)

Hope it helps,

Good luck!

Actually, the bell has become a favorite in my household too. Even the finches (yes, finches!) really enjoy tugging on them.

Tastakelin, maybe consider making your own playgym?

This only took me about 4-5 hours and only cost like $30.

That's amazing, could keep the smartest of parrots busy for hours!

Thanks for sharing!

Mine likes chewing on the rope toys so I bought a couple of the rope dog bones that are much cheaper

Gina, I love the playpen.
All the attachments, never going to be a dull moment there
High Five to hubby

Toys can be tough. I don't think my parrot's original owner bought him many toys, and he was scared by everything new. As he's learned to trust me and the house, he's gotten better, but I still find the best way for him to accept a new toy is for me to stand near him and play with it myself for a while before I attach it to a cage. He likes things that make noise, so most of his toys have bells on them. Standing and batting it around to make the bell ring will get his attention and his interest. Then when I put it on his cage, it's something he's already used to and wants to play with himself.

He's learned to shred wood, and wooden toys last just about thirty seconds longer than it takes me to attach them. LOL. My vacuum is picking up wood splinters for a few days after each wood toy.

CONGRATS on your new BFA! I make my own toys, b/c it gets super expensive to buy them (esp when they destroy them so fast!) I buy wood from these links

Bulk Wooden Toy Parts for Bird Toys

Wood Arts and Crafts | Bird Toys & Wooden Bird Perches

I use food coloring to dye them. I buy natural sisal wood from hardware stores to string the blocks and beads together. I also use these sites for bulk products, pear links, etc. My GW especially likes chinese finger traps stuffed with treats, or popsicle sticks (woven into a toy or used as a foot toy)

TOY PARTS-MAKE YOUR OWN by Bird Paradise

Parrot and Pet Bird Perches and Cage Supplies

FYI: OAK wood is TOXIC! Pine and Birch are safe
Also never leave him unsupervised with a new toy until you know how he will interact with it, and to ensure he doesn't hurt himself.

I also NEVER use bells! if you do...remove the clapper from them as many birds get them loose and swallow it which can lead to foreign body issues or metal toxicity. They still make noise even without the middle piece, and birds still can enjoy them.

More disclaimers

Sorry guys...but I have to add these...I'm super picky when it comes to safety

If you buy beads...never buy any small enough for your bird to swallow whole and choke on

Also, if you buy bagels (which I do) buy ones that are large enough for your birds entire body to fit through w/o getting stuck....OR that are big/small enough for your bird to not get a toe/leg/head caught in them

wood from fruit trees has also been shown to possibly be toxic

Mostly common sense, but always helpful