Idea for a toy - does something like this exist?

[NancyJ]

Lots of toys seem to be pretty much the same, essentially bits of wood/leather/rope etc to chew in pretty colours which seem to be mostly for the owner's benefit (I don't know about you but our parrots have always been more interested in the furniture than the neon-coloured, fruit-flavoured wooden chew things they were bought). Unless they can destroy it in seconds, they're not that interested, they'll chew on it from time to time but it doesn't really keep them entertained. The best toy he ever got was basically a cardboard box full of tissue paper (marketed as a parrot "pizza box"?!)

I recently discovered that one of our cockatoos loves to throw things and drop things - he loves it more if I then pick it up for him so he can throw it again but I don't think that can be really incorporated into a toy. What I thought he might like is something where he can throw things about without them going on the floor (because he'd never pick them up). I envisaged some sort of cage where he can get his beak through to the balls but the balls can't fall out and he could toss them around. Has anyone seen anything like this? Any ideas on how I could construct it if something doesn't already exist? Do you think he would play with it?

[Michael]

I think the entire pleasure comes from making you pick it up again rather than the motions, sorry.

As for chewing furniture rather than toys... well they're just trying to copy you. You "play" with the furniture so the parrots just want to do the same. Try making as big of a deal about the toys (literally breaking piece off and hogging it to yourself) and see how badly the birds will want it.

My birds love my Parrot Wizard toys because I make them so they are easy enough to break so that the parrot can have success but at the same time hard enough to pose a challenge. Some of the other toys out there don't take that into mind. Of course they get busted in less than a week but the birds have a fantastic time chewing them. I think the different shapes/textures are actually more appealing to them than the colors.

[NancyJ]

He was dropping/throwing stuff long before I started picking it up for him. He particularly likes tearing off tissue paper and watching it float to the ground (I suspect he's doing the same thing with his feathers too which is why I want to redirect that impulse into something more positive). I think he's a wannabe physicist.
We tried making a fuss over the toys and playing with them - I think they can tell you're only pretending Works great with the dog though. We can give them every kind of special parrot friendly wooden thing, not interested - he finds a lost pencil and he does a lap of honor like he's won a special prize.

We have these 'make your own toy kits' - basically some rope, a clasp and some plastic balls/hoops. I got it out just to look at it and Curly was so excited so I started to assemble some parts and he got more and more excited - bobbing up and down and banging on the bars - he even seemed to be showing me where he wanted me to put it. I hang it up in his cage and he nibbles on it for less than a minute and then goes back to sitting on his perch. He's nibbled on it from time to time since but he can't destroy it and there's no food in it so its not that interesting.

My baby just likes things that swing. He even sleeps on a swing. He has all these expensive fancy toys and all he cares about is the chains that they're on, he just likes to swing them about, and usually gets hit in the face for his trouble. Silly Galah

[beefenhauzer]

One thing my cockatiels used to always love (and now my Maroon Bellied) is drink stirrers. My parents used to always go to las vegas and every drink they ordered came with a stirrer, special to that casino. I have hundreds, all different shapes and sizes. You can even get the plain boring ones from your local liquor store.
Sorta like these.
http://www.amazon.com/HomeAndWine-com-D ... B0012UV1ZA

Kiwi seems to like the ones in the shape of a spoon the most.



I'll grab 10-15 and just throw them across the table, sometimes he throws them off the table, but i wont pick them up. but most of the time he will just pick them up and carry them around, chew a little, or whatever. the best though is when he has one in his beak, and tries to walk with one in each hand... he slips all over. lol

[ljeanne]

my black capped conure loves toys with ball on string, she stands on side of cage and throws ball all over the place and it always swings back to her.