Birds need toys to play with and it can get expensive if you have to buy them. This is an quick and easy toy to make for your bird.

You will need short branch (I used a piece from an apple tree), 2 strands from a cotton mop, and beads (I used brightly coloured pony beads)

Divide each strand in half and remove one of the strands – leaving 3 pieces.

Tape the 3 strands together at one end.

Braid the 3 strands together for the first 2 - 3 inches approximately.

Put pony beads on 2 of the strands – stagger them about an inch apart on each strand. Continue until both strands have beads to within 3 inches of the end.

Braid the 3 strands tightly together and put tape on the end.

Drill a hole near both ends of the branch.

Push the taped ends into the holes and pull right through until you reach the first bead. It should be a fairly tight squeeze to get them through.

Remove the tape from the ends and tie six pony beads (one on each strand) onto the ends below the branch.

You can add a quick link at the top to hang it and you now have a new swing for your bird to play on.

The rope part will not last long if you have a bird that chews, but this really doesn’t take long to put together, so you can just make another one.

Check this toy frequently for loose threads that have to be trimmed.


Please take a look at my Budgie E-Book written after many years of experience with these wonderful little birds.