homemade toys

[Sjisty]

We actually make toys and sell them at bird shows. We also have a web site. We started out just making them for our own birds.

 

[Akane]

If birds haven't had much for toys it can take months for them to figure out how to play with anything. We have that problem with every pet store bought budgie we get.

 

[chickenjones]

That is what I was thinking would happen. I am just hoping spring will help them be more active and curious

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Since they aren't used to toys, maybe make them small at first. Just one strand and a couple of parts. That should make them look less intimidating. I'd also stand in front of the cage and handle them, while the birds watch. Tap the parts with your finger nail. Run your fingertips up and down it. Grasp it in your hand, the way they grasp things with their foot, like they grasp a perch. Sometimes I stare intently at the toy, while I turn it around in my hand. I've also whacked it on my head.

 

[chickenjones]

woodland woman:
sounds like a plan. I have heard if you eat food in front of them that its a good way to get them to try something (although I can't try everything I feed them!). I got them to eat boiled egg yolk today!

Have a Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Happy Valentine's Day!

Eating foods in front of them is a great thing to do. I usually take a little dessert or salad plate and put a lot of small pieces of the food on it. Then I stand in front of the cage and start putting on a show for them. I look at the plate, pick up a piece of food and examine it, turning it around in my hand. Then I eat it, chewing slowly. I act like it's the most delicious thing ever and I make mmm sounds. My birds learn the word "Yummy!"

From time to time I offer a bite of food through the cage bars. I always say, "Want some?" My CAG will say that, whenever he wants some of any food he sees me eating. Anyway, if they decline the offered food, then I go on eating. For a bird that isn't tame enough to take food from my hand, I will also put the offered food in their feed cup.

If you have a second person, you can also offer bites of food to them. Sometimes I offer some to one of my dogs, since I have dogs that like fruits and vegetables. I'm kind of goofy, so sometimes I say things like, "Okay. More for us! Mmm! You can't have any."

Sometimes, you can get one bird in a pair eating or playing first and then they'll get the other one to try things. Most of the birds I've worked with seemed slow to try new things in the beginning, but as they learn to trust you, they will try what you offer them more quickly.

It sounds like you are giving them a great life. It also sounds like they are already very trusting of you, for having them such a short time and being a breeding pair.

 

[chickenjones]

Well I hope they are learning to like me. I told my DH I want to offer them all the "goodies." All the new stuff. He can feed them regular stuff.

My daughter sings to them too. It is adorable. They were really panicky when they first moved her. They just screeched a lot of the time. Nora would go out there and sing to them. They would stop and listen to her. Now they expect her to sing and will dance! I love it!

I figure if they will stop screaming and actually dance then all is not lost. They aren't completely wild. Also they only screech in the morning and evening or when alarmed so that is not bad. The morning and evening stuff is not as loud as the alarm call. THAT is loud. Here are some pics of Alice and Jasper from when the arrived last August. I could probably get pics with the cage open now but I don't want to bother them really. You can see they are pretty huffy and puffy with me.

Alice is the one with the legband. They are pluckers.