Bird Toys!

[asterroc]

I think I may have figured out the start of foraging toys for Kappa. She really likes shredable toys, and they must be firmly affixed to the *side* of her cage, not hanging, and not on the floor. She'd been destroying "shredders" (woven palm leaves I think) for the first week of my having her, then I tried shoving a popsicle stick in between the bars and she went for that with as much gusto as the shredders. Last night I took some raffia and tied a "birdie bagel" (tiny cardboard tube slice) to the same spot in her cage, and by the time I got up the cardboard was gone.

Previously I had taken this little 1" wicker/grapevine ball, shoved a few almonds into it, tossed it on the bottom of her cage, and she did absolutely nothing with it, ignored it like poop in the bottom of her cage (thankfully). But this morning when I saw the cardboard gone an idea came to me, and I threaded some raffia through it and tied it to the side of the cage in the same spot as all the previous destroyable toys. She was so excited that as I was tying it on she was alternating pecking at the raffia I was holding and my own fingers! (Some of her body language seemed possibly territorial, but I think most of it was excitement.)

That was 15 minutes ago. Since then I've heard nothing but shredding and a few excited noises from her cage, and they have been continual. She hasn't even gotten to the almonds inside yet, imagine her surprise when she does! ^_^

Edit: A bit more of experimentation like this, and it may be time for me to place a Birdy Booty order - one reason (out of a few) that I hadn't up till now was just that I didn't know what she'd like.

Comments

[parrot-lady.livejournal.com]

If she likes the palm leaves I'd suggest the woven palm pack from bird.com ( http://www.bird.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=502298 )- I bought one (it has five in it for the price). My macaw enjoys it, and my meyers is learning to tear it apart for the treats in it- shes big into foraging. My lilac crowned amazon isn't too big into it, but seeing two others he has munched on his (his has nuts in it).

If I could find another place for this I'd be more inclined to buy it more often, but this is the only place I've found so far (and only found it because my work reward card is spendable there). I also bought their "treasure chest" which said it was safe for up to macaws, but really I'd only trust it with a small amazon. If Kappa learns to manipulate things it might be worth a try. I like it versus the other more common ones with the top and bottom as once its apart they can't get their head stuck inbetween the pieces- the top can't slide back closed until you reset it. ( http://www.bird.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=511075 )

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

I ended up putting an order in to Birdy Booty, so I'll see what I get from her first, but yeah, I'm hoping she'll get better at foraging with time.

[framefolly.livejournal.com]

Awww.....!

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

It's so cute when she's sitting on my shoulder and starts snuggling into my hair. ^_^ She lets me scratch her alllllll the time too!