# of toys in cage

NicoleN

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Snow & Blue-Budgies
Was reading an article today about cage set-up & placement. It stated that there should be AT LEAST 10 toys in a parrots cage, and that the parrot should be hard to see when they are in their cage. How many of you agree with this?

I'm trying to think of how many toys Gigi & Sisqo have in their cages. I think Gigi & Sisqo have around 6 or 7 in each of their cages at any given time.

How many do your birds have?
 

meghanxx4

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I think it depends how big the cage is and how big the bird is in relation to the cage.
For example i have two cockatiel in my cage with maybe 5 or 6 toys and platform and a boing, and that i think is fine. Where as Minzer, who is getting timothy the same(well basically the same)cage, since it's such a small bird in a large cage you would want to fill it up more things. I think the birds should have no problem moving around, or even flapping there wings.
I don't think the cage should be empty, but i also don't think it should be hard to spot them. They should be able to flap their wings and turn around do whatever without touching the the bars of the cage or toys. I also don't think over doing it with toys is good either, i think i'd rather put a couple toys i at once and just switch them around every couple days or weeks, rather then putting them all in at once and it being way over crowed and hard for the bird to move around.
 

pheobus

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Super question Nicole!I wanted to ask that but I always forget.I am really interested in the answers too!:D

Phoebus has standard six and he has some others like trucks, planes and some other baby toys which I leave on the floor of his cage but not everyday, because I don't want him to get bored of them...

So I do the same as you .... Lets see what the others think of that...
The pet store owner that I usually shop from has told me the same thing with that you said you have read!But I haven't followed his advice yet...
 

Deanna

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Hi Nicole ... Timothy has 7, Cecil has 6 and Mojo has 5. I'm not sure I agree with the article. I allow room in my birds' cages to flap and "fly" in a stationary fashion ... if I had so many toys in there that I couldn't even see my parrot, they wouldn't be able to do this.

I think it is also bird dependent in terms of what is appropriate for any individual birdie.

~anna :)
 
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NicoleN

NicoleN

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Snow & Blue-Budgies
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Exactly! I rotate their toys every 1-2 weeks, plus they have a playstand, and an outdoor cage where they can go...so I don't think they're getting bored. I had never heard anything like that and I found it sort of shocking. I will have to make sure that I count exactly how many toys my guys have when I go home today.

Also, a question on cups: Do you all put your hands in the cage to retrieve the bird dishes, or do you access their dishes from the outside of their cage?
 

pheobus

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Also, a question on cups: Do you all put your hands in the cage to retrieve the bird dishes, or do you access their dishes from the outside of their cage?

Phoebus doesn't like the dishes his cage has because they are at a lower level than that he likes to sit and won't eat from them, so I removed them and bought new ones that I attached where he wanted them to be, so I have to put my hands in and out to feed him or to clean them...:D
 

TexDot33

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That's a great question Nicole ... Hamlet and Mac both have 5-7 toys in their cages at any one time ... BUT this also depends on the size of the cage ... Remember you want your baby(ies) to be able to spread their wings and flap with room to spare ... don't over crowd cages with toys, but don't skimp with toys ...

:35::35::35: great questions again :35::35::35:
 

Deanna

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Exactly! I rotate their toys every 1-2 weeks, plus they have a playstand, and an outdoor cage where they can go...so I don't think they're getting bored. I had never heard anything like that and I found it sort of shocking. I will have to make sure that I count exactly how many toys my guys have when I go home today.

Also, a question on cups: Do you all put your hands in the cage to retrieve the bird dishes, or do you access their dishes from the outside of their cage?

:D Nicole ... Mojo's cage dishes are accessible from both inside and outside. I personally feed/H2O him from the inside--when Dan feeds, he uses the outside doors. Cecil's cage only allows food/H20 access from outside feeder doors. Timothy's cage (which I just don't like at all) has not outside access and you must feed/H20 from inside.

For non-primary care people, I like outside access doors as it helps the person caring for the bird feel more comfortable in one's absence.

As for Timothy ... I prefer outside feeder so it does not disturb him (he is fearful), but his cage is not equipped for such.

For Mojo, I prefer inside feeding because he is cage aggressive and it is a "training" "learning" time for him with my hands inside his cage (i.e., I have his undivided attention when I am handling his goody dish :D and he is less apt to aggress toward me...thus leading to a new, positive learning experience for him and I, both).

Again ... I think it can be individually dependent upon a particular bird and what their personal needs and requirements are.

~anna
 

Peta

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Great Question.

Well Bucc and Kito are in Macaw cages, so loads of room for lots of toys and room to fly/flap around. :D Kito has loads of toys in a corner which surround a perch that he sleeps in, When he's up there you can't see him at all. I'm thinking he's got about 12 hanging toys and some foot toys on the floor. Bucc on the other hand is totally the opposite, he doesn't like a lot of toys in his cage at all. He's got maybe 8-9 hanging and foot toys, He has about 6 hanging from the roof and the rest are hanging on the sides.

Was reading an article today about cage set-up & placement. It stated that there should be AT LEAST 10 toys in a parrots cage, and that the parrot should be hard to see when they are in their cage. How many of you agree with this?

Do I agree with that, no I don't think I do. I think it depends on your fids and what they like.
 

Minzer84

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Iggy has a pretty big cage, but I still only have about 10 toys in there, the hanging ones are fairly large. I think it's better to put less in and rotate more often, as others have said. But I definitely think you should be able to see your bird, and have him have plenty of room to move and flap...So I guess I'm just agreeing with everyone else... :D

His cups have outside access, so I do the water from the outside, since that's the only way to remove the bowl and toss pellets in his other bowl from the inside (preferably when he's not near the bowl, haha).
 

birdcrazy

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i think it is the variety of toys that counts more than the actual number as well. Like I always make sure Sidney has some kind of rope toy, wood toy, easily destructible toy, toy with bell, and pretty indestructible like accryylic. THese componets can be combined or more added but I always make sure there are different kinds of toys to play with.
 

meghanxx4

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Senegal Parrot: Kayto|
i think it is the variety of toys that counts more than the actual number as well. Like I always make sure Sidney has some kind of rope toy, wood toy, easily destructible toy, toy with bell, and pretty indestructible like accryylic. THese componets can be combined or more added but I always make sure there are different kinds of toys to play with.

Ya i always make sure of that that too. Good point. :D That reminds me i need to get some more acrylic toys.
 

Peta

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Yeah I have a lot of different types of toys in there. The acrylic ones are brilliant, I've got Bucc a music box and he loves that. :D
 

Keupi

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I have 5 hanging toys and about 10 foot toys in Keupi's house. His house though, is huge (his smaller stainless steel one is now his 'vacation' one at Grandma and Grandpa's). Also, Senegals love playing on the floor with foot toys (Keupi often carries them around to the upper perches - I have some strategically placed bowls there that he uses to 'store' them).

As for his dishes - I can change them from either outside or inside his house. Generally I do so from the inside. He also has a water bottle to drink from on the inside, and a pool (yes - he has his own pool) that he uses when outside. What's cool is that he often uses a toy to dunk and drink from and when he gets a bottle cap (from a filtered water bottle), often uses it like a 'cup.'
 

Peta

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That is so cool, his own pool :D

I tried adding another toy to Bucc's cage last night (one that is on his rotation list, so he's very used to it) I came down this morning and he had gone through the chain on the toy and it was laying on the floor. :( That boy knows what he likes
 

Keupi

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That is so cool, his own pool :D

I tried adding another toy to Bucc's cage last night (one that is on his rotation list, so he's very used to it) I came down this morning and he had gone through the chain on the toy and it was laying on the floor. :( That boy knows what he likes

His pool is one that is generally used in reptile aquariums (you know, for frogs or small turtles). It's about two inches high and 7 inches in diameter. Fits nicely on his gym.

Yes - he has his own pool and his own tree (about 2 1/2 feet high) as well as a stainless steel gym.

Don't you love it when the toy is left to the ashes? I don't rotate Keupi's stash as much because he's a 'footie' mostly - it's more replace than rotate in my home. Though, when he plays dead on the bottom of his house, he forgets that waving a foot toy while flat on his back (it's a Sennie thing) gives away that he's alive. I still play along as he loves to 'leap up and surprise you.' It's also entertaining when he does it to others - my brother leap backwards four feet the last time.
 

Peta

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:D:D:D:D That is just so cool, what a crafty little thing he is, but don't you just love the look on their face when they can "surprise ya" its just priceless. :D
 

Keupi

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:D:D:D:D That is just so cool, what a crafty little thing he is, but don't you just love the look on their face when they can "surprise ya" its just priceless. :D

Peta, he's an extremely spoiled fid but not a spoiled brat. He's allowed much freedom but as my Mom often states... he's an absolute pleasure to be around. He has his bad days (growling, cranky, etc) but don't we all? Even when it's not a bad 'day' per se, unless it's absolutely necessary, why tempt a cranky moment?

I often say during his charming moments that he's not a toy. He is a genuinely sweet, devilishly delightful darling who sometimes gets moody and that's normal. When he gets moody, that's ok and I give him his space.

But, a brat - no. He can't go on fid-terror chomping and lunging. That's why the 'nicely now' command is so amazing. It sort of reminds him to play nice or walk away but give him the chance to just walk away.
 

pheobus

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Though, when he plays dead on the bottom of his house, he forgets that waving a foot toy while flat on his back (it's a Sennie thing) gives away that he's alive. I still play along as he loves to 'leap up and surprise you.' It's also entertaining when he does it to others - my brother leap backwards four feet the last time.

Hahahahaha!:35::18::35::18: He is really cute!

It sort of reminds him to play nice or walk away but give him the chance to just walk away.
That's a nice thing to do with your fids!I try it as well, sometimes it works .... :D
Good for you that Keupi respects that...:D
 

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