Choosing Toys for your Bird
Given that we’ve already touched on the intelligence displayed by our feathered friends, it will not come as a surprise that a bird will not be happy stuck in an empty cage without any stimulation.
One of the unpleasant side effects of a bird being bored is a tendency to start pulling out their own feathers, which can be distressing for both you and your pet.
As such, it is extremely important that you give your bird plenty mental stimulus. There are may bird toys on the market, and we’re going to talk about some of them here.
Firstly, you must ensure that you buy toys which are suitably sized for your pet bird. Toys designed for a larger bird are not going to be of much use to your finch or canary, and similarly toys designed for a budgie (or parakeet) could be unsafe for a larger parrot due to the parts being smaller and less robust.
For the smaller bird, both swings and Olympic style rings are very popular – in fact some birds will try and use both at once!! Bigger birds can actually get a lot of enjoyment out of swings too, but they are primarily aimed at the smaller pet. Similarly, space permitting, ladders can be a a big hit will birds of all sizes.
Larger birds actually enjoy puzzles and maze toys a great deal (especially if their favourite nuts are contained within). They also love toys with knots that they can work on unknotting, and anything else that will stimulate them mentally.
If you have noticed that your bird has a tendency to pluck his feathers, you should look to buy toys that can be preened. If you buy toys with preening strips that are made out of cotton, you should keep an eye on it and removed any frayed strips immediately to prevent any danger to the bird. It may actually be better buying preening toys made out of a different material altogether, such as feathers. The upside is, of course, that when the bird has something else to preen they should spend less time pulling out feathers.
Believe it or not, you can also buy mini gyms for your bird. These can include swings, perches and ladders or some which are more elaborate and in addition have treat bowls, climbing ropes and seesaws!
Some toys that we would be very careful about include:
- Mirrors. Sometimes they can provide the bird with a source of fun, however you must keep an eye on the bird spending too much time at the mirror – it is possible that he’ll bond with the reflection of himself rather than being tame and people-friendly.
- Anything with small parts. This goes without saying, but things like the small ringers in bells, or anything else that looks cheaply made and liable to break. The consequences of a bird swallowing a small part of a toy which just happens to break off are naturally something you want to avoid at all costs.
Finally, don’t disregard the cheaper (or free) toys which you already have at your disposal. In a manner reminicent of children at Christmas, your bird will often be very happy simply playing with a small box (ours spends hours with empty Trill boxes) or paper towel tube, or even a children’s wooden toy block. Just keep an eye on them to make sure they’re not eating it!!
