Parrots need something to occupy them when they are not with their person. Toys are excellent items to keep a bird busy.

You will need to find toys that are safe and that will keep your bird interested in it. If you look at toys in pet stores, there are many different things to consider. You must be sure that the toy is the appropriate size for your bird and that there is nothing on it that will hurt your bird.

You would expect that toys sold for birds would be safe for them, but unfortunately that is not always the case. The clappers on some bells can come out and cause problems from either being swallowed by your bird or wedged in the beak. Also, any toy made with rope must be checked daily so that any loose ends can be cut in order to avoid having your bird get caught up in it. The clips that attach the toy to the cage also have to be safe & the right size for your bird.

Birds get tired of the same toys all the time, so instead of just adding new ones and having too many in the cage at once, you can take out toys and put in some new ones. Just put the other ones aside for a few weeks and re-introduce them another time when you rotate.

Of course, some of the best toys are things that your bird can destroy. A roll of newspaper will occupy your bird for awhile as it is being ripped to shreds. A piece of bird-safe leather tied in knots can be untied & then retied & put back in the cage again. You can also make other toys by using toy parts that can be purchased. These parts can usually be re-used and made into new toys as your bird either tires of the toy or chewed whatever you used to hold it together.

Please check out the related links listed to the right for some ideas on making your own toys as well as warnings about various toys on the market.

I would be happy to hear about any suggestions for toys that you may have.


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