Encouraging Damien to play [ Question ]

[Ria]

I have known for a long time Damien isn't really a playful type, but in hope I have put things on top of his cage, an old pair of sun glasses, a fork LOL YOU never know, and this old cardboard box my meds came in, in hope he will be curious.


My question is, regarding foraging.
How do you guys get your parrot 1. confident and 2. curious of things.
Also how can I encourage good foraging skills, or skills that gets him to use his brain?

So basically any tips or anything i can make to try.

As I type this, he's just sorta staring at the assortment and where I have now closed the top of his cage I think he's trying to figure out how to get back in maybe, lol.

Thank you all! <3

 

[Spiritbird]

I usually place a favorite treat hidden in the foraging toy or tube. They really get excited about that.

 

[roxynoodle]

One of my conures was often afraid of new toys. I would first set them next to her cage, then hang them outside of the cage, then put them in. Pete is still learning what toys are and is sometimes afraid of a new one as well.

Sometimes it can help as well if you play with the new toy and act all thrilled to have it. It gets them curious, then they often want to play with it as well.

 

[Ria]

Thank you! I am going to also try he whole tissue paper over the food bowl to encourage him to 'find' his food!

 

[lene1949]

I started very simpel with Max, my Alexandrine... I put several food stations in his cage, making sure he saw me put food in them.. There were a couple on the bottom of the cage and a couple further up, and one up near the highest perch... He soon went from one to the other to grab a bit of food - never stayed for long at just one station.

Then I got a foraging ball, filled it with fruit and vegies, and he loved that...

When he started playing with a margarine container on my kitchen bench, I washed it out, put a couple of apple slices in it, and put it in his cage... He opened the lid within seconds... I tied a leather string around it, and that lasted a lot longer...

Max will be 5 months old on January 19th...