Self defense toy projects

Allee

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2013
16,852
Media
2
213
Texas
Parrots
U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
My sweet, angelic, U2 (haha) is having some hormonal issues lately and being incredibly vocal about it. I'm afraid the other eight creatures that live here are about to riot to demand poor Popeye's immediate relocation. That can't happen, so I changed everything in his cage around and tried to make it more interesting for him.

I made him a foraging toy and a new pecan wood perch.



And a new chew toy to destroy. I cut the blocks and dyed them myself. Don't laugh, I've never made my own blocks.


And here's Popeye pretending he's not impressed at all. I even moved his sacred guitar that no one is allowed to get near. He chunked his banana at me after I took this photo.


All I have left is his new swing, tomorrow's project. That's scary, his swing is the only thing he likes more than his guitar. His swing is also where he sleeps, so I hope I get it right.
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
Allee! The blocks came out fantastic!! .. and I'm not laughing :52: Those are really great :) I like it all, and I'm sure Popeye is excited too, he's just acting cool about it lol.
 
OP
Allee

Allee

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2013
16,852
Media
2
213
Texas
Parrots
U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #3
Thank you, Julie! The blocks were fun. I'll try to remember to post a photo of the bare chains after he makes toothpicks out of his blocks. I had to learn to make them myself.
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
It pays to make your own toys when you have a large bird who is a chewer!

I have some DIY projects that I have most of the parts for, just haven't done it yet. Either busy or lazy (by lazy I mean "don't feel like doing it right now") lol!
 

4dugnlee

New member
Apr 27, 2014
1,133
3
Ohio
Parrots
Sassy - 13 y.o. Blue Front Amazon, Cisco - 6 y.o. Sun Conure, Peanut - 8 y.o. U2
Fred - 2(?) y.o. Cockatiel, Ginger - 3 or 4(?) y.o. Cockatiel
Those toys are awesome!!! The blocks look great!...What did you make them out of and color them with? I need to do some for Peanut as she makes toothpicks from her wood toys too. My toys never come out looking that good.
 
OP
Allee

Allee

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2013
16,852
Media
2
213
Texas
Parrots
U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
Julie, I've seen some of your toy projects, they are always awesome. It's rewarding when the birds enjoy something you made for them.

Leanna, I used a ten foot 2"X2", untreated white pine for the blocks. I cut two inch blocks and used a 1/2 inch drill bit for the holes. I know there are better dyes but I didn't want to wait for the order to be shipped, I used McCormick food coloring, one bottle to three cups boiling water. The hot water helps the wood to absorb the color. Popeye's toy had 36 blocks, and I had some extra pieces left over.
 
Last edited:

weco

New member
Nov 24, 2010
3,342
12
USA
Parrots
Nanday, suns, parrotlet, Patagonian
Allee, it's a good thing this thread has qualifying images.....it is a rather interesting read without them.....
 
OP
Allee

Allee

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2013
16,852
Media
2
213
Texas
Parrots
U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #8
Sorry Walt, I didn't think about that...
 

JerseyWendy

New member
Jul 20, 2012
20,995
24
WOW, Allee, you did a phenomenal job on the wooden (HUGE) block toy! :D ALL the toys look great!!!

And Popeye chucked the banana after you? ROFLMAO!

He's still an angel though, and always will be. :54:
 

4dugnlee

New member
Apr 27, 2014
1,133
3
Ohio
Parrots
Sassy - 13 y.o. Blue Front Amazon, Cisco - 6 y.o. Sun Conure, Peanut - 8 y.o. U2
Fred - 2(?) y.o. Cockatiel, Ginger - 3 or 4(?) y.o. Cockatiel
Leanna, I used a ten foot 2"X2", untreated white pine for the blocks. I cut two inch blocks and used a 1/2 inch drill bit for the holes. I know there are better dyes but I didn't want to wait for the order to be shipped, I used McCormick food coloring, one bottle to three cups boiling water. The hot water helps the wood to absorb the color. Popeye's toy had 36 blocks, and I had some extra pieces left over.

Thanks Allee! We are doing several home improvement projects right now so our next trip to home depot, guess what I'm getting?? :jumping40
 

weco

New member
Nov 24, 2010
3,342
12
USA
Parrots
Nanday, suns, parrotlet, Patagonian
Not to worry Allee, was not looking to cast any aspersions or anything.....I guess it's my propensity to read through the thread text before going back & looking at attached pics.....heck, I've got more pics of projects/jobs I've quoted/built/completed than I do of my birds.....
 
OP
Allee

Allee

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2013
16,852
Media
2
213
Texas
Parrots
U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #12
weco, you would have probably got a good laugh if you'd seen my first block building project, I made a mess that looked like a crime scene. I'll do better next time. :)
 

Amanda_Bennett

New member
Sep 27, 2014
1,272
2
Gresham, OR
Parrots
Zilla 29 Y.O. Orange Wing Amazon
Allee, I'm in the process of gathering things to make some toys and I can only hope my first attempt comes out as good as your toys did.

I'm paying very close attention to the toys everyone has made and put pics of on here so I can at least have some idea of what the heck I am doing...LOL

I think your toys are awesome and he is a very lucky boy to have you making them for him!
 

Terry57

Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Nov 6, 2013
47,631
Media
47
Albums
13
38,964
Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada
Parrots
Hawkhead(Darwin),YCA(Dexter),VE (Ekko),OWA(Slater),BHP(Talli),DYH(Calypso),RLA(Kimera),Alex(Xander)CBC(Phoe),IRN (Kodee,Luna,Stevie),WCP (Pisces),CAG(Justice)GCC (Jax), GSC2(Charley)
Allee, these toys turned out awesome! Did you use the skill saw? How is Popeye loving them today? I sure hope it makes him appreciate his Mommy a little more, and that he stops singing the song of his people so much:)
 
OP
Allee

Allee

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2013
16,852
Media
2
213
Texas
Parrots
U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #15
Have fun, Amanda, and please post photos! I got most of my ideas from other forum members.

Terry, I wasn't allowed to use the skill saw, my hubby was afraid I'd lop off a finger. I looked at mitre saws, but I didn't buy one. I used an old fashioned hand saw. Thankfully Popeye didn't notice the imperfections and he's no longer singing the song of his people. He's a happy guy again.
 

Anansi

Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Dec 18, 2013
22,301
4,211
Somerset,NJ
Parrots
Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
Love the toy, Allee! Very professional, and I bet Popeye is thrilled. He's just playing it cool, but I bet he'll be making splinters out of that toy in no time!
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top