550 paracord is available at most local hardware stores. You can also purchase it online from retailers such as Amazon, Bored Paracord and West Coast Paracord, which often sell it in larger quantities than stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s.
All paracord shrinks when it gets wet. Because shrinkage ranges from about 2% to more than 12%, it’s recommended to pre-shrink the paracord using the techniques described in these BirdSavers videos (1 and 2) before making DIY BirdSavers.
To make things easier, we now offer the same pre-shrunk paracord used in our BirdSavers, specifically for DIY projects. Using this cord eliminates the need for the pre-shrinking step. Although this paracord is pre-shrunk, a small amount of shrinkage may still occur over time outdoors, but it will be much less than with standard paracord. We offer 1,000’ spools of pre-shrunk BirdSavers paracord for $100 (free shipping within the USA).
