Captive Foraging for Parrots

Hey, I'm new to the group although I've been reading it for a while. I've been considering getting my cockatiels the Creative Foraging Systems Foraging Doors/Drawers foraging toys. I was wondering if anyone has tried either of these with their 'tiels and how they managed? We've had the Foraging Sphere for them for months, and love it, and they do well with all the other foraging toys we've tried with them (as you can see in my blog), but we haven't tried them with anything that needs manipulated in the same way as the Foraging Doors toy, and I can only find them online, so I can't really see for myself how easy/difficult they would be to open. Thanks :)

For the next while I have a client's hyacinth macaw named Hymie and he was originally just playing with wood toys and eating a colored sugary pellet, so I converted him over to organic pellets and taught him to forage for his macadamia nuts that he has to have as the fat content in his diet every day!

He would give up real easy at first so I had to help him along...



I started with SUPER easy foraging toys like the one in this video:



Now that he has gotten the hang of it, look at him now!



But man does he have more power than any bird I've ever worked with before! He broke the plastic one, you can see it here. I go through the "unbreakable" toys VERY fast. Hymie already needs new foraging toys to try! I think I hear a shopping spree calling...

I'm about to go on a shopping spree for new toys for my caiques, so I need some recommendations for good foraging toys.

My criteria are:
- Washable
- Reusable
- Sturdy
- Safe (of course)
- Moderately to extremely challenging (they have mastered the Rings of Fortune and the Parrot's Treasure)

Edited to clarify: When I say "moderately to extremely challenging," I don't necessarily mean hard to figure out. I would prefer toys that continue to present a challenge even after the birds have figured out the toy's gimmick, although I'll take challenging one-trick ponies - like the Parrot's Treasure - as well. For instance, toys that are physically difficult to manipulate, like the Rings of Fortune, are ideal, since they're tough to figure out but also continue to be somewhat challenging to get food out of even once they've been mastered.

Those aren't dealbreakers, but they're things I look for in toys.

Has anyone tried any of these? If so, how would you rate their difficulty?

Snack Rack
Zig Zag
Daffy for Taffy
Lucky Bird Treasure Chest
Lucky Bird Can O' Nuts
Locked Up Loot

Any others you can recommend?

Cookie, my Triton Cockatoo, is making his first foray into foraging, and we're all thrilled to death about how well he's taking to it!

I'm most excited about the plethora of DIY foraging toy ideas I've been finding here and on other sites... however, I've run across a question on logistics:

This is a chain toy. A few treats or toys are placed in the tissue paper, parachute-style. The crumpled end is threaded through the chain link and then "floofed", so it stays in place. The idea is that the parrot will rip open the hanging "mini-pinatas" and get the treats.

HOWEVER...

Cookie's cage has a grate over his poop tray, which is located maybe 4 or 5 inches below the grate. If he rips open the tissue paper, the seeds will fall through the grate and onto the tray below, where they will be most definitely out of reach. :/

My only solution idea is to put a cookie sheet in his cage (on the floor/grate of the cage) directly underneath the hanging toy. That way he'll be able to grab the seeds from the tray.

Do ya'll have any other ideas? How do you manage foraging in a cage with a grate?

Hey everyone!

Wow, this community has either been silent for quite some time, or my LJ isn't updating for some reason.

Anyway, I just posted a blog entry on my website about how to make foraging toys out of everyday objects around the house, and I was hoping that some of you who have been so creative and helpful in the past would mind taking a look at it and perhaps offering up some additional suggestions as well?  I have a lot of clients who have been asking about how to make foraging toys at home, so I'm trying to offer as many possibilities and resources as I can.

The link to the blog is: http://frombeakstobarks.wordpress.com/2009/04/04/how-to-make-cheap-and-easy-foraging-toys-at-home/

Thanks!

Hello everyone,

I promise not to make a habit of using my LJ for begging, but I wanted to reach out to all the animal-loving people I know to ask for help.

A little over a month ago, over 100 parrots of all sizes and species were seized from a home in Weatherford, TX, where they had been found in squalid conditions.  These birds were all taken to a local county shelter which has little funding and even less experience with birds.  This shelter is simply not equipped to properly handle and rehome all of these birds.  A nearby avian rescue, Wings of Love Bird Haven, is doing everything they can to help alleviate the burden and provide these birds with proper living conditions, medical attention, and forever homes.  However, their resources are limited as well.  Anything you can do to help will be greatly appreciated. 

How You Can Help:

*(If you live in or near Austin or Dallas, or anywhere in between)  Donate cages, playgyms, and/or toys.  My friend and I are going up to Bird Haven on the 14th, so if you have anything to donate, we can take it up there for you and bring you back a receipt for tax purposes.

*Donate money directly to Bird Haven: http://bird-haven.org/howyoucanhelp.html

*Sign up to attend Barbara Heidenreich's workshop at Bird Haven in March: http://bird-haven.org/index.html

*Apply to Bird Haven to adopt or foster a bird: http://bird-haven.org/forms%20and%20applications.html

*Apply directly to the Parker County Shelter to adopt or foster a bird: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/TX54.html - or call: (817) 598-4111

If you do adopt or foster a bird from this situation and need help with any behavioral issues, I will be happy to help you for free. 

If they are not able to find suitable homes for these birds through adoption, Weatherford's City Manager has stated that they will probably auction the birds off with minimum bids.  This would be detrimental, as many of those birds would likely end up in unethical breeding situations or in homes similar to the one they came from.  Please help if you can, and spread the word to anyone you know who might be able to help.

Thanks guys!

Daedalus has figured out the Turn 'n Learn Logs! I got this toy for Christmas, and she immediately wrestled it open, but after that seemed to lose interest. I rotated it through the cage and play areas a couple of times, but she ignored it.

I wondered if she wasn't interested because she couldn't see what was inside, since the toy was opaque. So I left the bottom two sections dangling and put treats in them. I repeated the process this morning.

Tonight I put Nutriberries into the sections of the "log," twisted them just a little bit shut (not all the way), and she immediately wrestled every single section open. Awesome!

Next task: work her up to opening them when they're twisted all the way shut.

This toy is very solid and easy to clean, and would be appropriate for medium to large birds. It's a difficult toy, and its opacity makes it even more challenging - the bird has to know that the toy has a reward inside even if it can't see it. I'd highly recommend this toy for experienced foragers. It's a great follow-up to the Rings of Fortune, which works in a similar way but is translucent.

I am a bird owner in the process of launching a bird toy making business. I have a few Ideas that seem to be fairly unique and not in use by any one else yet. But before I get to far into production I would love some feed back. So if any one wants to let me know what you and your parrots like in the way of foraging toys I would love to hear it. Feel free to pass this on to others. Either you can leave a response here or at this email address... I will try to respond to all emails sent to the email address. practicalparrots@gmail.com

Thanks,
txscyn

I found this at Omar's Exotics (So Cal bird store). It's designed to be a manipulative and noise-making sort of toy. But remove some of the beads and strings, and the ball can be stuffed with small treats like millet spray.

Bootstrap Bill loves this toy. The foster cockatiels have yet to figure out the 'foraging' part, but love to play with it as it was originally designed.

this is zoe- 5 yr old demanding sun conure-

i recently picked up a foraging toy for her to keep her occupied when im not around -

within the last month she has started plucking her feathers it all started when i started working more and leaving her home all day to amuse herself- i guess she didnt like that too much being used to being with me during the day- anyway, the toy keeps her amused for a long time and shes actually silent which is amazing-

id like to try to make my own foraging toys- the vet suggested buying those little chinese take out boxes or hanging paper cups in the cage stuffing them with whatever. AVI CAKES-- she devours those things like nothing-

one more thing before i add the photo- Dr irene pepperberg recently published a book called Alex and Me -- if you havent read it- i suggest you do, it is fantastic and i cant stop reading it.

Hello, I am so happy to have found this blog! This is my first post here so please bear with me. I recently made a foraging cup for my 8 month old Caique, Nani. It was an immediate hit! I probably only spent about $4 all together and it was super easy to make. I posted this a few days ago on Nani's blog.

Supplies:

 

• 1 unfinished wooden cup with loose fitting lid (can be found at most craft stores)
   
• 1 wooden flower cutout
   
• 1 quick link clasp
   
• 12" section of nickel plated chain
   
• 1 bird safe bell

1. Start by drilling a small hole in the center of the flower cutout, wooden box, and lid. You may also want to dye the pieces different colors using food grade coloring.

It took my birds a while, but they've finally figured this toy out! (Ok, Daedalus has, and Icarus waits for her to get the food to fall down and then eats it. As per usual.)

I'd rate this as a very challenging foraging toy, especially for small birds. It requires a lot of athletic ability to grab this and rotate the rings when it's bigger than you are! This would be a great toy for bigger birds, too - it's very durable and well-constructed.



(x-posted to rumorofrain, caiques and captiveforaging)

Here's Daedalus, my black-headed caique, playing with the hanging Birdie Plunk:



Once they've figured it out, this one is pretty easy. It still gives them a little workout, though.

I myself have 3 parakeets while my brother in law has a cockatiel. I've been striving to allow my smaller birds to forage more like the larger ones. It's not as easy but I'm finding ways. I just recently started with them, really.


I found this great toy though, that works for both parakeets and cockatiels and I'm sure it would work great for conures and senegal parrots and the like...





It's a great "starter toy". I eventually added more for both the parakeets and cockatiel. The empty plexi one in the parakeet video was one they quickly figured out and emptied already. I think I can finally fill it with pellets now that they get the hang of it! Always gotta use the tastey stuff to get them interested, though!


More pics of foraging cockatiel Magoo...

Hello community! I just wanted to share some recent videos I took of my own parrot pals foraging in their cages (indoors and outdoors). My macaws have caught on that if they shake the foraging toys continually, they can go down to the bottom of the aviary and feast! So that is what they've been doing lately.



This video is of my parrots foraging in their indoor cages. My rose breasted cockatoo is using this leather foraging nut toy. While my Grey is using one of the Spinning Mazes.

In my outdoor aviary I have my macaws who keep busy all day long with these things! They literally do not get food dishes of food unless it's fresh veggies/fruits that I can't put into a foraging toy, it's great. Here is some video of them outside foraging...



I actually put other smaller toys into the foraging toys to make it harder to get to the food because my parrots are "pro" foragers! Love everything I've seen here so far! Enjoy.

PS: I recommended this great community on my little wordpress blog, too!

I recently bought my caiques the CFS carousel forager, which is a contraption made of clear plexiglass with four separate compartments, each of which opens slightly differently. A couple doors flip open in different directions, one swivels, and one slides. To add to the challenge, the whole thing rotates.

When we were in the store one of the employees walked over and said, "What kind of birds do you have?" When we said we had caiques, she cautioned, "My Amazon can't figure that toy out." We reassured her that our birds would have no problem with it, and sure enough, the first day I put it in their cage they had all four compartments open and had chowed down on the goodies. I would actually call this a good "advanced beginner" foraging toy - it's certainly harder than the toys where the bird just has to reach through the bars to get to the food, but it's not super-difficult either, like the 2-key treasure chest or the Rings of Fortune.

My birds really like this toy. Daedalus can get the compartments open in no time, but Icarus finds it more challenging. He is usually too preoccupied by trying to lick the food through the plexiglass to open the compartments. ;)

I should mention that this toy is great for small birds, but I'd call it too flimsy for any bigger or more destructive bird. It would be pretty easy for a medium beak to snap off one of the little doors, especially the swiveling one.

Here are a few videos of my birds playing with the toy. (Sorry for the wretched lighting!)

( 3 Videos! )

This weekend while on a trip I stopped by a big parrot store to pick up some new toys for my caiques. Last time I was there I picked up a Creative Foraging Systems "Food and Treat Dispenser," a clear polycarbonate box with multi-sectioned cardboard inserts that could be filled with pellets and other dry foods, beads, etc. The parrots have to rip into the box to get at the goodies, section by section.

My birds managed to break the polycarbonate box within a few months, but it was such a great toy that I bought another one this time. I also picked up some of the other Creative Foraging Systems toys.

The one I've tried so far is the Treat Carousel, a big, rotating polycarbonate contraption with four different compartments in which to hide treats. Each compartment's door opens in a different way: some flip up, some slide, some swivel. They're not particularly hard to open, but I like the fact that this one toy has several small compartments instead of one big one. It adds a level of challenge that's missing from a lot of toys.

While my partner and I were in the store holding this toy and pondering our other options, a store employee approached us and said, "What kind of bird do you have?" We told her we had two caiques, and she said, "Oh, this might be too hard for them. My Amazon hasn't figured it out yet. We assured her that our guys were up to the challenge.

Sure enough, the day after we got home I loaded the Treat Carousel up with foraging packets and a couple of almonds in the shell. By the time I got home from work, all four doors were open and nothing was left inside but crumbs. Success!

Still, I'd probably call this an intermediate foraging toy, especially for smaller, caique/conure-sized birds. It's clear plastic, which lets the birds see that there are treats inside, but it requires some dexterity and persistence to get the doors open while the thing rotates.

I'll try to take a video of my birds playing with it so that you can get a sense of the size and shape and how it works.

I also give two huge thumbs up to the CFS Sphere Foraging Device. This is easy for birds to figure out but challenging to get the food out. (That is, it's not a one-trick pony; even once they've figured out how to get the food out it still makes them work for it.) It works for dry foods (e.g. pellets) and wet foods (e.g. mash, bird bread) and is very easy to clean.

I also bought the CFS Multi-Drawer Foraging Device, but I haven't tried it out yet. I'll report back when I do.

Here's a video of my caiques foraging for a walnut in the shell inside a wire treat cage:



The things I do to keep those feathermonkeys occupied!

Here's a video of my caique boy, Icarus, playing with a foraging toy made from a wiffle ball stuffed with newspaper-wrapped treats (small pieces of dried fruit and nuts, individual pellets, etc):



And another video of both birds playing with the wiffle ball forager:

Hello, captive foragers! Long time no post! :)

In addition to my birds' normal diet, I often give them a hanging skewer of veggies. Some veggies they LOVE to eat (peppers, carrots, beets) and some they don't (broccoli, celeriac, radishes).

Normally when I put slices of the hated veggies on their skewer, they just ignore them and I end up feeding them to the rabbit at the end of the day.

However, I decided to turn this into a foraging opportunity! I cut two slices of celeriac and spread peanut butter on one of them, then layered the other on top to make a "sandwich." I stuck a couple of these sandwiches on the skewer along with the veggies they like. They aren't eating the celeriac, but they are ripping it to pieces to get at the peanut butter inside!

In the past this trick sometimes eventually encourages them to actually eat the stuff. After all, they've already got a chunk of it in their mouth. Sometimes they realize it doesn't taste half bad.