Foraging toys that can withstand a too

[Mjhandy]

I'm asking here in the hopes I would get some recommendations on toys people have tried.

Last night, I introduced Bobbi the Goffin to the foraging wheel that Gandlaf the Grey didn't seem to care about.

Once I showed Bobbi how to get the treats, he took to it like a fish to water. Fast forward to this morning.

He ripped the front off.

The 'wheel' and the bolt, with all the treats on the floor. I put it back together, so I may try it again with Gandalf.

So, what type of foraging toys can hold up to a G2?

 

[Betrisher]

I think you're better off to make your own. Squish up some treats in paper and then place them in the segments of an (empty) egg carton. Staple or tape the carton shut and watch birdie find his treats.

I keep all small cardboard boxes like those containing toothpaste or medicines etc. Put a nut inside and let birdie find it.

Drill large holes in bird-safe wood and poke in a sunflower seed or a piece of nut.

I use a hole saw to cut 'biscuits' out of untreated pallet timber. These can be drilled or combined to hide various food items and then strung together from the roof of the cage so birdie has quite a job to get the treats out.

The piece of timber left from the above operation can also be slotted through the cage bars or just put on the roof of the cage. Birdie can chew it up to his heart's content.

You can use a cheap seagrass mat to roll up paper parcels of food or a bundle of shredded paper which has treats hidden among it. Hang from the cage or just put on the floor.

Really, you're only limited by your imagination.

 

[Mjhandy]

We have been doing that too. He likes to shred, so we have been keeping cardboard. I need to make some more wood toys this weekend, so I will think of some for him.

He hasn't shown a lot of interest in wood as he was a hanging toy I made.

I had hopes for the foraging wheel, I thought it would of lasted a bit longer

 

[Scott]

Goffins are Houdinis with remarkable destructive talent. The dexterity and strength of their beaks will amaze. Have to find an old video of one of mine unthreading a bolt from a 3" screw. Once loose, he devised a quick method of rolling his tongue to create constant motion, removed in about 2 minutes.

I don't bother with forage toys, just profuse wooden blocks to be converted into toothpics. Gabby does like a nesting cup toy; he'll raise and lower the cups for noise, and crawl inside the stainless bowl and let the cups rest on his back.

 

[Mjhandy]

I've started a collection of stainless steel chains from old toys. One section I use to suspend cardboard from the side of Bobbi's cage. That he enjoys. Things in the cage, not so much, but when we're working he's in his cage.

But I could make something cupish. A large spade drill 3/4 through a wood block, then a 1/4 drill for a hole. A few of these on a chain.

 

[clark_conure]

all I can say is I chuckled when I read the title, I haven't owned one but I've see enough parrot videos on youtube to understand lol

 

[Betrisher]

Scott, stainless steel nuts and bolts make a fun toy for Cockies as well as Alexandrines. I hang them from the cage roof or drill holes in heavy cardboard cylinders, threading the bolts through and fixing the nuts inside. The birds *love* winkling the nuts off the bolts! You just need to make sure you use fairly large nuts and bolts to avoid a swallowing hazard.

I've got a new pallet waiting to be cut up, so I might actually drill a few holes and thread the bolts through those. We'll see...

 

[Mjhandy]

Here's my idea.

Wood block, spade drill to form a cup. Then small hole to chain or stainless skewer. A few of these stacked with a treat in each cup. The top one I may leave open, or a thin piece of wood to give that a cup.

I have everything I need, just need to make sure I don't chop a finger off cutting the wood.

 

[Scott]

Scott, stainless steel nuts and bolts make a fun toy for Cockies as well as Alexandrines. I hang them from the cage roof or drill holes in heavy cardboard cylinders, threading the bolts through and fixing the nuts inside. The birds *love* winkling the nuts off the bolts! You just need to make sure you use fairly large nuts and bolts to avoid a swallowing hazard.

I've got a new pallet waiting to be cut up, so I might actually drill a few holes and thread the bolts through those. We'll see...

Great idea, Trish. Off to the hardware store to check out the possibilities!!

 

[Siobhan]

My U2 is too lazy to forage, but I have given him cardboard boxes and junk mail and cheap Easter baskets from Walmart. He doesn't need expensive bird toys because anything he can destroy will do.