When is too much ?

Before i make any rash decisions on this i need your guys advice. How much at one time have you spend on toys for your parrots? i have found a site that i love and went a little over board on the toys ( no i have not brought them yet ) but i figured i will be spending the same amount even if i but them when i need them so why not just buy it in bulk.

just carious,

Thanks

Just make sure they are types your parrot likes and plays/destroys them. No fun spending $$$ either now or at a retailer, just to have the item ignored. I usually deal with a local PetS***t who routinely puts 1/2 of their parrot toys on 1/2 price sale. Luckily most are ones Salty will use.

wrench13 said:

Just make sure they are types your parrot likes and plays/destroys them. No fun spending $$$ either now or at a retailer, just to have the item ignored. I usually deal with a local PetS***t who routinely puts 1/2 of their parrot toys on 1/2 price sale. Luckily most are ones Salty will use.

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They will also match their web price, which can be vastly lower!

I ordered mine recently through Bonka Bird toys based in Florida and spent around $100 for my cockatiel, but that included perches and a couple toys that will last a long time (at least 6 months) as my cockatiel isn't super destructive.

I second the notion of making sure that your bird likes the type you get---maybe start with a few types (hanging plastic/steel ,a shredder, a chew-block type, some foot toy/fidget types and a noisy one) and see what direction that takes you. In the past, I ended up buying many toys that have remained untouched by my bird (hope dies hard) because she definitely prefers chewing and shredding (even though she didn't show an interest in any for the first month or so)...she also LOVES my sunglasses...not the safest option, but funny....

Are you looking for pre-made toys or toy parts? Making your own toys can be a lot cheaper and your bird doesn't care if they don't look as 'cool' as the significantly more expensive pre-made ones. I usually place a few orders totaling $100-$150 all combined around Christmas time when sales are happening. Those are when I order all the toy parts I'll use in the upcoming year. I like California Bird Nerds and My Safe Bird Store for parts. Dollar store is also a good place to find cheap toy parts. I also salvage from the cage bottom any and all wood parts that are roughly less than half chewed up (i.e. could still be used on another toy) or any other still usable toy part and just wash them in the sink. They dye comes off, but they're still fine to reuse. I rarely buy pre-made toys, maybe 4-5 a year, almost always the acrylic puzzle type because Kiwi loves them and I can't make them. I also buy baby toys from thrift shops and garage sales all the time, but I *NEVER* spend more than $1 each (usually try to keep it at a quarter or 50 cents).

Basically, I'm super cheap with toys but Kiwi is still happy and loves to play. Glad my bird is more of the gently curious intellectual type than the ravenous toy destroyer type though or else I'd be spending a WHOLE lot more

Guess it all depends on what TYPE of toys your guys like. If its shredable types I would definitely suggest making them as you will go through them quickly.

If plastic then you are in luck for obvious reasons. My Conure like everything even though he doesn't shred too much. His boing and bells are his favorites.

My Grey is another story. He is a SHREDDER! He can easily shred a $20 toy in a day or so I make as many as I can. Luckily one of his favorites is a toy I make with just cardboard pieces.

If he only liked store bought toys, I'd have to probably take out a bank loan

Guess it all depends on what your parrot likes to do, does he like to play, shred or chew? Investing in a smart toy, or toys, is a good thing, but make sure it matches your parrot's preferences. Even if you cannot resist buying bunch of them at the same time, at least give them sparingly to your parrot, one at a time. Make a balance, do not overstimulate your bird by crowding the place with numerous toys! If you have time, make some gadgets for your baby yourself, it's not only money-saving, but amusing as well!