Our Macaw was ignored in her previous home, and when we got her she was terrified of toys...especially any that made noise. We have had her a couple of years and she is starting to exhibit the destructive behavior that is normal for parrots. We are excited about this, and want to encourage it but toys still scare her. Looking for DIY toys to make so we are not spending fortunes on toys she wont touch. Any ideas?
2006-06-26 07:53:28 · 10 answers · asked by Holly T 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
Remember that Blue and Gold Macaws are destructive chewers. They are more interested in chewing than a toy. Provide them wood that they can chew on also. Old leather belts are good and we use them at the zoo. We hang the toys at the end of the belt but they prefer the belt itself. Try propping thick branches from trees that have not been treated in anyway.
2006-06-26 08:32:15 · answer #1 · answered by thematrixhazu36 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wood is the perfect thing for a macaw or parrot. It wont make noise eaither. Go to any craft store, like Jo-ann fabrics or michales. They often sell bags of wood fragments. You'll get a bunch of peices of wood for around $2.00. Buy some cheap twine or hemp string and tie the wood pieces together. You can be creative in designing a toy. If you want it to be colorful, soak the wood in water with food coloring.
2006-06-26 10:00:33 · answer #2 · answered by Kwen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a Harlequin Macaw...he loves just pieces of paper towel...or I've seen toys where you can refill with rolls of toilet tissue so they can shred that. My macaw also loves coconut shells, heck, he'd probably even like the coconut, just have never given it to him. Any untreated, non-polluted wood (that is not poisonous to birds) can be used, even 2x4 scraps (untreated!). Do a search for making your own bird toys, there are dyes you can buy and use to make the colors.
2006-06-26 08:39:18 · answer #3 · answered by sweetnsassy1021 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
one opinion
I would be curious as to the behavior she is displaying towards new toys causing you to believe she is scared of them.None of my macaws will play with a new toy immediately. It is natural for them to observe anything new in their surroundings to determine if it is safe. It could take days for a macaw to approach something new and maybe they just aren't interested. I personally just keep trying different purchased toys mostly consisting of wood for them to play with. I recently added a large swing perch with the supporting chains surrounded with different sizes, shapes, and colors of wood. Ozzy, my green winged macaw of about four years would not touch it for two days or so, now it is becoming his latest work of art, letting every piece of wood know that he has a strong beak.
2006-06-28 04:39:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My Corrella had exactly the same problem. Start off with neutral colours - mine was terrified of striped / colourful toys. Use natural materials like branches, bark etc. Tie strips of newspaper up in sisal or cotton rope. Pine cones make great foot toys as do rawhide chew toys (the dog ones - but get the unbleached kind). Cardboard boxes and rolls with nuts inside are good. Hang plain rope or leather with knots in it from the roof - they like untying the knots.
Put toys outside the cage within site for a few days and gradually move them closer, then inside the cage (one at a time). Change the toys over every now and then and try to vary the texture. After a while start to introduce coloured rope & beads.
Mine likes leather strips with large plastic beads & shapes knoted into it - he undoes the knots, chews the leather and uses the beads as foot toys for a while, then I collect the beads and re-use them.
The gradual introduction of toys made from natural materials, then new materials, then colour etc is the main key. Be patient - you could have a toy that needs to stay outside for weeks before your parrot is no longer scared of it, then it could be weeks before he'll touch it. NEVER put a toy in his cage if he's scared - he won't trust anything you put in his cage if you do.
It took me about a year before I could put coloured toys in my birds cage. Even now I still show him toys before I put anything in his cage - if he comes up and has a look it goes in. If he backs off it sits on the table for a few days.
2006-06-26 17:07:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of those toy ideas sound great. I just wanted to add that sometimes all it takes is for your bird to get used to seeing something to realize that he/she isn't afraid of it. I have a greenwing who will play with anything but a grey who shies away from toys. I have found that if I put the toy near his cage where he can see it but doesn't have to touch it for a few days, then move it closer for a few days, then hang it on the outside of his cage for a few days, and finally put it into his cage...he will rip into it immediatly becuase he knows it is safe and it has now been intriguing him for days and days.
Good luck!
2006-06-26 09:49:50 · answer #6 · answered by Krys 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Untreated 2 by 4s work great so do 2 by 4s dipped in cool aid to give them color. Or you can by wood toys at your local pet store or avian speciality pet store.
2006-06-26 08:58:22 · answer #7 · answered by fatwhale90 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
here is a website on DIY toys for birds...hope this helps
http://www.birdsnways.com/birds/ideas.htm
also, Wicker basket (unfinished wicker) filled with toys and pieces (wood, rings, pacifiers, acrylic toys, chain, etc.) Hang low in cage or put on floor. We hang the basket over a perch and wrap the handle with Paulie Rope to keep our bird from chewing through the handle so quickly. We remove the basket at night to clean and inspect for safety.
Watch for sales. The craft stores put wicker baskets on sale several times a year.
"Toy box" (extra food dish) filled with wood pieces or large beads/rings daily
Stainless steel (SS) bolts, washers, and wing nuts threaded through plastic chain. Thread beads or rings on the bolts too.
Shredded paper (clean from our office shredder) sometimes stuffed in a Kleenex box and tied to the side of the cage. Hide a peanut or other treat inside.
Toy in a Box. Put a nut or toy in a small box. Our bird's favorite is an almond hidden in a small box.
Wrap toy parts or treats in clean, dried corn husks (tamale wrappers) and tie the ends with cotton rope or leather laces. Option: Slide beads or rings over the rolled up ends of the corn husks instead of tying them closed.
Note: Depending on where you live, corn husks may be called corn shucks.
Foot toy "rattles" made from beads, rings, and rope or leather lace.
Plastic chain hung with toy parts (beads, rings, pacifiers, wood, etc.) tied to it
2006-06-26 08:54:12 · answer #8 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try some string or scraps of wood, birds like to tear them up. Also try some wooden skewers.
2006-06-26 07:57:59 · answer #9 · answered by Rach 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
fill paper towel rolls with crumpled paper and treats, my birds love to rip them to shreds.
2006-06-26 08:00:43 · answer #10 · answered by jerrri 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋