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Brief description: The chimps have to pull out chop sticks and paper from hanging clear tubes to get the nuts to drop out the bottom.

Materials: To make our puzzle we used pipe and fittings that were 1 1/4″ size. We used clear PVC pipe purchased in 5 ft lengths off of Amazon. To make one puzzle, you will need approximately 12 inches of clear PVC pipe, 1 eye bolt (1/4″x2″), 1 PVC cap, 2 flat washers (1/4″), 1 hex nut (1/4″), 1 Nylon insert lock nut (1/4″), 1 S-Hook (1 1/2″), a length of light duty chain (approximately 6″ long). You also have the option to cover the chain with a piece of fire hose. You will need additional bolts, nuts and washers to secure the chain inside the fire hose.

Other tools and materials needed: PVC glue, power drill with assorted drill bits, ratchet and socket set, set of pliers, bamboo chopsticks

Assembly instructions:

1.) We used round bamboo chopsticks to determine the size of the holes we wanted to drill in our PVC tubes. We matched the skinny tapered end of the chopstick with a drill bit to decide how wide the holes should be. We drilled 4 times all the way through our tubes using the small drill bit. Be sure to leave a couple of inches on one end of the tube that doesn’t have holes in it. This will be the top part where you can put the food when you prepare them. Next, match a second drill bit to the wider end of the chopstick.
We used the wider drill bit to open up only one side of each of the already drilled spots. This way the chimps will only be able to remove the chopsticks from one direction (a little added challenge).

2.) Drill one hole in the center of the PVC cap (1/4″ for the eye bolt to fit). Secure the eye bolt to the PVC cap: put a bolt closest to the “eye,” followed by a washer. Then insert the eye bolt through the hole in the PVC cap and add another washer to the end, followed by the lock nut. Tighten the lock nut using your ratchet.

3.) Attach the PVC cap/eye bolt to the end of the clear PVC tube using PVC glue. The cap should go on the end of the pipe that you chose to be the top of the puzzle (the end without drilled holes).

4.) Attach the chain to the eye bolt by bending the S-hook with your pliers.

How to use: Drop an un-shelled walnut or two into the tube. Poke chopsticks through the drilled holes, add some crumpled paper into the tube above some of the chopsticks. Lock the end of the chain to the caging. The chimps have to pull out all the chopsticks and then use tools to pull out the paper as well. After they have done this, the walnuts should drop down right into their hands!

Price: Approximately $10 per puzzle.

Brief description: Similar idea as our treat mound, but easier to spread out the puzzles throughout the chimps’ enclosure

Materials: To make our puzzle we used pipe and fittings that were 1 1/4″ size. To make one puzzle, you will need approximately 6 inches of PVC pipe, 1 galvanized Floor flange, 1 threaded PVC cap, and 2 PVC threaded male adapters. You will also need PVC glue, PVC primer and zip ties.

Assembly instructions: Permanently attach a threaded male adapter to both ends of the PVC tube using primer and glue. Screw the cap on to one of the adapters- the puzzle will be easier to clean if you can unscrew the cap when you are finished with it. Zip tie the floor flange to the outside of the chimps’ enclosure caging (the flat side should be flat against the caging), doing your best to line up the hole in the flange with the hole in the caging.

How to use: Smear peanut butter inside the tube. To attach to the caging for use, screw the uncapped male adapter side into the floor flange (which should be zip tied to the caging).

Price: Approximately $20 per puzzle.

Brief description: Frisbees strung together can form a challenging puzzle.

Materials: ~2 feet of ~1″ width fire hose -rubber part removed, length of chain (you should be able to thread the chain through the slightly shorter length of hose), 3 bolts, 3 nuts, 6 washers (hardware should all be the same size for compatibility), drill with drill bits (you need one bit that is compatible with your fasteners and one that is large enough to make about an inch sized hole in the center of the Frisbees), stack of durable Frisbees (we used 8 Green Toys EcoSaucer Flying Disks per puzzle). Padlock for attaching the puzzle to the caging

Assembly instructions: Using the large drill bit, drill a hole in the center of each Frisbee (the hole should be in exactly the same spot so they line up when stacked together). Thread the chain down the length of fire hose. Fold the end of the hose up a couple inches and drill all the way through the fold (being careful to avoid the bit touching the chain). Secure your fold with a bolt, nut and two washers. Thread the hose/chain length through the center of your stack of Frisbees. Your Frisbee stack should be sitting securely on top of that bottom fold and should not be able to slip off. Drill another hole in the firehose just above the top Frisbee on the stack and attach a second set of hardware so the Frisbees cannot slip up or down very easily. To keep the hose from slipping down the length of chain, secure the top of it by drilling another hole through the hose and using the fasteners. You should have several inches of exposed chain peeking out the top so it is easy to attach to the caging.

How to use: Smear peanut butter on the flat surfaces of the Frisbees. Attach the top part of chain to the caging using a padlock. The chimps will have to manipulate and bend the Frisbees to reap the rewards. To make it even more difficult, lock to the outside of the caging.

Price: Approximately $50/puzzle, depending on how many Frisbees you use.