Are bird toys too juvenile in design?

[Rue]

I was just reminded of this in another thread.

I like bright colours too. So I have no issue with that...but I don't know why so many bird toys need to look like baby toys. While birds may prefer bright colours, I'm pretty sure they don't need toys designed to appeal to a 2-year old human child.

Am the only one who would prefer more 'sophisticated' bird toys availalbe?

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Well it is often said that parrots are a bit like 3 year old children, intellectually speaking. But I suppose the toys are really marketed to us, and we may tend to see them a bit as children.

What would a "more sophisticated" bird toy look like? Fine detail is presumably out as it would rapidly be destroyed.

[ptuga72]

The only nice looking toys my flock gets are ones that I make myself. I too have found that most bird toys look like infant/toddler toys. However I have to admit that I do buy actual baby/toddler toys for my flock (from thrift stores).
If more sophisticated toys were available, I imagine that the price would be sky-high, which makes me think about going into the toy making business lol.

[Rue]

It shouldn't cost more to make something that looks more grown-up. The materials used are the same, the work that goes into them would be the same - if not less.

The bright colours are fine. Just not this overly 'cutesy' stuff. If I wasn't on dial-up I'd post some examples of what I don't like.

My pets are my pets, not my surrogate children, nor am I a child. I don't appreciate 'baby' toys for pets.

[ptuga72]

It shouldn't cost more to make something that looks more grown-up. The materials used are the same, the work that goes into them would be the same - if not less.

I just meant that it seems that whenever something different comes out, it's price does not match its worth. I make 90% of my toys. I spent $100 on parts, and I can make toys for a year. I spend $100 on toys, and my fids get maybe a weeks worth of entertainment before it's destroyed. I've also noticed that anything labeled for birds, esp. parrots, is automatically marked up.
Personally, I don't mind the babyish toys too much. but it would be nice to some other options available.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I see plenty of "natural" toys on the market, too, like the birdy kebabs and coconut shells and such. Do these seem less "babyish"? I don't mind the cutesy stuff, but I also see plenty of stuff that's just bright bits strung together with various stuff, so I'm not sure what toys are offputting. A lot of them are nearly identical to what I've been making -- bits of colored wood in various shapes strung on various materials with maybe a ball or bell or rattle.

[Rue]

ptuga: I've tried making mine, and I do make a few. But I'm not patient enough. Maybe if I had tons of materials and a workroom with it all set out I'd do better, but hauling out a box of miscellaneous bits and pieces and stringing them together doesn't do it for me...lately all I make is the odd foot toy.

entranced: Yes, the 'natural' toys; the kebabs, anything with coconut shells and natural type branches is nice, I have no problem with those...other than they're hard to find in person around here. I have ordered some stuff, but it's never quite what I expected when I actually get it (often too big or too small for the intended recipient)...

...maybe it's when they mix EVERY possible bright colour together that bothers me...

...okay...I'll see how slow my dial-up is...I'll post a couple of examples if I can...we need visuals...

[miajag]

I'm personally guilty of leaning toward toys that are less "childish" and more based on natural wood and rope with "earthy" colors, because of my own aesthetic preferences (she still has a couple colored toys in her cage, though). Should I feel guilty about this?

[Rue]

I certainly don't think so!

Okay...dial-up is just too slow...I'm falling asleep waiting for pages to load...

But when I can, I'll find some pics of the kind of stuff I'd rather not have...

[TheNzJessie]

never really thought about it...as long as my birds are happy im happy