If you make bird toys...

[BillsBirds]

I have been making bird toys for a very long time, out of just about anything I can. Icywolf posted about a thing called a "Wacky Whirly". It cuts plastic drinking straws iin a tight spiral. Zip-Tie a bunch of them together, and your bird will go wild for it. I have straws all over my livingroom because my cockatiel and my lovebird cannot resist any that they can get. I looked them up on ebay. The "tool", was $6.49, and 100 straws were $6.99. I googled the manufacturer, Pepperell Braiding, and bought 2 "tools", and 1,000 straws for $9.99 (plus $6.49 S&H). My birds love them. I make bird toys and donate them to shelters and sanctuaries. Because I cannot do the rescue work like I used to. Every box that I send is different knds of toys, made of various things. They will all soon be getting a box of "Wacky Whirly Dangling Toys".

 

[IcyWolf]

I'm not sure where it was but I found them only for like two something a piece. I want to order a bunch of them, the woman that gave me mine said that she sends a gift back with a wacky whirly, some straws, and zip ties along with every bird she sells and I thought that was a great idea! It gets the new family started on making their own toys which is just great.

I wanted to note though, you can use any kind of straws, they don't have to be the ones made for the cutter. We went to get some the other day and all they had were bendy ones, we got them anyway and they still work just fine. I think the colored ones are better than white or clear though, just because I'm sure the birds find the colored ones more alluring than plain ones.

 

[BillsBirds]

I have a lot of sraws that I've used on toys before. And, they all work. I bought straws from them because there are colors that I never see anywhere. The link you provided led to Hancock Fabrics. They have it for $1.99. But are Out OF Stock. Any way that you can get this, go for it. Your birds will love the toys you make, and will never be out of toys. Plus, they're fun to make! My birds take them away from me as I make them. Then, come back to get a different color. That makes just making them, an interactive bird toy.

 

[IcyWolf]

It's funny that you mentioned them being fun to make, here I thought we were just weird, my boyfriend and I have actually been taking turns cutting the straws because I swear, for some strange reason, it's actually kind of fun lol. We need to get a second one so we can stop fighting over it.

 

[roxynoodle]

Ok, you guys have convinced me! I have to get one!

 

[lizardsmells]

Ok, you guys have convinced me! I have to get one!

Me too! I didn't know such a thing existed. I've been cutting them with embroidery scissors and that is such a pain!

 

[triordan]

ok i went on the website and cant find the tool you are talking about...

 

[IcyWolf]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Jo-Ann-Stores-Wacky-Whirly/dp/B00114LP2Q"]Amazon.com: Wacky Whirly: Arts, Crafts & Sewing[/ame]

 

[pagie]

Hi I looked this up because this would be fantastic to have Jimmy would be beside himself with that sort of toy, but I can't find one that will ship nz, do you know of anywhere that might? Thx

 

[Icicis]

You can actually make the swirly straws with just a hand held sharpener,

its a bit harder, because you need to find the right angle to spiral them buut i found a video how to do it

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD1zRedZ0fs]How to make spiral straws..... - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Parrotmamma]

Okay, I had to get one of these ...my kids and my birds are gonna love it!
Here is a place that has them for $1.50 and the kit is $9.99

Wacky Whirly straw cutting tool device curls decorative spirals - Macrame Super Store from Pepperell Braiding

 

[ConureCrazy]

Icicis, thank you for posting that! I just tried it, and man, at first, it was a pain. But then I cut a slanted slit in the straw and it made it SO much easier to sharpen. I'll post some pics tomorrow on how to make the wierd split and the new straw toys! I will order this probabaly to try it out, but the sharpening idea is just so I can actually not lose my patience waiting to make straw toys lol... And they're so fun to make! I made 4 toys even though I only needed two, and I still have extra curly straws. If it wasn't so late I'd still be sharpening away...

 

[Icicis]

HAHA it's addicting honestly