Andre & Salsa Sun Conure Aratinga solstitialis
Photo by: Shaun Gabbard
The Cuddler in the Jungle
Most parrots like to be in physical contact with their mate,
parents, or clutchmates while roosting. Cuddlers can be soft, furry
pieces of material attached to the sides of the cage to cuddle and sleep
against. Included in this category are also little "huts" or tubes
in which to hide or sleep. Parrot-Toys that include poofs of cotton
or bits of material can become Cuddlers when parrots snuggle against
them.
Carol D'Arezzo and
Lauren Shannon-Nunn
Parrot Toys and Play Areas E-Mail
We hope that you will enjoy shopping for toys in this catalog as much
as we knowthat your parrot will delight in taking them apart, snuggling next
to them, and challenging its inquisitive nature with the joy of discovery and
exploration. We have selected some of the most interesting, vibrant and finest
quality, bird-safe toys made today for parrots. Even with great attention to
detail, an unforeseen accident between bird and toy may happen at any time.
Each toy is different, and so is each bird! What works for your particular bird
may not do at all for another of the same species. Get to know your bird(s).
Exercise
caution when introducing a new toy into your bird's cage or environment. Become
observant, and notice how, when, where and with what your bird likes to play.
When selecting an appropriate toy for your bird consider the following guidelines:
Be sure that the toy is on a chain/leather/rope that is safe for the playing
style of your parrot. When in doubt, consider the size of your bird's beak
and its "chew factor."
Is the toy appropriately sized for your parrot? Consider our sizing chart
if you are uncertain about what size toy is
appropriate. Smaller beaks may really love larger pieces of wood to chew,
while a toy meant for a smaller beak could be dangerous for the large beak
dismantling it.
Heavy metals' toxicity can be a problem whenever chain and quick links
are used on a toy. (Heavy metals' toxicity may be a problem in some cages
too.)It is important that you first get to know the particular habits of
your bird. A bird that like to continually "taste" the metal parts
of its toys benefits from stainless steel, not zinc, no matter what size
parrot.
Toys made for human babies are not always safe for parrot babies or for
older parrots, though many of the soft snugglies can be terrific is used
appropriately. Remove buttons or plastic that could be accidentally ingested.
Bells, if not constructed of heavy enough material, or those that have
lightweight clappers, poorly secured clappers, or those that are "jingle"-type
can be dangerous for toes and nails. Quick links, if too narrowly sized,
can catch a bird's wing, leg or head, causing potential injury to your pet.
Key rings can be deadly if your bird is able to insert its beak or toenail
in between the pieces of metal. Using too small a quick link for a more
destructive bird could potentially injure your bird.
Pieces of untied string, long fabric strips, even short threads from the
smallest piece of fabric, if wrapped around a bird's neck, wing or foot,
can become a death trap. If your bird enjoys shredding fabric, cotton or
sisal, make certain that the pieces are kept shortly trimmed and are not
being ingested.
Make certain that the chain used on your bird's toys is of excellent quality.
Closed, welded chain is best, and if you have a parrot that likes to mouth
the chain, you might consider plastic or stainless steel chain for safety.
Keep your parrot happy by introducing new, varied and stimulating toys
and textures to keep it well occupied. Remember, that birds generally adore
color and are challenged and excited by a variety of new toys offered. In
their native habitats, taste, texture, color and durability of the indigenous
materials that they manipulate vary tremendously.
Keep toys clean, rotated and safety-inspected, as your parrot will be
continuously exposed to them while mouthing, shredding, batting, dismantling
or destroying them with its beak.
If in doubt about the suitability of a toy for a particular bird, keep
it outside of the bird's cage are until you can be certain of its safety
with your bird. Sit down with your bird and show it how to play with the
new toy, or enterain it by playing with the new toy in front of its cage.
Hang a new toy on a play area where your bird can test it in your presence.
Re-use and recycle those half-destroyed toys - disassemble them and put
pieces into the play-box or "toy chest" for your bird's continued
enjoyment.
The staff of The Birdbrain™ will be happy to answer any questions that
you may have regarding the particulars of a toy or its appropriateness for
your companion. Remember, birds just gotta have fun, so we aim to please!
Without a jungle to play, work, or forage in, our feathered companions require
some awesome substitutions. Toys for companion parrots are not really "playthings"
or "rewards". Rather they provide for the essential activities that
these inquisitive and intelligent creatures require. Because the word "toy"
is often associated with something frivolous, we have introduced the word
"Parrot-Toy" as an object that provides opportunities for natural
activities similar to those that would occur in the wild. A Parrot-Toy can
be designed to be mentally or physically challenging, to teach, or to entertain.
The multitude of Parrot-Toys falls into eleven categories that coincide with
common "parrot projects" in their natural habitat.
To begin your
search for toys, select a category from the pull down menu above or
from the category descriptions below.
The Noise Maker
Parrots love noise! Beaks banging, screaming into
a hollow branch, or drumming a log with a stick are ways that parrots
express themselves. The Noisemaker is any Parrot-Toy that rings, rattles,
dings, or clatters. This can be as simple as a bell or as complicated
as a parrot music box toy. Many Parrot-Toys in other categories have attached
bells. Besides just banging a bell around, parrots often use bells to
"make a statement" such as, "Hey, look at me!" or "Come Back!" Be sure
any bell on a Parrot-Toy is appropriate for your bird. If unsure, replace
the bell or remove the clapper. Stay away from jingle-bells as they
can snare a toenail.
The Puzzler
All parrots are by nature inquisitive and curious creatures. Puzzlers
are Parrot-Toys that require a parrot to solve a problem. The reward can
be food, smaller toy pieces, or the undoing of the toy itself. Some examples
of Puzzlers are acrylic holders that dispense or hide Popsicle sticks
or treats, a bell inside an acrylic tube, or a metal box held together
with wing nuts and bolts. Puzzlers can also be Parrot-Toys that require
some degree of manipulation to move beads or marbles in acrylic tubes.
Puzzlers can keep your parrot occupied for hours!
The Destructible
In the wild, parrots engage in activities such as chiseling away at nest
holes and tearing up branches looking for food. Destructibles are made
of wood, rawhide, or other chewable materials. All parrots must have access
to wood that they can chew. Making toothpicks is critical to the psychological
well being of our feathered friends. Purchase toys made of wood that your
bird can easily destroy. Parrots tend to be more destructive during certain
times of the year, usually during breeding season. Non-chewers may begin
to chew, and heavy-duty chewers turn into buzz saws.
The
Non-Destructible
Parrots in the wild use hard substances to hone and clean their beaks.
Non-Destructibles are Parrot-Toys made of acrylic, PVC, rawhide, or heavy
nylon. These are usually brightly colored and fashioned into mobiles or
puzzles. Parrots find these bright colors appealing. Examples of Non-Destructibles
are acrylic mobiles with hanging dice or keys, mirrored cubes, Marble
beads and plastic ring toys. Because some people don't understand that
parrots need to chew and destroy their toys, they fill their bird's cage
with Non-Destructible Parrot-Toys. Your pet should have the opportunity
to sample toys from all categories.
The
Food Finder
This activity occupies most of a parrot's day in the jungle. The Food
Finder is any Parrot-Toy that requires your bird to "work" for its food.
These Parrot-Toys can be PVC peanut hiders; acrylic, leather, or coconut
treat hiders; and food skewers to make kabobs. Nuts, dried fruits, and
seeds are wonderful treats for Food Finders. Remember to ALWAYS remove
fresh food from Food Finders after 8 hours if your parrot hasn't already
done that for you.
The
Preener
To keep their feathers in tip-top shape, parrots preen themselves and
also each other. Preeners are Parrot-Toys that can be preened, shredded,
chewed, and picked at. These toys can also be great stress reducers. A
Preener may provide the added benefit of being a problem-solving toy for
those birds that over-preen or pull out their feathers. Some examples
are peacock feathers, leather strands, frayed rope and cloth strips.
Remember to check daily for loose threads that could entangle a toe.
The Push N Pull
In the jungle, parrots pull, twist, and push branches, leaves, and twigs
as they look for food. Push 'n Pull Parrot-Toys have pieces that slide
back and forth or move up and down. These can also be mobiles that can
be pushed and twirled or "busy boards" of wood or acrylic that can be
attached to the side of the cage. Push 'n Pulls can provide a mini-physical
workout in addition to mental stimulation as a parrot figures out what
parts move.
The
Movers and Shakers
The parrot's zygodactyl toe design (two toes forward and two toes backward)
give it a remarkable ability to firmly grip branches and allow for all
sorts of wondrous acrobatic feats. Movers and Shakers include swings,
ladders, rings, perches with attached toys, perch toys (toys with a hole
to slide onto a perch), spiral rope perches, plastic chain, and knotted
swinging ropes. All parrots should have a Mover and Shaker in their cage
at all times. The exercise potential is unlimited!
Foot
Toys
A parrot's unique toe design allows it to make a "fist" with which to
hold things. Foot Toys are small Parrot-Toys that are suitable for grasping.
These can be small pieces of wood, rattles, barbells, hard rubber chews,
rawhide pieces, small chunks of cholla, and hard plastic toys that roll
and wobble. Foot Toys can go in a "toy box" in the cage. They are great
to have on hand as a beak distraction to keep your parrot from nibbling
on your fingers. Some parrots love to play on their backs and wrestle
with their Foot Toys.
The
Toy Chest
A Toy Chest is a box, bowl, or container that can
be placed inside the cage and allows your bird to pick out his own Foot
Toys. This is a good place to put the chunks of old toys that still have
some "chew" left in them. It is simple to designate a bowl in the cage
as a Toy Chest. Toy bowls, boxes, and chests placed underneath the cage
can be a handy storage place for your bird's recycled Parrot Toys.
We hope that you will enjoy shopping for toys in this catalog as much
as we knowthat your parrot will delight in taking them apart, snuggling next
to them, and challenging its inquisitive nature with the joy of discovery and
exploration. We have selected some of the most interesting, vibrant and finest
quality, bird-safe toys made today for parrots. Even with great attention to
detail, an unforeseen accident between bird and toy may happen at any time.
Each toy is different, and so is each bird! What works for your particular bird
may not do at all for another of the same species. Get to know your bird(s).
Exercise
caution when introducing a new toy into your bird's cage or environment. Become
observant, and notice how, when, where and with what your bird likes to play.
When selecting an appropriate toy for your bird consider the following guidelines:
We have divided our bird toy products into the following categories, created
by Carol D'Arezzo and Lauren Shannon-Nunnn, from their book, Parrot Toys and
Play Areas, Copyright © 2000 Crowfire Publishing, 136 pp., and they are
excerpted here with permission from the authors. Click here to order this
book ID#10596
The Noise Maker 
The Puzzler 
The Destructible 
The
Non-Destructible
The
Food Finder 
The
Preener 
The Push N Pull 
The
Movers and Shakers 
Foot
Toys 
The
Toy Chest 
