|
|
|
wordybirdy
Bappie
Joined: 29 Mar 2007
Posts: 52
Location: Texas |
| Creative Foraging Activities |
 |
|
Hello All ,
I would like to know ways you have created foraging activities for your FIDS. For example: I'll take a small piece of mill and wrap it up in paper towel and twist the ends of the paper towel so it looks like a piece of candy. I then tie both ends with some string and attach it to my tiel's cage. My little sweetie goes nuts ripping the outside paper towelng to try and get what's inside! What other creative foraging activities have you created for your FIDS?
Thanks |
Friday June 22, 2007 5:45 pm |
|
|
|
|
jletaz
Experienced flier
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 1286
Location: CA, USA |
I guess I do the 'lazy man's way' and just buy foraging toys 
Actually, my Red Bellied and Eclectus aren't that inquisitive, and so I can't have complex foraging toys for them or they just ignore it. My Cockatoo on the other hand, that's who I bought the foraging toys for. If you think about it, there are countless ways to be creative though.
Julie |
|
Friday June 22, 2007 7:46 pm |
|
|
wordybirdy
Bappie
Joined: 29 Mar 2007
Posts: 52
Location: Texas |
quote:
Originally posted by jletaz
I guess I do the 'lazy man's way' and just buy foraging toys
Actually, my Red Bellied and Eclectus aren't that inquisitive, and so I can't have complex foraging toys for them or they just ignore it. My Cockatoo on the other hand, that's who I bought the foraging toys for. If you think about it, there are countless ways to be creative though.
Julie
Can you give me some ideas? |
|
Friday June 22, 2007 7:55 pm |
|
|
|
|
jletaz
Experienced flier
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 1286
Location: CA, USA |
How about hiding treats and even vegetables in crumpled paper bags (lunch bag size)... then tying several bags on strips of leather, and hanging them up? Maybe the first time, show your bird that something is in there.
Also, these rubber balls (see link below) sold for dogs (and birds) at Petsmart, Petco, etc. can be stuffed with small hand toys, nuts, or anything you can think of that your bird might like that's small enough to squeeze through the holes in the rubber. You can leave them as balls, or add a hook as a hanging toy. http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.as.....e+Info.y=8
Julie |
|
Friday June 22, 2007 8:44 pm |
|
|
wordybirdy
Bappie
Joined: 29 Mar 2007
Posts: 52
Location: Texas |
quote:
Originally posted by jletaz
How about hiding treats and even vegetables in crumpled paper bags (lunch bag size)... then tying several bags on strips of leather, and hanging them up? Maybe the first time, show your bird that something is in there.
Also, these rubber balls (see link below) sold for dogs (and birds) at Petsmart, Petco, etc. can be stuffed with small hand toys, nuts, or anything you can think of that your bird might like that's small enough to squeeze through the holes in the rubber. You can leave them as balls, or add a hook as a hanging toy. http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.as.....e+Info.y=8
Julie
I think my biggest problem is finding treats to stuff. I can't get her to eat veges or fruits. What are some of the foods you stuff in there? |
|
Friday June 22, 2007 9:03 pm |
|
|
jletaz
Experienced flier
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 1286
Location: CA, USA |
quote:
Originally posted by wordybirdy
I think my biggest problem is finding treats to stuff. I can't get her to eat veges or fruits. What are some of the foods you stuff in there?
It doesn't even have to be food... find out what sort of thing she really likes (mini rubber koosh balls, wicker type hand toys, hard plastic toys, pieces of cotton or sisal rope, leather, etc) Try whole mini carrots, greens like kale, collard, mustard, or dandelion greens, or green beans stuffed in the ball along with the hand toys. See if she likes nuts. Remember, the idea of foraging toys is not only to simulate finding food in the wild, but to keep their brains stimulated and occupied for hours trying to figure this and that out while you are away... prevent boredom.
I am here thinking of ideas for you, and happen to be actually giving myself ideas! 
Julie |
|
Friday June 22, 2007 9:25 pm |
|
|
|
|
homebird
Flier
Joined: 09 Apr 2006
Posts: 502
Location: Toronto, Canada |
|
|
|
I have some ideas.
Mom's male Tiel loves to take those groups of plastic waffle balls apart - i'm always sticking them together again - he especially likes to take the plastic bell off the end. ~ So any toy that is fun to take apart.
I know someone who has a Red Belly Poi - that spends all day undoing the knots in a leather rope & releasing the wooden beads [sometimes she bites thru the rope tho]
I've seen a
clear plastic shelf/box
attached to the cage door - inside the box are lots of toys for their bird to pull out. As it is on the door the 'toy box' can be used in or out of the cage.
My grass stem perches are fun
- the Budgies enjoy chewing the grass stems & pulling the leaves - i used the leaves to weave the stems together. I've woven corn husks together & they gave my birds hours of chewing - they're quite springy.
Last fall we crimped rice paper to the cage with a bull-dog clip - the downside was our bird got aggressive with it after a week. I think some stimulation can lead to over stimulation. He was like a prisoner with a metal cup - he banged the clip up & down and back & forth - the paper was torn into strips & twisted into ringlets by the bird tho, showing some creativity.
That's all i can think of at the moment. |
|
Saturday June 23, 2007 3:04 am |
|
|
wordybirdy
Bappie
Joined: 29 Mar 2007
Posts: 52
Location: Texas |
|
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by homebird
I have some ideas.
Mom's male Tiel loves to take those groups of plastic waffle balls apart - i'm always sticking them together again - he especially likes to take the plastic bell off the end. ~ So any toy that is fun to take apart.
I know someone who has a Red Belly Poi - that spends all day undoing the knots in a leather rope & releasing the wooden beads [sometimes she bites thru the rope tho]
I've seen a
clear plastic shelf/box
attached to the cage door - inside the box are lots of toys for their bird to pull out. As it is on the door the 'toy box' can be used in or out of the cage.
My grass stem perches are fun
- the Budgies enjoy chewing the grass stems & pulling the leaves - i used the leaves to weave the stems together. I've woven corn husks together & they gave my birds hours of chewing - they're quite springy.
Last fall we crimped rice paper to the cage with a bull-dog clip - the downside was our bird got aggressive with it after a week. I think some stimulation can lead to over stimulation. He was like a prisoner with a metal cup - he banged the clip up & down and back & forth - the paper was torn into strips & twisted into ringlets by the bird tho, showing some creativity.
That's all i can think of at the moment.
Thanks for all the great ideas. Never heard of a grass stem perch and the plastic waffle balls. Do you happen to have pictures? |
|
Sunday June 24, 2007 12:45 am |
|
|
|
|
homebird
Flier
Joined: 09 Apr 2006
Posts: 502
Location: Toronto, Canada |
here's the grass stem perch
- i made a few - best if the ends split thru the cage bars, then they won't rotate. I also used hair clips to hold them still.
here's the 1st woven mat
the 2nd mat with re-enforced willow parts
Laker helping with the work - grass & willow bits
both birds enjoying the grass & stems - they love to chew them almost as much as they love the seed heads
here's the fresh grass with seed heads, in water - lasts about 2 - 3 days.
This is Mom's male Tiel - Mo & to our right is the toy in question - still somewhat intact.
hope this all uploads! |
|
Sunday June 24, 2007 12:59 am |
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is Friday May 25, 2012 11:10 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
