Toys for a galah/weiros?

[strudel]

Could you use children's toys for your bird(s), eg something like this for my galah? Buy Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Magic Scan Market | Read Reviews | BIG W Online Store Australia Would she be able to pick up those "groceries" and move them about/fetch?

I got a treat hiding thing for my rabbits. http://ca-en.hagen.com/Small-Animal/Toys/Foraging-Educational/60960
It says you can use it for parrots, but do you think it's something she or they might like?

Obviously, the best games are games we play together, but any suggestions for other "stuff" that she can mess about with and that she'll like playing with when she's in her cage would be appreciated. I've made her some foraging bins, with things hidden in paper and toilet paper rolls. If she eats a little bit of paper when she's ripping stuff up, is that a problem?

 

[Betrisher]

I use kids toys all the time for my birds. Only, I don't pay $$$ for them from shops - I get them from Op Shops and secondhand shops. Teething toys are usually pretty good - they're bright and rattly and usually safe for babies (hence, safe for birds). You still need to be careful, though, and check that small parts can't be ingested or that bird-toxic metals are used in construction.

My galah loves paper! Sometimes I'll fill a plastic container with it and hide treats among the shred. Other times, I'll just roll up junk mail and let him have at it. He makes wonderful doilies in no time at all! LOL! I've made a boing out of a wire coathanger and some cotton piping cord. Another favourite is a wire plant hanger (with the coir insert taken out). I've wound the wire with piping cord and filled the basket with shredded paper and other chewy toys. Dommie loves to sink into his Rummage Basket and dig for things. It's hilarious to watch him, 'cause he loves to fling out the things he doesn't want: all you can see is paper shred and 'things' flying left and right. LOLOLOL! For chewy toys, I use all kinds of plastic bottle tops, including the twisty kind you get on sauce bottles and the clicky kind you get on honey. I use paper cups, paper plates, wicker baskets (Op Shop), chopsticks, wooden spoons, plastic spoons, cardboard cartons and bubble wrap. Basically, anything Dom likes to chomp on is fair game.

Having said that, though, you need to look out for papers that use suspect inks or plastics that crumble easily and coulc be swallowed or inhaled. Most birds are not stupid and don't attempt to swallow plastics, but it's up to you to be watchful and careful. I have great fun making birdie toys out of recycled stuff and it's *much* cheaper than the toys you buy in petshops!

 

[strudel]

Thanks, unfortunately there are some other priorities at the moment so I don't have time to be making things. I was hoping to grab her something to play with while I'm having to get some things done.