Imagine setting a toddler in a playpen or on a rug with only two toys. Each day you provide the same two items for him to play with. How long do you think those toys will keep your toddler occupied and happy? Not long at all—perhaps 5 minutes. Human children need an abundance of toys to keep them busy and content. Play is important and promotes their physical and intellectual growth. Well, the same is true for your feathered child.
Birds need a lot of toys. Just as one or two toys won’t keep your toddler happy, it won’t keep your bird occupied either. Plan on purchasing a variety of bird toys and accessories, and be sure to rotate these on a regular basis. Keep the same toys in your bird’s cage for about 2-3 weeks. Then replace them with different toys. If you do not rotate the toys, your bird will quickly become bored.
The Benefits of Toys
After purchasing a beautiful, decorative bird cage, you may think about tightening up your budget when it comes to the toys. But it’s important not to skimp in this area. You need to be completely committed to your bird’s health and happiness. Proper care simply starts with providing an ideal bird cage. Toys are next in line.
Birds need emotional and intellectual stimulation. Otherwise they will develop aggressive and self-mutilating behavior. A bird that is board may become angry, pluck its feathers or start screaming to entertain itself. Toys can keep your bird happy and help prevent behavioral problems.
Make Sure the Cage Is Big Enough For the Bird and the Toys
There are a variety of toys you can purchase for your bird. Remember, it is important that your bird has a large enough parrot cage to house itself and all it’s accessories without feeling crowded. A large bird cage will enable you to fill your parrot’s castle with climbing ladders, ropes, swings and perches. If you own a small bird, a finch cage or Parakeet cage is probably fine. Medium sized birds require a Cockatiel cage or a Cockatoo cage. And larger birds will need–well, a large bird cage, such as a macaw cage or African Gray cage.
If you have an exceptionally active parrot, consider purchasing a cage with a playtop. A playtop sits above the cage and allows your bird to move around and entertain himself outside his normal habitat. The great thing about playtops is that they are attached to the top of your cage, saving space and making it exceptionally easy to clean up after your bird. Even if you are on a tight budget, you can still purchase cheap bird cages that are beautifully designed and equipped with a handsome playtop. CagesUnder500Dollars.com offers numerous playtop cages that are the perfect size to serve as an African Gray cage, Cockatoo cage and even a budgie cage.
Swings & Hanging toys
Most parrots love swings and hanging toys. These toys encourage physical activity and can provide your bird with hours of entertainment. It may take your bird a little time to get use to the swing. They will flap their wings to keep their balance and might swing in short sessions to start with. Once your bird gets use to their swing, they’ll spend hours entertaining themselves and may even want to sleep on their new-found perch.
Many of the swinging toys offered by Custom Cages, include brightly colored toys attached to the sides. This enables your parrot to swing and play in his bird cage at the same time.
Hanging toys can add variety to your parrot cage, and keep birds engaged with all the different options at their disposal. Custom Cages’s hanging toys are made with several different textures for your bird to enjoy. This includes wood, rope and leather. Wooden toys are especially attractive to parrots, who love to chew on wood.
Perches
Birds spend most of their time standing, even when they sleep. So perches are an important part of your bird cage furniture. Your bird will need several different perches in his cage. If you only offer your parrot one choice, he may develop sore feet. In order to promote a healthy bird with healthy feet, it’s best to have at east four perches in your bird cage.
Keep in mind that purchasing and replacing perches is an ongoing process. Your bird will readily chew and sometimes destroy his perches within a few months. It is also important to spot clean the perches at least weekly to prevent fecal matter and bacteria from building up. Plastic perches are not the best choice for birds as they can easily break.
Wooden perches on the other hand are an excellent alternative. However, a perch made out of soft wood may be readily destroyed by an excited macaw. So look for wooden perches that are made out of durable material, such as the Ribbonwood perch, offered by Custom Cages. This hardy wooden perch is sturdy and should last longer than a perch made out of softer wood.
Therapeutic perches are made out of coarse, durable material that helps trim a bird’s nails. These perches are mounted to your bird cage on one end and extend about 9 ½”. It’s a great way to keep your bird’s nails looking buff. A calcium perch is also an attractive and highly useful addition to your bird enclosure. This type of perch allows your bird to roost, while providing essential nutrients. Calcium is an indispensable trace mineral for all birds and should be given as a supplement on a regular basis. Having a calcium perch in your beautiful bird cage can serve a dual purpose.
Rope perches can also be exciting for many parrots. Birds love to tear these apart or work on unraveling the rope. This can be very amusing to watch. Just be sure to cut off any loose or hanging threads, as these can get caught around your bird’s neck or feet.