Parrot not interested in chewing wood?

MomtoPercy · Nov 18, 2013

My BFA had only a rope, a old acrylic toy & a chain with a bell attached, in his cage when adopted him. So, I'm not sure if he ever had wood to chew on. He certainly has shown very little interest in the wood toys I've gotten him. The most he will do, if I hand it to him, is a perfunctory nibble on a popsicle stick. He loves to rip up paper toys and is very fond of destroying wine corks but anything "more woodsy" is left to hang untouched. Its not that he doesn't want to bite hard things because some of the plastic toys I've given him, were pretty durable and he's just sit and break off piece by piece until it is gone.
Although his beak is fine at the moment, I'm concerned that his beak is not getting worn down enough.
Am I just being paranoid? I refuse to take him to have his beak trimmed unless it is absolutely necessary. How can I encourage him to be more interested in wood?

MarciaLove · Nov 18, 2013

maybe try getting an untreated 2x4 and drill holes in it and stuff nuts and other goodies in there for him so he has to chip the wood away to get to them but can see them in it so he wants it if he loves treats that might work and its easy to do.

MomtoPercy · Nov 18, 2013

MarciaLove said:
maybe try getting an untreated 2x4 and drill holes in it and stuff nuts and other goodies in there for him so he has to chip the wood away to get to them but can see them in it so he wants it if he loves treats that might work and its easy to do.

Great idea! Thanks, I will try that this weekend.

GaryBV · Nov 18, 2013

Hi MomToPercy, you might consider getting him some Wesco Kabobs, maybe buy 2, one 'original' and one 'ole'. The original is fairly soft (my lovebirds and parrotlets LOVE them) to 'train' him on what it's for, and then when it's gone give him the 'ole' size which is much larger, and has a crust on it on the outside that is firmer and harder on his beak. Wesco has a lot of choices with their kabobs (they are made of Yucca) - and it just might be worth a try for you.

Betrisher · Nov 18, 2013

Honestly? You don't know how lucky you are! All the architraves and door jambs in my house are gnawed, chewed, munched-on and basically turning into toothpicks. Be careful what you wish for - you may find it doesn't fit with your décor!

Kalidasa · Nov 18, 2013

Betrisher said:
Honestly? You don't know how lucky you are! All the architraves and door jambs in my house are gnawed, chewed, munched-on and basically turning into toothpicks. Be careful what you wish for - you may find it doesn't fit with your décor!

Lol don't even get me started!

Kalidasa · Nov 18, 2013

Mine wasn't interested in wood either until we started very small...Popsicle sticks broken in half that he could hold and scratch himself with, then he caught on. Gary mentioned yucca wood, which is soft and irresistible. I had to start those by slicing off slivers at first, then working up to big chunks. Sometimes when it's big they don't seem to know where to start and might need smaller pieces they can focus on

BruceV · Nov 18, 2013

Simba has some wood toys, but rarely touches them. I think he did at one time, because they're rather well chewed. The toys and cage came with the bird. His favorite is the hard plastic rings in the back of the cage and the pvc thing in the foreground.

WannaBeAParrot · Nov 18, 2013

Non-hanging wood might hold a different interest for Percy vs hanging. Pritti will buzzsaw through most wood objects except hanging toys. Who knows why!

Also, u could try wood with bark that he can chew and pick off, or rub his beak on, even a rustic barky perch.

MomtoPercy · Nov 18, 2013

Thanks so much for all the tips! I'm not based in USA so I can't get the kabobs referred to but I will see what I can substitute.
I think starting with small things may be the key. And I'm looking for suitable "wild" wood for him but thus far I've been unable to find wood guaranteed not to have been sprayed with poison. I can't risk him on a "yeah, I don't think so".

GaryBV · Nov 19, 2013

The Wesco Kabobs were available at a South African site call bidorbuy.co/za and here is a link:

Other Pets - Wesco Pet Mini Bird Kabob Shreddable Bird Toy (natural) was listed for R493.06 on 10 Nov at 01:05 by To Shop in Johannesburg (ID:115214980)

They are also available with international shipping from ebay.com

Just a 'for your information'

MomtoPercy · Nov 19, 2013

Thanks Gary.

Birdman666 · Nov 19, 2013

Introduce them to him.

Play with him on your lap with something like popsicle sticks or branches...

Then give him blocks of wood to chew on as foot toys.

Then hang them up in the cage strung up on sisal rope once he starts to get it.

MomtoPercy · Nov 19, 2013

Thanks, Birdman. Several of his foot toys are wood blocks but I haven't really played with the blocks with him so I will definately start that...once he's over me leaving him for two days

leschornmom · Nov 19, 2013

MarciaLove said:
maybe try getting an untreated 2x4 and drill holes in it and stuff nuts and other goodies in there for him so he has to chip the wood away to get to them but can see them in it so he wants it if he loves treats that might work and its easy to do.

I'm so glad you posted this! I am dealing with two Macaws that DO NOT know how to "play". I like this idea and I think I'll try it!

Featheredsamurai · Nov 19, 2013

With birds in that situation it takes time, buy different styles of toys and see what interest your birdie. It takes time for them to start playing, sometimes even years.

Paper can be very very attractive to birds who do not play, it takes little effort to poke holes along all the edges

MomtoPercy · Nov 19, 2013

Yes Copperarabian, he does love his paper shreddies I make him. I have to hang up a new one daily and when I bring one to his cage in the morning he gets so anxious for it, grabs it before I can even attach it to the cage!

MonicaMc · Nov 25, 2013

Many American based stores will ship internationally.... so it's not out of the question to get toys to you that may not be available in your country.

If you have craft stores in your area, you can always try looking in them for balsa wood - which is *very* soft! (like yucca is).

Featheredsamurai · Nov 25, 2013

When I brought home Rosie she had been with my friends for around 5 years, she only had two perches, a water bowl, and 3 small food bowls only one of which was filled with sun flower seeds. Before that she was in a abusive neglectful home, but I do not know if they gave her toys or not(I assume they did not). It's taken a very long time for her to even touch toys, I found a few that she she would nibble on, or tear a small piece off then never touch again. But finally three weeks ago she completely destroyed a toy!

so maybe since your amazon is a paper lover like Rosie you may have luck with this style of toy. After destroying this toy she removed all the cardboard from the planet pleasures toy in the bottom right as well.

JessieRosie · Jul 11, 2014

Hi everyone,

Sorry this is a late reply....

I'm having similar issues with my Rosie. She doesn't want to chew anything at all. I've even sat there and chewed bits of wood and things in front of her to show her how it's done, and she just looks at me as if I am a weirdo!

She doesn't like to shred either, and I've torn things up in front of her and made a huge mess for her to get involved in... still no interest....

She may just lightly beak things and then just completely ignore, and never go for full on destruction. I'm worried as her beak is getting longer, that she won't wear it down. And I want her to have some chewing amusement whilst I am out.

Have you had much progress with Percy's wood chewing?

Thanks in advance,

Jessie and Rosie
:green1:

Parrot not interested in chewing wood?

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Progress with Simba!

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