I’ve rebuilt “DaBird” in several different ways since the toy and replacement feathers are so expensive. My cats rarely get the real thing since they destroy them in no time.
This idea (suggested on another forum I was reading) is the best yet….
Cut off the handle from a plastic shopping bag and attach it to the safety pin. Instant fluttery plastic wings! The cats went nuts!
I’ve also discovered that spending a little more to replace the string is worth it. I spent $10 for a roll of 80 lb weight braided fishing line (light green so not very visible) and it has a perfect “whippiness” to it…much better than the cheap string I found at Wal-mart and seems very durable so far.
Another replacement tip that Leo really loves….attaching a flexible plastic drinking straw to the safety pin.
Also, the mice they sell are much more durable than the feathers and my cats love them. We’ve also used craft store feathers to rebuild other types of wand toys. They go crazy for those too.
Here’s a photo of their new plastic grocery bag “bird.”
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb359/ecbrown/dabird002.jpg
They were totally worn out by the time I took this photo.
Just had to share in case anyone else’s dabird was sitting in the closet unused and in need of repair.
.