How To Choose The Best
Parrots Toys

Parrots toys are a great way to provide mental and intellectual stimulation in addition to physical exercise. Parrots certainly need plenty of both!

They are very intelligent and can develop behavioral problems if they become bored.

As a responsible parrot owner you need to replace the exercise and mental stimulation these birds find in the wild by flying from place to place, foraging for food and honing their survival skills.

Many toys are made specifically to enhance physical activity. Ideally you should give your bird plenty of time out of his cage to exercise on a daily basis. As there may be some days when this is not possible, it is to your parrot’s benefit if you provide him with a few well chosen toys designed to help him work off his excess energy.

Swings and toys with movable parts are excellent for this purpose. There are also “foraging toys” available, where you can hide a treat or nut and your bird has to work both mentally and physically to get to the treat.

Parrots are adept with their feet. There are special “foot toys” that are designed for parrots to manipulate with their feet. With two toes pointing forwards and two pointing to the rear the structure of their feet enables them to both grasp and climb easily.

To prevent injury you need to make sure to get toys that are suitable for the size of the parrot that you own. Big toys for small birds and vice versa can be both frustrating and dangerous.

Providing toys with a variety of textures will be stimulating and help keep your parrot from becoming bored.  There are so many materials incorporated in various combinations for bird toys that you shouldn’t have any trouble finding plenty.

Some examples of good parrot toy materials are; wood, paper, cloth, cotton rope, raffia and coconut fibers. Rawhide is also frequently used in bird toys and is a great material for gnawing and chewing.

When you are selecting toys for your parrot keep in mind the types of activities he enjoys. Things like chewing, shredding and looking in “hidey places.”  Some of the toys that are the most fun engage your parrot’s natural inclinations.

Another safety issue, in addition to appropriately sized toys, is making sure that your bird toys are made from non-toxic materials. If you choose toys that are made from natural fibers and wood and use natural dyes you should be safe.

Make sure to select toys that will not fray easily and that do not have any materials that are processed or treated chemically. Check that any plastics are non-toxic and be sure to monitor your parrots toys for signs of wear and tear. Birds can be hung up or injured in toys that have been broken or worn out.

Toys that function like puzzles are very entertaining for parrots. They enjoy solving problems with their keen intellects. Parrots are very intelligent and their toys need to serve the dual purpose of keeping them busy and providing them with a way to use and develop their capabilities.

While toys also have emotional value for your parrot bear in mind that they DO NOT replace regular attention from you! Parrots need  to interact to stay mentally and emotionally healthy.

If you provide toys that are physically and mentally stimulating,  rotate them out from time to time to prevent boredom and make sure you give your parrot enough one on one time, you will be making proper use of your parrots toys!