Buying and Choosing Bird Toys - Tips and Guide

Even the most well taken care of birds will eventually become unhappy if they don’t have anything to occupy their active minds and strong beaks. Many birds will resort to pulling out their own feathers if they are left with nothing else to do. It’s a good idea to provide your bird with toys to help him stay active and happy.

When selecting toys, make sure they are size appropriate for your particular bird. Large birds risk injuring themselves by breaking toys that were meant for smaller birds. Their beaks are powerful and need something a bit more durable.

Toys such as swings and Olympic style rings are good choices for smaller birds. Some birds have been known to attempt swinging on both at one time. Swings are not as popular with most larger birds, although some do enjoy them. Most birds enjoy climbing on ladders if the space in their cage allows it.

Toys that stimulate the mind and body are popular with large birds. If their favorite treat is placed inside as a reward, maze and puzzle toys are an excellent choice. Untying leather knots is also an enjoyable activity for large birds.

Preening toys can help your bird avoid the temptation to pluck out their own feathers. You must keep an eye on them though, and remove the preening strips right away if they begin to fray. The thin fabric threads could injure your bird by wrapping themselves around his neck or toe. Safer versions of these toys are made with feathers instead of cotton fabric and lessen the risk of injury.

Just like children, most birds enjoy climbing and hopping around on play gyms. Play gyms come in many varieties. Some are very complex, having seesaws, climbing ropes and treat bowls in addition to swings and ladders. There are also simpler ones consisting of only a perch, a ladder and a swing.

There are many toys on the market that are not very suitable for pet birds. Any toy that the bird can see his reflection in may cause him to think there is another bird in his cage, making him less friendly with humans. Any toy that you place in your bird’s cage should have all of it’s parts firmly attached. If your bird swallows a small broken or loose piece, there is a risk of serious injury or death. Many bird toys have cowbells on them. Before giving this type of toy to your bird, remove the clapper from the bell before the bird can pull it off and swallow it.

Finally, before spending your money on fancy bird toys, trying placing common household items in the cage. Birds are much like children in that sometimes the simplest things can make the best toys. Items such as wooden blocks, paper towel tubes and tongue depressors can be very popular toys for your bird. As always, monitor them to make sure they are not swallowing pieces that are broken or torn off.

         

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