Hanging Toys

• Birds love hanging toys. They can manipulate them with their feet and bills. They love to hang and swing on the items dangling from the tops of cages and perches. There are a few ways to make hanging bird toys. Use rope between a half an inch and an inch in diameter for larger birds. Smaller birds can use smaller ropes but make sure the ropes are stiff to prevent accidental entanglement. String wooden beads and metal objects such as keys on the ends. Use different types of wood shapes and attach them to the toy with key rings. This will give your bird something to hang on, make noises with and chew on.
  
  

Playpens

• When making a playpen for your bird, keep your bird's enjoyment in mind. Birds love to be at the highest point possible, so you will want to make a playpen with several levels. Create a cleaning tray under the pen for easy care. You can use a barbecue grill or other sturdy metal.
  
  Placing the food and water dish at a lower level will force your bird from its higher perch to move down to eat. This is good for birds that you are encouraging to exercise. You can use ladders or dowels to give your bird pathways to and from the different perch levels. Choose a dowel size for the perches that fit your bird's feet. You don't want it to be too large or too small. Large birds should have a dowel at least one and a half inches in diameter. Measure the perch by having your bird sit on it or grasp it and see if its toes overlap under it. If they do, the dowel or branch is too small.
  
  

Materials

• Birds love to destroy things. No, they aren't intending to make a mess, but instead use the perch and toys around to clean their bill, trim their toenails and explore. Make sure you use materials that are lead-free. Use untreated woods, preferably in a natural state without any lacquer or varnish. If you add any plastic beads, make sure they will not be a choking hazard for your bird. Most plastic beads are OK for smaller birds (parakeets, cockatiels and lovebirds) but can be easily broken by larger birds playing with them. Monitor your bird's play area to make sure these things do not become a danger to your pet.