So my cockatiel LOVES pins and pin cushions... Alternatives?

[Tatuana]

He's obsessed with pins. I sew a LOT so I always have some around. If you sew, you'll know the joys of finding a pin in the carpet a year after you finished the last project in that room. They breed like flies and hide like Legos, waiting to stab you. And sadly, BB loves them. He loves the balls on the end. He especially loves pin cushions. Picking them up and having them fall back. He's always trying to "detangle" the pins. It seems relaxing for him. He'll spend hours on it just kinda zoning out.

Yeah, he can't have pins. And somehow he finds them *everywhere.* No matter how much I check the floor, he's found that one hidden pin. But he LOVES trying to get them off the pin cushion or turning them around in his foot. Heck it's the only foot toy he enjoys.

Any ideas for alternatives? I was thinking maybe bobby pins? I don't know if the coating is safe. I wish treats and puzzle treats were magnetic, ha. the only other things he shows a real interest in is headphones (gotta kill that rubber) and old broken laptops (gotta rip those keys off to get to the rubber. Keeps his beak short.) He also LOVES plastic. Ziplock bags he will pull the seals off before eating the bag. Unopened taco shells rock. That cereal box? Gonna get into it and eat the lining. Bird seed? Dead bag. Pineapple on counter? He will scale it for the sticker/plastic tie. The label is abbonus. Ziplocks are his favorite. He'll hold them in his foot and work on the seal. Needless to say, we now put things away instantly. And arranged the house to avoid opened things.


Unrelated/related/not as important, but he also likes shoelaces. specifically aglets. All my shoes now have fuzzy ends. Any ideas for bird safe munchy rope that has a similar texture to shoelaces? What about aglets? It's his second favorite toy next to pins and plastic. He prefers eating tags off toys rather than the toys.

Before you ask, I've tried ALL the bird toys. Over $200 in toys. They've been set in various places, riddled with treats, you name it. He will nibble if they happen to be there and he can't find anything more interesting, but he's not very interested. He prefers grubbing invisible crumbs on the floor and eating shoes/pins. It's just his thing I guess.



**Rambly post and spelling/grammar errors due to new meds. I apologise for it.

 

[JaeG]

Your cockatiel sounds like a normal birdy - anything they shouldn't have, they find fascinating. Sounds like he's a lost pin detective. One of ours has taken a chunk out of my fancy camera's viewfinder. And they are constantly trying to get to the buttons. They are natural foragers so enjoy things they can find and destroy. I know exactly what you mean about the zip lock bags. They are super fun no matter how many times the boss lady says you can't have them!

Ours love the plastic jingly cat balls you can get. Half a walnut can be fun too and pegs are fun to throw off the edge of their play area. Ours get crispy egg noodles that are fun to eat too. Proper bird toys are fun to sit on and occasionally climb, but they like little bits they can sort through and that require their human's attention (because it's something they really shouldn't be chewing on). Maybe try and find little wooden craft sticks or popsicle sticks (non dyed). They might do as an alternative. Does it make a difference if you play with things? That can sometimes get them interested.

 

[Tatuana]

Your cockatiel sounds like a normal birdy - anything they shouldn't have, they find fascinating.

Which is adorable, but so, so strange to me. My older 'tiel is a rescue. He's always preferred to stay on his cage or specific areas I set him. He doesn't travel like BB. He's not as interactive either. And then he's older than BB so getting a young dude was a surprise. I always through Giles had so much energy! This dude though....

I tried some wicker balls I had around for my rabbits without luck. I'll try some plastic ones next. We bought a toy that supposedly cockatiels LOVE. It's a cardboard box with holes in it full of paper shreddings and treats. He ate the ENTIRE cardboard tag. Never touched the toy. We've tried little 'thinking toys' where they're interactive. Nope. Laptop keys are better.

Does it make a difference if you play with things? That can sometimes get them interested.

Sometimes if my sister plays with things he'll get interested. Maybe I can convince her to play with Popsicle sticks. That seems like something he could happily destroy. I assume you kind of have to train them to enjoy the toy. Like you said, mom said no so it's MINE NOW.

Have you had any luck with foraging toys? I tried some on my tiel and he lost interest in two seconds flat. It's quicker and easier to grub off the floor I guess. (I'd love to know WHAT he's eating...)


Yesterday I left the room for less than two minutes. Came back to find him beak deep in a pencil. He wasn't happy when I told him no, he CANNOT color his beak and tongue gray. It's starting to drive me insane. How on earth did I manage a little guy before?!