Your Parrot Won’t Play with Toys?

BlueToast

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Oct 18, 2009
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2 bird toys per paycheck has become a part of my budget. Some of the toys i've got have been assembled with components that with a little creative engineering can be rebuilt using loose or spare parts that I get from the local exotic bird store. Theese items are also available in bulk online. So with a little strategy an planning you easily fabricate,assemble and rebuild toys with the same or better quality and just as attractive to the subject as an off the self product with considerable savings. In our bird pepper's mind no toy beats a ring of keys. Key ring and blank keys with lots of fobs and other accesories from a hardware store $10.00 tops if you really go all out. Entertains her for hours and easily renewable at a low cost. It's been my experience that the more a toy costs the more likely the bird would prefer to play the package it came in.
 
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antoinette

antoinette

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The more a toy costs the more likely the bird would prefer to play the package it came in.
Totally agree with you.
Just got to let our imagination run wild and wallah.
Great day
 

Stealthammer

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Dec 28, 2009
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Whitestown, IN
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Apache, Harliquinn Macaw
....It's been my experience that the more a toy costs the more likely the bird would prefer to play the package it came in.
+1
Apache thinks it's his "job" to inspect and open every package that we receive, and that the packaging is then his to "dispose" of. Who am I to argue?

I quit buying commercial "bird toys" years ago because he always seemed to want whatever I was using at the moment instead. For Christmas I gave him one of my old t-shirts and he has spent the past week finding new ways to play with it. First of course he chewed holes in it, then he would continuously stuff it under his feet to raise himself up as though on a podium. Today he is using it wrap up some of his other toys, and laughing constantly. I have no idea what he will do with it next but I'm certain that he is not through with it.
 
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antoinette

antoinette

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:09::09::09: Apache sounds so mischievous.

Amazing how a single item can keep them occupied for hours on end.

Take a toilet roll for example, we would normally threw the roll away.

Then give it to a bird.
Then they try roll it around.
Then they try balance on it.
Then begin to chewing it in strips.
Then take the strips, chewing them smaller and smaller.
Then picking up the chewed pieces, chuck them into their water bowl.
Then when wet and soggy, have the enjoyment of picking them up, piece
by piece throwing them in every direction possible.
As the saying goes "Bird Brain" I WONDER !!!!!


Then we throw it away LoL

Take care

:grey:
 

Stealthammer

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Antoinette, about once a month I give Apache a full roll of toilet paper. He drags it into the bathroom (which is hilarous to watch!), then he opens one side of the cabinet under the sink (its "his" cabinet so its full of his toys anyway), and then he drags the roll inside. In about an hour or so he has completely torn the roll to shreds, then he keeps tossing the shreds into the air and all over his head and back. Periodically over the next couple of weeks he will return to the cabinet to play in the shredded pieces so I toss in some wooden beads or a stainless steel bolt with a dozen or so nuts as "hidden treasures". When he has gone a week or so without playing in the old shreds, we go in together and clean up the remains of the old roll, then I give him another fresh one. I would guess that he gets at least 15-20 hours of fun out of a single roll. It is a very inexpensive way of giving him may long hours of fun......
 
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antoinette

antoinette

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LoL You had the brains to give it to Apache

BUT

Apache uses his "bird brain" power, knowing where to put it, he chooses how to play with it and when to play with it.

Birds love "hidden treasure" never knowing what "treat" is awaiting them.


Keeping a bird stimulated is very important, they do not get bored and continue learning.

Cheers till next time !!!
 

genevieve

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Jan 3, 2010
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Northern Virginia
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Meyer's Parrot
This is just the thread I needed! My new Meyer's Parrot has shown no interest in his toys... I never even considered that he might not know how to play with them. I guess I'd better show him - although hopefully that doesn't mean I need to start chewing on his shred toys!
 

genevieve

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I understand that it varies by bird, but can anyone suggest some toys that are particularly good for birds that are just learning to play? I finally got Alcatraz (tentative name for our new bird) to chew on a wooden block yesterday and he'll look at his mirror if i put him in front of it, but otherwise he doesn't seem very interested.

I'm going to try the toilet paper roll, keychain, and a plastic cat ball. I admit that I have always relied on commerically produced toys because I'm scared of giving the bird something that isn't safe, but I am open to any suggestions.

Thank you!
 
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antoinette

antoinette

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Hey there Genevieve
How are you doing?
Seems Alcatraz is still quite young?
It takes most birds a while to get used to anything new, not matter what their age.
When I want to give Mishka a new toy, I sit with her on my lap, holding the new toy.
I do not attempt to give her the toy at all.
I kiss her then the toy, over and over again (no I am not mad) LoL saying the toys
name eg: bell.
This continues for a few nights.
When she makes the first move to investigate, I leave the toy on my lap.
In her own time she starts playing with it.
I then place it in her cage, touching it a couple of times saying Mishk's (bell) or whatever the toy is.
I know it sounds like a long long process, not really, you spend much time having fun, time goes by quickly.
Being a bit older now (just over 2 years now) she normally starts playing with them much quicker.
Alcatraz :09: Sure when he starts playing with toys he will live up to his name LoL

Go into search type in cheap toys for birds.... great ideas there.



Mishka's truck Home made christmas present Mishka's Castle

Keep us updated.
Great day
 
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genevieve

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Seems Alcatraz is still quite young?

Alcatraz is 15 months old. I am guessing that he has never had to entertain himself. I think that the birdstore was also the breeder, so he's been surrounded by many other birds his whole life. I would imagine that simply being in a quiet place is a shock to him.

I will try intoducing new toys as you've suggested. I'm sure a little bit of patience will go a long way - Alcatraz needs time to adjust to a new home.

Thanks for the input!
 

dranger1108

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I really like this site, it's given me a lot of neat ideas.
I have a swing stand for my sunday conure... I don't hink she really knows how to play with her toys but she is starting to mouth them on her swing... she loves to shred paper so I'm going to make her some shredding/foraging toys...
 

Riley's mom

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Most of my birds like to shred adding machine paper. I hang a roll in every cage and they have a field day with it. And it's not that expensive either. :green1:
 

genevieve

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Meyer's Parrot
I'd just like to report back on Alcatraz. We haven't made a lot of progress with toys, but he is getting more playful as he adjusts to a home without other birds.

I placed a small plastic hoop (the kind that stores hang scarves on) on one of his perches. He likes pushing it around and then off the end of the perch. I didn't think he'd enjoy it since his playpen has something similar and he ignores it, but I'm not going to complain.

He's also showing a little more interest in his chew toys - including picking at his new Booda rope perch. So far no interest in foot toys or foraging toys (despite loving seeds and being on a mostly pellet diet) but maybe that will come with time.
 

Stacye and Tiki

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One trick I'm using to get Tiki to accept new things/play with toys, is playing with it myself. I made a great cheap bird toy just by getting a bunch of cheap plastic bracelets from a thrift store and just tying them together with a ribbon. At first Tiki would not go near it.

Then I put it next to my keyboard and started playing with it as I was surfing the internet or whatever. In no time Tiki had to investigate the toy herself and she decided it was fun to play with!

So for about 2 dollars I have a toy that has entertained Tiki for most of the afternoon and I expect many more hours of fun with bracelets to come!


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TexDot33

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Dec 26, 2006
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14 year-old Green-Cheeked Conure: Mac
Most of my birds like to shred adding machine paper. I hang a roll in every cage and they have a field day with it. And it's not that expensive either.

No, but it does add up!

:jumping40

*BA DUM CHING*

Thank you folks, he's here all week! Please make sure you tip your waiters and waitresses ....

One trick I'm using to get Tiki to accept new things/play with toys, is playing with it myself.

Stayce that's a great way of doing it ... you have the luxury of having a "naturally inquisitive" bird species ... there isn't a lot of things that Conures, Amazons and Macaws will not play with and to foster this with these species is a variation of this action ... let them see you playing with the new toy, but as they get more and more curious don't let them have it, try and keep it to your self as long as possible until they will do anything to get that toy from you (THINK over excited two-year old: why are they keeping it away from me, I want to see, I want to see, what is it, what is it ... it must be fun if they are keeping it to themselves, I WANT TO PLAY TOO) ...

With more cautious species like Greys and Eekies you might have to have a few "Play together" sessions before they will take to it like you would expect them to (think overly cautious child who won't leave mom's side and needs to be coaxed to try new things: AHHHH, that's scary, what is that, what is it, AHHH, it's going to get us - run away, run away!!! Oh, wait, maybe this isn't bad, he's playing with it, it's not eating him ... hmmm, I guess it might be ok ... maybe it'll be ok for me too!)

And, as always, go at your own parrots pace, there's no sense in forcing anything on anyone. The key to new toys, just like anything new, is persistence and repetition.
 
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antoinette

antoinette

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Sunny South Africa !!!
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"Mishka"
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Gee that is a great toy
Congrat's to you for such great imagination.
The beads sure look tempting enough.
Sure Tiki will have hours of continuous fun.
Thanks for much for sharing, will try something similar.
Take care
:grey:
 

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