Types and selection of toys for the parrot

The parrot is an interesting and intelligent bird. The owner of such a pet should understand that it is not enough just to close the parrot in a cage - you need to provide him an interesting pastime, so that the pet is not bored.

These birds are quite active and talkative. They love attention from the owner and yearn for alone. It is necessary to carefully look at the behavior of the parrot, in order to understand whether it needs a particular toy, how it should be in shape, size, etc.

It is worth buying a toy if the parrot:

• likes to climb the curtains;
• can hang on the chandelier upside down;
• often gnaws, chews or tears;
• likes to look in the mirror and preen;
• considers his shadow and plays with her;
• likes to drag a particular object from one place to another, or hides it at all;
• takes things out of the box, drawer, etc .;
• likes to see something brilliant;
• he is attracted by ringing and rustling sounds;
• holds a paw various trifles;
• holds and throws objects;
• loves to roll things round shape;
• unravels knots.

In order not to get confused in the assortment of stores, you should know whether this or that toy is focused on the development of intellectual abilities or for sports pet spending time. The main types of toys.

• Fodder or developing. These are peculiar puzzles that parrots love to solve. Often some kind of delicacy is hidden inside such toys, and the bird must get to it with the help of its ingenuity.
• Training apparatus. Such toys need a parrot to train its wings, legs and other muscles. These birds, as a rule, skillfully cling, balance, therefore it is better to supply the cage with swings and ladders.
• Little cheeky Parrots often gnaw or chew on something, so it is better to add special toys to the cage so that the bird will not spoil the furniture and other household items. These gizmos are usually made of wood and contribute to the development of the pet's jaw joints. But the term of use of such a toy is short. For wavy parrots, you can, for example, choose a grub from apple or pine.
• For outdoor activities. A parrot will surely enjoy all sorts of reels, for example, a “penguin on wheels” doll, which the bird will gladly roll. Parrots are very active and they need to show their sports skills.
• Musical If the owner is not embarrassed by the periodic noise, then you can please the feathered pet with a bell or a rattle. And for big parrots suitable special toys that sound when you press the button.
• Mirror. This accessory is considered an inseparable element in the cage. It is believed that the parrot is interesting to spend time with his reflection, while the owner is not at home or he is busy with household chores. Some experts believe that the reflection can eventually replace the parrot communication with a person, but the owners of these birds do not agree with this statement. In their experience, the mirror only contributes to the development of the parrot's communication skills.
• Cozy toys. To make a feathered friend feel comfortable and safe, you can add pipe-tunnels, various rings with windings and even small houses to the cage.
• Game booth. Some owners, to please their feathered pets, acquire the whole game complex, where there are ladders, swings, crossbeams and other toys. Typically, this design is installed on top of the cage or on any surface in the apartment. With a playground, a feathered pet will definitely have no time to be bored.

To make the toy not only interesting, but also safe, ornithologists advise the following.

• Pay attention to the manufacturer, composition and material. The main thing is safety. The bird can gnaw a toy, and it is necessary that it does not have harmful dyes. It is worth paying attention to the quality of plastic (if the accessory is made of it). A parrot runs the risk of choking on plastic if it bites off a piece of a toy. If the product is rope, then it is worth checking whether there are any protruding threads there. It is important to pay attention to the size of the holes in the toy, otherwise the beak of the parrot can get stuck in them. It is better not to buy toys with the presence of small parts, so that the feathered pet inadvertently swallows them.
• Do not be limited to one toy. I will quickly get bored with the parrot, so you should purchase a variety of accessories. You can periodically change one toy to another or place them in new places. Then the bird will remain interested.
• In pursuit of diversity, you do not need to strive to fill the whole cage with toys. A parrot will simply have nowhere to turn around and wave its wings. The best option for the cell will be two or three accessories.
• Toys must be chosen according to the size of the feathered friend. If the parrot is small, then it will be hard for him to play with a large object. And toys for large parrots should not be too small, otherwise they will easily break the thing without even having time to really play with it.
• Take care of a toy too. The owners regularly wash the objects and sanitize them so that organic residues do not accumulate there and the mold does not appear. If the toy is already pretty shabby, it is better to throw it away.
• If you immediately hang the accessory in the cage, it can cause fright in the feathered pet, therefore it is better that he first got used to the new toy.
• It is important to show the parrot what to do with the object, how to play with it. It is easy to accustom a bird to a new toy - parrots are excellent imitators, therefore the owner should only demonstrate the sequence of actions once. But it is important not to scare away the bird. For each attempt to show interest in the subject, the pet should be encouraged with a delicacy.

Toys for medium, small and large parrots can be made from improvised means. But when choosing materials and manufacturing it is worth remembering about safety.

How to make a swing.

• It will be necessary to stock up on wire, zherdochka, beads or buttons.
• The length of the wire is calculated taking into account the mounting hole.
• After that, perforated holes are made for fasteners.
• Beads or buttons are worn on the wire, and the ends of the wire are fixed in pre-prepared holes on the rail below.
• Then the wire with the beads strung on it is shaped into a circle and the structure is fixed in the cage. Swing ready!

How to make a bungee with a bell.

• You need to stock up with a rope (five millimeters thick), beads, a metal bell, a zherdochka.
• You must put a bead on the rope, then make a knot, then put the bead back on.
• The perch is fixed below and the bell itself is attached.
• The rope is attached on top of the cage. Musical toy for feathery pet is ready!

How to make a spiral ladder.

• You need to take a plastic bottle (half a liter), sand (suitable river or sea), twigs - five millimeters thick - with pointed ends, a few nuts, a color wrapper.
• To begin with, the sand is thoroughly washed and ignited in a griddle.
• The bottle is pasted over with a bright packaging wrapper so that it arouses interest in the parrot.
• At the bottom of the bottle should lie a few nuts for structural stability.
• Further, sand is filled up, and the bottle is tightly wrapped with a lid.
• Then a few holes for rods erupt in the bottle, they should not fall out and turn.
• You can make a rope ladder using a rope and a few wooden trunks. Parrots really like to climb the ladders to the top and go down.

How to make a rattle:

• such a thing can be made from scrap items, for example, from a plastic container, where there used to be a toy from “Kinder”;
• there are several buttons or beads;
• feathery pets love the sounds that make rattles, so with such a simple toy you can take a bird for a long time.

How to make toys for a parrot with your own hands, see the following video.