5 Cheap Bird Toys You Can Make at Home By Alyson Kalhagen Alyson Kalhagen Alyson Kalhagen is an avian expert and writer with more than 10 years of combined professional experience as a veterinary technician and manager of a chain of successful pet stores. Her specialty is in avian behavior and socialization. Alyson owns several birds and has been featured in Bird Talk Magazine. Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process Updated on 03/07/26 Credit: onceawitkin / Getty Images Key Takeaways Use common household items like wooden spools, paper, and popsicle sticks to create inexpensive and engaging bird toys.Always supervise your bird with toys like plastic poker chips to prevent choking hazards and regularly inspect for wear.Repurpose molted feathers into preening toys to encourage natural grooming behaviors and provide mental stimulation for your bird. Many bird owners struggle to provide enough toys for their curious pets. Although numerous bird toys are available online and in stores, they can be costly, especially if your bird is a heavy chewer and quickly destroys them. To reduce expenses, consider using common household items to create inexpensive bird toys. These options keep playtime fun and virtually free! You can tie these items with hemp twine or drill a hole and use a plastic chain or quick links to attach them to existing toys, saving you money. 01 of 05 Wooden Spools Credit: Dawn D. Hanna / Getty Images Wooden spools, once the thread is removed, are safe and enjoyable toys for birds of all sizes. Some owners use spools as foot toys for birds when they are outside their cages, while others string spools of cotton twine or vegetable-tanned leather to hang on the cage bars. For added creativity, you can dye a wooden spool with food coloring. Since spools are designed for sewing machine spindles, they are easy to string. Just thread a plastic chain or rope through the middle to incorporate into your toy. 02 of 05 Poker Chips Credit: Christian Thomas / Getty Images Birds can enjoy playing with plastic poker chips. These can be strung on a rope for hanging toys, but are also great as foot toys. Birds will pick them up, roll them around, throw them in the air, and chew on them. However, since poker chips are thin, always supervise your pet to prevent choking hazards if small pieces break off. Replace chips if they become worn or ragged. Regularly inspect both foot and hanging toys for sharp edges or small parts that birds could ingest. 03 of 05 Paper Credit: Paul Taylor/Getty Images Paper might seem like a simple choice for a bird toy, but many birds enjoy shredding it. Use plain, dye-free paper to cut shapes for your bird to tear apart, weave paper strips through cage bars, or crumple the paper into a ball for play. If your bird seems disinterested, you can dip paper in food coloring to add variety to your creations. 04 of 05 Popsicle Sticks Credit: JosA Carlos Pires Pereira/Getty Images Birds often enjoy chewing on popsicle sticks. Besides being a fun toy, they are excellent for exercising beak and jaw muscles. Ensure each stick is cleaned and dried before use. Remove worn or broken sticks to prevent splinters. Popsicle sticks are affordable and can be purchased in bulk at craft and dollar stores. Birds tend to immediately engage with them. Continue to 5 of 5 below 05 of 05 Molted Feathers Credit: Pan Xunbin/Getty Images One of the best things for a bird to play with comes free with your pet — molted feathers. Wild birds practice their natural preening behaviors on other members of their flock daily, so it's no surprise that preening toys make up a significant chunk of the bird toy industry. Make your own by saving a few of your bird's molted feathers and tying them together at the end with a piece of cotton twine. Hang the toy in your bird's cage to provide him with a "friend" to preen and groom. He'll appreciate your efforts. Explore more: Parrots & Pet Birds Parrot & Pet Bird Basics Pet Bird Care