Playtime! Playtime! Playtime!
You said it, Polly. Birds need mental stimulation to prevent them from becoming bored and developing behavioural problems. (Insert downward spiral ‘chhhhiiiirrrrrp‘ here.) And nothing gets your bird flapping, climbing, pecking and chirping like some good birdie toys.
Types of toys for feathered girls and boys.
There are a number of different toys out there for your winged wonder. Here are all the different types, and what makes them for the birds – in a GOOD way:
Exercise
Exercise isn’t just fun for birds – it’s absolutely necessary, in captivity. By giving your feathered friend exercise toys, he’ll get to work out that pent-up energy, while dive-bombing any stress he may have.
Activity
Activity toys will allow your bird to play, play, play – all while satisfying his natural need to preen, chew and forage.
Interactive
Birds are very social animals, whether they’re chatting like Polly or canoodling like a Canary. So, interactive toys are great for educating your busy-birdie while giving him companionship when you’re away.
Wood Chews
Beak and tooth maintenance is important for keeping your bird (or other small animal) healthy. Wood chews take care of it by allowing your flap-happy friend to chew. And chew. And chew.
| Exercise toys satisfy | Activity toys satisfy | Interactive toys satisfy | Wood chews satisfy | Treat dispensers satisfy |
| Climbing, Stretching, Gripping, Mobility, Swinging, Physical Activity, Agility | Grooming, Chewing, Exploration, Climbing, Inquisitiveness, Companionship | Auditory Stimulation, Mental Development, Socialisation | Chewing, Exploration, Agility, Inquisitiveness, Climbing | Exploration, Inquisitiveness, Climbing, Grooming, Chewing |
| Exercise toys encourage | Activity toys encourage | Interactive toys encourage | Wood chews encourage | Treat dispensers encourage |
| Strength-building, Flexibility, Balance, Aerobic Activity, Coordination, Muscle-toning, Motor Skill Development | Preening, Beak Maintenance, Foraging, Exercise, Mental Stimulation, Socialising | Companionship, Learning, Interactive Play | Beak/Tooth Maintenance, Foraging, Motor Skill Development, Mental Stimulation, Strength-building | Foraging, Mental Stimulation, Strength-building, Preening, Beak Maintenance |
| Exercise toys discourage | Activity toys discourage | Interactive toys discourage | Wood chews discourage | Treat dispensers discourage |
| Weight Gain, Stiffness, Muscle Weakness, Restlessness, Pacing, Depression, Sluggishness | Feather-picking, Biting, Laziness | Loneliness, Laziness, Shyness | Biting, Laziness, Sluggishness, Boredom, Weight Gain | Laziness, Boredom, Weight Gain, Feather-picking, Biting |
Cotton Rope
Suitable for most birds, cotton rope toys come in various shapes and sizes, and include rope rings and perches, plus knotted ropes and rope ladders, for climbing. You’ll just want to trim any unravelled rope ends to prevent little Teddy from becoming tangled-up.
Wooden
Wooden toys come in many sizes, but they’re especially tweet for medium and large birds who loooove to chew. Wooden ladders, linked rings with bells, swings and colourful wooden blocks strung on rope can be the next best thing since Pavarotti for your Parrot. Just remember to throw out any toys that have been excessively chewed or worn.
Plastic
Plastic toys are a real tweet for smaller birds, but not so much for the bigger birdies, who can easily break and swallow the parts. You’ll probably find that most plastic toys have metal bells and come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours. We’re talking plastic ladders, swings, mirrors, balls, links, baths, hidden-treat toys and even plastic bird buddies.
So, there you go – feathery fun for everyone, folks! Chirp, chirp!