Toy Making with Ekkies!

The toy parts came in from MSBS! My first time ordering those parts rather than either buying whole toys from a bird shop or kind of putting things together from household items like plastic bottle caps and paper towel rolls.

So I've just begun weaving them together with some baby toys I picked up from a local store. The projects are far from finished, as I'm not a natural like a lot of other people on this forum, (Shirre, Wendy, Allee and Trish, to name but a few!) but Maya and Jolly have already begun to enjoy! (AKA won't let Daddy finish!)

Hopefully they'll get a little better about allowing me to take pics while they're actually doing stuff, but thought I'd share these:

She literally turned from the new toys and took that pose the instant I aimed the cell at her!
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"Peek-a-boo!"
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Oh, I have a question for you more experienced toy makers out there. I'd also run a horizontal line from one branch of the tree stand to the other (a distance of just under 3 feet) using one of those leather straps and strung a bunch of baby blocks, wooden chips, and other assorted chewables along its entire length. Problem was, once I'd finished, I worried that the ekkies might stand on it and somehow manage to get their feet caught between the toys or something. So I redid it with knots between each toy, like what I did in that pic with Maya. But I still worried that I might have been setting them up for a maiming, and wound up taking it down. Was I just being overprotective, or was that actually a danger? And if so, what can I do to make it safe?

Stephen, the toys looks awesome! Don't sell yourself short, they are wonderfully creative toys so far
I am not a naturla with toymaking at all, I think my fids chew them up so they don't have to look at them anymore..lol
I am looking forward to hearing the answer to your question from the toy making pros on here

lol looks like Maya would prefer to have her peace and quiet while she destroys things [emoji41] darn paparazzi.... MSBS is pretty addicting though- especially the bags of candy they send [emoji87]

Regarding your toy question- I think it would've been fine as long as it's taught or semi-taught between the branches....my worry is when there are dangling pieces that could easily entangle a bird during vigorous play- but the way you had it set up, I don't think you'd have to worry about that. As far as feet getting caught, just make sure holes are big enough that their feet *cant* get stuck. It's when spaces are just the right (or I guess I should wrong) size where their foot gets in but they can't get it out by themselves-- causing a broken or dislocated foot/leg [emoji85]

Terry57 said:

Stephen, the toys looks awesome! Don't sell yourself short, they are wonderfully creative toys so far
I am not a naturla with toymaking at all, I think my fids chew them up so they don't have to look at them anymore..lol
I am looking forward to hearing the answer to your question from the toy making pros on here

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Aww, thanks, Terr! I know my creations have a lot of room for improvement, though. One or two of the pros will just have to do a video tutorial for us. Lol!

getwozzy said:

lol looks like Maya would prefer to have her peace and quiet while she destroys things [emoji41] darn paparazzi.... MSBS is pretty addicting though- especially the bags of candy they send [emoji87]

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Hahahaha! Paparazzi, indeed! That's actually her Jedi mind control stare. It's like she wills me over to her to pick her up. She does that anytime I enter a room. Just focuses on me all laser-like until I bend to the dictates of her will. Lol! And yes, the bags of candy are usually a nice plus... except this time they sent taffy. I don't do taffy. Lol! But it's the thought, right?

getwozzy said:

Regarding your toy question- I think it would've been fine as long as it's taught or semi-taught between the branches....my worry is when there are dangling pieces that could easily entangle a bird during vigorous play- but the way you had it set up, I don't think you'd have to worry about that. As far as feet getting caught, just make sure holes are big enough that their feet *cant* get stuck. It's when spaces are just the right (or I guess I should wrong) size where their foot gets in but they can't get it out by themselves-- causing a broken or dislocated foot/leg [emoji85]

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When you say "holes", Shirre, you're referring to the space between each item, no? So if that's the case, does that mean I wouldn't be able to space them as closely together as I did in that diagonal one in the pic with Maya? (Those items are spaced by a knot between them.) Oh, and yes, I did have the strap taut. Thanks, Catseye.

Lol I'll take your taffy!! All of it! [emoji39]

What I meant by holes was actual holes in items, like if you have any rings or take a wiffle ball for example-- chili is only allowed to play with the jumbo ones because otherwise her toenails get easily caught in the holes on a small wiffle ball.

Awesome job! Jedi stare..I know that look well, Jillie makes it at me all the time.

Love the warmer weather but MSBS doesn't include chocolate this time of year, thankfully I do like Taffy but not as much as chocolate.

I'm cooing and cahing over how magnificent both Maya and Jolly are looking, Stephen! :32:

Oh yeah, the toys are REALLY nice, too. HAHAHAHA. Ok, all jokes aside, the toys ARE awesome. I'm not all that creative either, especially because nothing really lasts around here. :54: If it's pretty, it will only be pretty for 60 seconds or less.

Ah, I see Shirre. Thank you! Yeah, I was definitely looking out for the hole sizes, but I'm good so long as the spaces between toys are fine.

As for the taffy, you'd be more than welcome to it! Hahaha!

Thanks, Laura! I guess that Jedi stare is a diva thing, then? Lol! And I hadn't considered the warmer weather as a factor in the taffy over the chocolate. Makes sense, though.

And thank you, Wendy! On both counts! Hahaha!

But as for you not being all that creative, I'm going to have to call you on that one! I've seen the amazing toys you've come up with, my friend. You're definitely one of the more talented toy smiths around here.

I do see your point about how long toys last around your flock, though. Like hot knives through butter, I bet!

Doc, Look at you! I knew Jolly and Maya's Poppa was a toy maker! Sheesh, took long enough to convince you.

Hahaha, since your technical questions have all been expertly answered, I'll just take a few minutes to drool at your gorgeous birds.

Love the toys, Doc! Bet you already have your list ready for your next order from MSBS.

You've done a great job so far Stephen ! In fact, Maya is giving you the ultimate compliment by demanding to use it before it's even finished! Look at Maya and Jolly, they're such cuties!

I keep saying I need to start on the budgie playland, but whenever I get the time these days I'm just feeling too lazy LOL! I have DIY stuff laying around since last year too... One of these days it'll get done!

I think that's great !!! You will come up with more and more ideas Then you will have a hard time spending money on prepaid toys . Once you see how easy the are to make I keep all the "Guts " from my toys and refill them

Im obsessed with toys . I have my family get me gift cards [which I spend on my birds ] for holidays. I love this picture , toys I got from a bird fair years ago that I still refill .

Allee said:

Doc, Look at you! I knew Jolly and Maya's Poppa was a toy maker! Sheesh, took long enough to convince you.

Hahaha, since your technical questions have all been expertly answered, I'll just take a few minutes to drool at your gorgeous birds.

Love the toys, Doc! Bet you already have your list ready for your next order from MSBS.

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"Toy maker" might be a bit of a stretch at this point, Huckleberry. Perhaps "stringer of disparate objects"?

Lol! Jolly and Maya have asked that I thank you on their behalf.

MSBS is dangerously addictive, as you obviously well know. But it helps that I've now discovered the more economical path of toy parts. Hahaha!

RavensGryf said:

You've done a great job so far Stephen ! In fact, Maya is giving you the ultimate compliment by demanding to use it before it's even finished! Look at Maya and Jolly, they're such cuties!

I keep saying I need to start on the budgie playland, but whenever I get the time these days I'm just feeling too lazy LOL! I have DIY stuff laying around since last year too... One of these days it'll get done!

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Thanks, Lady Jules! And in that case Maya compliments me daily, as she consistently tries to eat my dinner before it's finished as well! Lol!

Budgie playland, eh? Sounds... expansive! Such an undertaking would have to be quite massive to live up to such a title. I'm very much looking forward to seeing it!

Pinkbirdy said:

Im obsessed with toys . I have my family get me gift cards [which I spend on my birds ] for holidays. I love this picture , toys I got from a bird fair years ago that I still refill .

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WOW! Hahahahaha! Maya and Jolly's eyes filled with tears of joy when I showed them this pic, so overwhelmed were they by the sight of their personal Heaven, Nirvana, and Avalon all rolled into one!

Here are some shots taken at the smaller tree stand. They are definitely enjoying their toys!

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Pardon the ruffled papers at the bottom. They're initially laid down neatly, but Jolly loves to send the papers flying as he does his Barry Allen impression around the house. The bottom is currently clear, just to give you an idea. Smh.
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And here is the new toy (the only one I bought pre-constructed) that I put up in Jolly's cage just 2 days ago! I wish I'd taken a before pic, but all the wood slats are gone and the wiffle ball now looks like it gave birth to an alien! Hahaha! Oh! and the netting had wooden slats on it as well! Had.
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Look at them! They're both loving it! I really love the Java trees too. Keep going Stephen, you might have found an addicting new hobby !

Yeah, it's a 5 foot long double flight cage, so "expansive" Budgie Playland could be, just hope it's not too terribly "expensive" to make LOL!

Oh Julie, I'm a huge fan of java trees myself! If ever I get around to having a sun room expansion added to the house, I'd love to set a few of them up along one of the walls.

And here's to expansive without that pesky expensive factor. I'll bet you have the layout all plotted out in your mind already, don't you?

Omg Stephen, I can just envision that now... A sunroom with two beautiful Ekkies and Java trees. Gorgeous!

I don't quite have a plan yet. I wonder how small the tabletop Java trees come? I need to see if they come in extra small for the budgies. I know they're quite pricey, but a tiny one shouldn't be too bad (if they even make them).