Birdie Piñata

[CheekyandMalolo]

I've been thinking of making a paper mache birdie piñata for the conures, but had a bit of a brain fart about the glue, does anyone know if it'd be toxic to birds?? Just talking the flour and water type. And is there any sort of paper is should steer clear of? I reckon Tika would love it, and it'd be quite fun to make too me thinks, fill it up full of beads, food, nuts, bells, makes me wanna start right now! (it's 12.10am in Aus atm, not really prime toy making time).
Has anyone made one before? I reckon it'll be a real hit with Tika, altho maybe I should make a bit like a pass the parcel and have stuff under the first couple of layers to keep it interesting.

[kaylayuh]

I don't think flour and water glue would be bad. I've heard of people using kid-safe glue for their toys, too.

I was thinking of doing something similar for my budgies. Pigpen loves to shred anything she can get her beak on. Normally, I just give her black & white newsprint to shred and she's happy with that. I was thinking of using a cardboard tube with newsprint strips and ropes with beads for her, where I stuff the shredded newsprint in the cardboard tube and tie beaded ropes to the outside.

I'm not really sure of any bird safe color paper, so hopefully someone has some suggestions! I'd love to see what you come up with.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

The flour and water itself should be OK, but I'd worry a little about culturing any contaminants that happened to be in it or on it. After all, you can create a sourdough starter by putting out flour and water and letting it be exposed to the yeast (fungus) in the air. Maybe it could be baked out as you'd do with wood?

[CheekyandMalolo]

I have a feeling if I baked it it'd shrivel up and die. I'm sure if I apply the glue thinly enough and let it dry out thoroughly it'd be ok.

[patdbunny]

Edible glue -

Flour and water. I don't recall the ratios, but a lot of water to not so much flour (heh, heh, that's kinda vague!!) Boil the mixture until it's glue consistency. It's been a while since I've made it, but I think it turns translucent. I use a new/clean paint brush and paint on a thin coating that can dry very quickly.

Boiling takes care of any bacterial concerns.

I've been thinking about making some edible glue and making some food coated toys recently. This gets me off my butt. I'll make some today or tomorrow and let you know what ratios I'm using.

[patdbunny]

Ok, I used 2 cups water to 1/2 cup whole wheat flour. Slow boil for 15 minutes. It got the consistency of oatmeal snot. Adjust quantities for the consistency you want. It thickens up as it sits and cools.

[CheekyandMalolo]

Well I've started, I'd forgotten how messy and time consuming papier mâché is. I'll put another layer on in the morning. I want it to be really thick and hard so it last a fair while, and I'll stick from buttons on the outside layer(or maybe under the outside layer) so they can't resist picking at it. So far there's a smaller one for the 2 conures, and a larger one for the Aussie parrots. If the Aussie parrots don't like theirs then the conures can have it, Tika will LOVE it. Fill them up with some beads, buttons, seeds, fruit pellets, scrunchy paper, heck, I think I'd even have fun playing with it!

[patdbunny]

OH I know exactly how messy paper mache is. For Halloween my daughter and I made paper mache heads:
http://staringatbirdsandgoats.blogspot. ... jects.html

Scroll down to the Halloween party pic.

Anyone a fan of P v Z?

[TheNzJessie]

I have a feeling if I baked it it'd shrivel up and die. I'm sure if I apply the glue thinly enough and let it dry out thoroughly it'd be ok.

have you should about using flax of some sort and braid it into a pinata instead of using paper? or even weaving the paper?

[entrancedbymyGCC]

have you should about using flax of some sort and braid it into a pinata instead of using paper? or even weaving the paper?

Huh, I bet strong paper strips or that paper "cord" and macrame techniques would make a great foraging toy. I'll have to try that!