Birds are some of the smartest vertebrates on this planet. For pet owners, this is both a blessing and a curse. It is nice to have a smart pet, but that also means that you have to invest a lot in order to keep the pet entertained. A bored bird can give in to self-destructive behaviour, such as feather-plucking, it can become a nuisance by making intentionally loud noises and boredom can lead to multiple issues. In today’s world, however, that’s not a problem anymore (or at least it should not be), not when you have bird toys specifically designed to keep your parrot entertained and preoccupied. If you suspect your bird is getting bored, or if you want to avoid the self-destructive behaviour that comes with boredom, then you should read this article. See below why parrot toys are important in your bird’s development.
Sign #1: Destructive and Self-Destructive Behaviour
If you don’t provide your birds with bird toys, there is a high chance they will eventually resort to attempting some sort of destructive and self-destructive behaviour, such as plucking their own feathers or chewing the bars on their cage (this is why you should make sure the bars don’t contain toxic chemicals, in case your bird decides to chew on them!). This frustration can also be expressed by constant chewing on furniture.
Sign #2: Excessive Vocalisation or Silence
This is a bivalent sign. If you find that your bird is suddenly extremely loud and keeps on yapping and you can’t find the reason, it might be that she’s bored. On the other hand, if your bird is suspiciously silent, if she goes out of her way to make no sound and you start to worry, try doing some fun exercises with the bird and see if their demeanour changes.
Sign #3 Overeating or Lack of Appetite
Another ambivalent sign is related to food consumption. Much like humans, birds tend to either eat too much or don’t eat at all when going through feelings of depression. This is why it is important that you monitor the eating habits of your pets, so that you can take note if sudden and drastic changes take place.
Sign #4 Lack of Interest in Interaction
This one might sound counterintuitive, but if you find that your bird refuses to come out of her cage to play, if she’s not longer entertained by things that once brought her joy, if she’s not playing with her toys anymore and if her general demeanour appears to be low, then that might be a sign that she’s bored and might suffer from depressive thoughts.
Sign #5: Repetitive Movements
If you see that your bird keeps on pacing around, it is swinging it’s head on and on or is bobbling without a purpose, then that can be a sign of relentlessness and boredom.
Birds can often show this kind of behaviour if they’re mimicking someone or if there is music in the background. However, if you catch her doing this without any reason, it might be a result of boredom. If that’s the case and if you own a parrot, you should invest in parrot toys.
How the Right Bird Toys Can Help With Boredom
You can find great bird toys online with just a simple click. There are curiosity-enhancing toys, there are activity-based toys, there are colourful toys that aim to stimulate interaction and all kinds of toys designed for specific breeds.
The following section focuses on how to fix boredom with bird toys. Simply buying them might not be enough. Here are some tips and tricks to get your parrot to enjoy its parrot toys.
Tip #1: Remember to Rotate the Parrot Toys Frequently
Parrots and birds in general get bored easily. If you throw all the parrot toys you have in the cage, the bird might be done with all of them in just a few days. It would be best that you introduce just some of the toys at once and then keep them on rotation, so that your pet is always entertained.
Tip #2: Offer a Large Variety of Toys
When it comes to types of parrot toys, there are many varieties one can choose from:
- Chewable toys: wooden toys, paper shredders or cardboard. These are best for birds who like to destroy things. With chewable bird toys you won’t have to sacrifice your sofa ever again!
- Puzzle toys: these are great for training and for brain exercises.
- Interactive toys: these can be mirrors, bells or hanging toys that can stimulate activity.
- Climbing toys: these are best when you’re trying to incorporate more physical activity in your bird’s routine.
Tip #3: Encourage Foraging Behaviour.
If you want to incorporate more natural behaviour into your inside-only bird, you can try some foraging activities. One thing you can do, for example, is hide treats inside toys to stimulate those natural hunting instincts.
Tip #4: Don’t Ignore Social Stimulation.
We’ve talked in this article a lot about physical and mental stimulation, but it is important that we don’t overlook the aspect of social stimulation.
Tip #5 Remember Interaction and Socialisation.
Always interact with your bird when you feed her, when you’re playing with her and when you’re training her. If your bird belongs to a species that is dependent on socialising, you should consider getting a second bird, if that’s something you can afford, both financially as well as socially.
Tip #6: Choose Toys Based on Your Bird’s Personality.
We know all parrots are not the same, but when we’re talking about toys, the idea of personalised toys based on personality is not something we often consider. However, it is a real thing and it is a rather useful one. Look up parrot toys online.
Tip #7: Take Notice of the Preferences
Try to observe the types of toys your bird enjoys more and invest in those. Is she a chewer? (your sofa should tell you if that’s the case or not). Does she prefer puzzles? Then it would be best to invest in puzzle bird toys.
