Enough Toys?

[parrotlover]

OK! we don't have pinecones in this part of louisiana this time of year I don't think. But sure Ok! They like it? I'm getting my Cockatiel tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jenny]

yeah, pinecones are a big hit at my house, too. I have to buy mine, as they're not around much in my area either.

You will soon find that none of the toys you have are enough. Toy purchasing/making for fids is a bottomless pit, an unending task. I say this only somewhat in jest.

Btw, I've read that sandperches & the type do nothing to keep claws in check. I have one, but it's only to provide a variety of perches for my tiel. Plan on your bird needing his claws trimmed on a regular basis. As for his beak, you just want to always have toys available for him to chew on.

[parrotlover]

Ok thanks! I'll find a way to do it don't worry lol.

[Jenny]

I've told family & friends that the only gifts I now need for birthdays & Christmas are the funds for more bird paraphernalia!!

[Mum2rory]

Woo Hoo, birdy tomorrow. You do know that you will be the biggest and best "toy" your little birdy could ask for? But you do need the "essentials" listed by others. So excited for you, time seems have have flown but slow at the same time. Get some sleep tonight you will need to be on the ball tomorrow. I think the toys will be ok for now,. I know when I bought Rory home at 7wks of age, he didnt really play with them, he was to busy adjusting to cage, our family life etc but he does need them to entertain himself while you are at school. Are you guys on school holidays at the moment? I know you are on a different timetable to Aussies.

[parrotlover]

Yea'm on summer holiday. I start school august 8th or 9th.

[Mum2rory]

Excellent timing on getting you birdy. You now have time to settlehim, observe him in his first week or so ar=t his new home, to bond with him etc. Again CONGRATS!!!!

[parrotlover]

Thank you! hey is it normal for them not to know how to get to the other perches? Heacts like he's trapped when I put him on the play perch or the edible perch.

[Mum2rory]

Yes, from my experience with Rory. Here is my story of Rory's intro to my home. Yours will be the same, similar or different. Everyone experiences different things, so if you are worried, ask questions, dont be shy. Everyone is on a learning curve all the time with our little birdy friends. Places like this teach us so much.

Got home from Breeder about 11am (he was in a cardboard box at breeders with 3 others?). Put him in budgies old cage (quite small, but breeder said to use small cage at start)

First few days
He stayed in the one spot, never moved but roared (hence his name) Moved him over to food then water, sat next to cage and talked to him. He ate and drank, took him out for cuddles and talks. Put in extra perches (did he know what a perch was, probably not) He started moving around via perches but was not very good at it, good thing it was a small cage
I was so scared the next day - raced out, uncovered cage to see if he had survived the night, Pheww, he was ok, just started roaring at me and still in same spot as last night. Lucky he was on the perch between food and water.

I think you have enough toys FOR NOW but you will need to get or make more (Rory not interested in them in the begiining)

Got new big cage after a week - put in heaps of perches
He was sooooooo small in big cage. Fell off perches, added material to bottom of cages for his safety. Tried to get him to stay lower in cage but due to his insecurity he liked to be up high.
Had him out a fair bit letting him walk, climb over me, furniture, cage to build up his climbing skills.
After a week or so, he was a natural, should see him now, cant keep the little guy still, he is all over the cage including the bottom of it, very confident monkey he is. He has learnt to fly, even tho he was clipped when I got him. He flies all round our open plan living area.
Even tho I had heaps of toys for Rory, he didnt play with any of them in the beginning. He had to learn to play with them, he has only just started to in the last couple of weeks.

Dont overwhelm the little guy at the start with too much stimuli.

Also, if you have him out, remember to keep putting him back in cage at regular intervals for food and water. He is very little and needs more feeds than the older guys. Mine are out no longer than about 45mins before they go back in for a nibble/drink, then they come back out. (like a little baby, need more feeds than an older child/adult) Also, you are in summer over there, dont want him dehydrated.
I mist him for his bath every other day, still dont think he likes it, but he needs to bath.
I got an aviator harness yesterday. If you intend to get one, start his conditioning now. Tickle/scratch under his wings (our armpit), run you hand gently over his face/head. Wish I had known this cos its going to take longer for me to get Rory in the postion to use harness.
Remember, you, love and patience (plus fresh food and water) are the best things for your little Chevy (luv the name, its different and we will always know who you are talking about)
PS get tissues or wipes for poo-poo messes and learn to luv poo soup. Its amazing what he does to his water bowl. We also have covers on our couches, easily removed and washed (poo messes) Hope I helped

[laducockatiel]

Will one wooden toy , a sandperch, and a cuttlebone be fine for keeping beak and claws down?. I have a good bit of other things he can play with though as well. I have a bow, some grafiti papaer, beads, and some straws in there. Will it be enough?

I don't recommend sand perches, my breeder said not to get them cos sometimes the tiels try to eat the sand and it can kill them