I like to drill through popsicle sticks and clothes pins on put them on one of those bird-kabob things that are made of some sort of safe metal. Problem is, they're like $12 a piece and I'd like to have more than one homemade toy in Skittles' cage. So I'm looking to see if there are some sort of cheap alternatives.
I did look into pipe cleaners, but I'm pretty sure the wire has zinc on it and I'm not certain that the dyes used are bird safe.
Are there any everyday materials you can use to thread things on? Preferably something I can go out to a store and buy and not have to order online?