Posts Tagged ‘Bird Toys’
Bird toys part 2
Part 2 of bird toys. Again, always make sure your toys are safe, geared to the size of your bird, and placed in the cage so that if the bird gets stuck or tangled, he/she has the side of the cage to grab on to until help arrives. Also, ALWAYS supervise your bird for the first 10 minutes after a new toy has been added to the cage to make sure your bird does not get hurt with the new toy.
Top Pet Bird Dangers With Bird Toys
House appliances toxic fumes and some bird toys are amongst the most dangerous threats that owners should be aware of.
Household pets are susceptible to a multitude of dangers lying around the house and even some in their own bird cage. Like all other pets, pet birds are also subject to a number of risks. This is mainly due to their small size, sensitive respiratory system, fast metabolism and in the case of parrots, their curiosity to explore everything around them with their beaks. Owners are responsible for their pets safety and should take the necessary precautions to prevent any accidents. Here is a list of the top dangers faced by household pet birds. Starting with the most obvious, birds have a special dietary need and cannot digest most food processed by other pets and humans. High sugar or salt concentrations are inappropriate. Fatty foods are also discouraged. Chocolate is to be avoided at all costs as it is toxic not only to birds but also to other pets in general. Water is the preferred beverage choice. Caffeinated and alcoholic drinks are very dangerous!
Because of their sensitive respiratory system, birds are extremely sensitive to poisons and toxins. Some dangerous contaminants from cleaners, industrial fumes, and pesticides are fatal for birds. Strong and aromatic odours can also kill birds. Aerosol body sprays, Nail polish, cigarette smoke, and paint fumes are to be avoided. If, as typical, one dedicates a special spot for his bird cages inside his car garage, he should take care not to start his car inside the garage as carbon monoxide can lead to respiratory diseases. One should make special mentioning of non-stick coatings, which emit particular fumes that are toxic to birds when overheated. These coats are usually found on non-stick cookware, irons, space heaters, blow dryers and more. As many birds chew on many things small enough for their beaks, one must place safer bird toys, which are made from sanitised and toxin-free plastics or woods like eucalyptus and manzanita in order to avoid poisoning from ingesting or biting the toys.
Birds, which are left, to roam around the house are also at a risk of falling into sources of open water such as in toilets, sinks, buckets and water bowls. Even worse, they can fall into hot pots of water sitting on stoves in the kitchen, so it is generally preferred not to let birds out of their bird cages in kitchens. Ceiling fans pose a major threat to flying birds and have been the cause of several serious injuries and fatalities. Birds tend to get very agitated and nervous with moving things above them and may become stressed out of a ceiling fan running close to their bird cage. Other electrical appliances, which might not pose a direct threat to a bird, might have an exposed electrical cord. As most birds explore with their beaks, electrical cords can pose a danger if bitten. Cords should be concealed as much as possible using corrugated plastic tubing for example.
Even bird toysspecifically designed for parrots and other birds may not be totally safe. Apart from being made out of toxic materials, toys can be broken down by bigger parrots and parts swallowed. Remember that even if a particular toy looks pretty durable at the time of purchase,bird toys don’t last forever and should be checked from time to time. Rope toys can also cause birds to get tangled up in them and get strangled as a result. Finally, birds are rarely known for social interaction with many other pets and birds, especially cats. They can attract the predatory instinct of other animals and if attacked, any bites or scratches can become fatal to a bird. Therefore, cats or dogs around the house can be a risk to pet birds even if they are in their bird cage.
Buy The Right Bird Toys For Your Pet Birds
However, choosing the right toys would provide your parrot with a safe and engaging environment to play and exercise in, both when confined in its parrot cage and even when left to roam around the house, and help with its development.
Bird toys are probably not amongst the first things, which come to mind when considering what is required in the care of a parrot. However, research has shown that Bird toys are very important for a parrot’s development. Choosing the right toys would provide your parrot with a safe and engaging environment to play and exercise in, both when confined in its parrot cage and even when left to roam around the house. However, choosing the incorrect toys can lead to boredom and even worse, injuries or death!
Screaming, biting, charging and feather plucking are a result of a bored bird. This bad behaviour can be suppressed if a parrot is kept engaged and active; especially during the time they’re in their parrot cage. One would expect the owner to let his parrot out of his cage a few times a day and interact with it and play with their toys, so one should think about toys suitable for both the parrot cage and outside.
Bird toys should provide your parrot with multiple functions. It is a good idea that a parrot cage is stocked with different types of toys, which exercise and stimulate your bird’s different inquisitive and curious needs. Some parrots like the idea of making noise and would play with different bells and other noise making toys for a long time. Others love chewing all day long and it is essential to provide these birds with Bird toys, which offer breaking and chewing opportunities, or else they might chew on their cage or your furniture when roaming around the house.
Puzzle toys are great at enhancing a bird’s problem solving skills. Mixing food with puzzle toys is a very good idea. One would find that birds will often abandon a dish full of treats in order to work one out of a treat puzzle. You’ll find that the prizes worked out of puzzles are enjoyed and eaten more fully than food offered in bowls. Other Bird toys, which allow climbing, are good to exercise and keep parrots in good physical shape. One thing in common amongst different toys should be colour – birds love bright and colourful toys!
One should take great care in finding Bird toys made of safe materials. Be careful as toys will not come with a label saying ‘Contains lead or arsenic’, so one should be careful and inspect before proceeding to the checkout. Preferably one should purchase Bird toys, which are made of safe plastics or organic, although even some wood such as cedar and oak can be dangerous to your parrot. Toy durability is also of concern as in case of breaking down; parrots can choke on small parts. One must make regular checks on the Bird toys state of deterioration, as like all other things, toys don’t last forever.
Your parrot needs to be stimulated and have fun with a lot of different toys. Enriching Bird toys provide captive parrots with activities and stimuli, which are similar to those, found in his natural habitat. By copying natural behaviours that promote mental challenge, parrots will be healthier and happier. It should be provided with toys, which won’t risk its safety, and in return it would provide with lots of quality time and fun to all the family.
Ensure The Safety of Your Pet Bird a Proper Bird Cage
From bird cage material, bird toys, house appliances and toxic fumes, birds are susceptible to a number of risks and dangerous threats which one should take proper preventions to avoid.
Those who owned and raised other pets before, such as dogs or cats, know that a house can have several dangerous spots. Even if one might think some dangers faced by puppies or kittens won’t apply to birds, they too come with their own safety perils. Birds which spend some of their time outside their bird cage would tend to fly around rooms. Unlike other animals, birds can fly into windows or mirrors, self-inflicting injuries and causing damage. Of course, birds can fly through open windows and feel no need for a proper good-bye, never to be seen again! A bird should only be let out of its cage under constant supervision.
One should always expect the unexpected and act accordingly when opening a bird cage and allow its tenant to roam around the house. Some home appliances should be switched off during this period of time. The obvious equipment includes ceiling fans, grills, heaters and any other hot surface, electric cords, electric beaters and all sorts of cutting utensils. Of course, if a bird is to remain in its cage, most of these risks do not apply. However birds require and thrive on attention and socialisation with their owners, especially birds like parrots, so when they are let out of their bird cage, owners should bird-proof their homes.
Birds are very sensitive to toxins! Dangerous airborne contaminants coming from cleaners, pesticides and industrial fumes can be fatal to birds. Even strong, aromatic odours can often kill birds! Nail polish, aerosol body sprays, paint fumes and cigarette smoke should be avoided. Even certain food is highly toxic and dangerous for birds. Chocolate, coffee and cocoa contain theobromine, which is very dangerous to birds as to most other pets. Avocado is also toxic and should not be given to any bird. Birds cannot digest salt the way us humans can and food with a high-salt nutrient value can be harmful to them, as can be other high-fat or high-sugar snacks. Although it sounds obvious, one should also state that alcoholic beverages should not be given to birds under any circumstances, as their liver cannot metabolize the alcohol. As most birds also chew on everything small enough to get their beaks on, one should place safe bird toys made of sanitised toxin-free plastics or safe-woods such as manzanita and eucalyptus.
Cages can also pose safety risks to their tenants. Today’s modern cages, especially the larger cages such as a parrot cage, are made of wrought iron and electrostatically powder coated for a long lasting a durable finish. A bird’s home should avoid having lead and zinc components present in most ‘chicken wire’ homemade cages as they cause bird poisoning when chewed upon. These materials should also be avoided in any bird toys and perches placed inside cages.
Finally, birds are not known for their social interaction with other pets, especially cats. Therefore, having cats around can be of a risk to birds even when they are confined within the bird cage boundary. Cats commonly carry Pasteurella bacteria, which is ubiquitous in them and does them no harm. However this is deadly to birds, so even if your cat just bats your bird or gets saliva on it, one should take the bird to nearest vet as soon as possible. Precaution is always better than cure! However one should keep an avian vet’s number always close by just in case.
Tips and Guidelines For Bird Pet Owners
Bird cages should be equipped with proper food bowls, perches and bird toys, cleaned regularly, and birds are to be provided with proper food and care. Birds generally will do a good job of taking care of themselves if provided with some basic needs. However if one is to truly keep his pet in top shape he needs to follow some routine procedures and live to his responsibilities.
First of all one should provide his bird with proper food. There are basically two types of bird categories: seed eaters or hard-bills, like finches and canaries, and hookbills like parakeets and cockatiels. Seed eaters eat seeds of different grasses and plants when in their native environments. Providing these birds with commercial seed mixes and leafy greens such as chicory or dandelions, and slice of apple or orange will nourish them very well. On the other hand, hookbills consume leaves, fruit and berries so preferably they should be supplied with large seeds like safflower and sunflower together with an assortment of fruit and vegetables. They can consume these items very efficiently thanks to their strong, bigger beaks.
Bird cages should have a minimum of one food bowl, one water bowl for drinking and another for bating. These should be cleaned daily as when they eat, birds leave seeds and seed hulls in the feed dish and drinking bowl. Water and food must be replenished daily as what could appear as a full cup of seed might be all hulls. One should make sure bowls are made of a durable material and they allow thorough cleaning and disinfections. Bird cages should also have perches of an appropriate size and placed as such as to encourage the bird to move from one to the other by flying or hopping. In case of larger birds, like parrots, one should avoid placing more than two perches in their parrot cages as they could limit the space available for movement. Food and drinking bowls should not be placed beneath perches, as bird droppings would foul their contents.
Although finches and canaries usually do not use bird toys, parrots enjoy objects that they can manipulate or climb on, or chew up or hide in. Therefore bird toys are critical for parakeets, lovebirds, and cockatiels and should be placed in all parrot cages. There is a wide variety of wooden and plastic bird toys available. Some birds also enjoy their reflection from small mirrors.
Birds tend to keep themselves quite clean, but may need a bit of help. All birds enjoy and require a bath. Most birds self-bathe pretty vigorously in a shallow water bowl within their Bird cages. The bathing bowl should be kept separate from the bird’s drinking water. Another form of hygiene that birds maintain is preening. Self-preening is form of caring and grooming its feathers. Preening will ensure that their feathers are neat and nice. It is very important to trim a bird’s nails periodically when they start to curl or curve around, as they could have problems sitting on their perch. If properly taken care of, birds live for quite a long time and all members of the family can enjoy their presence.
Parrot Cage, Bird Toys, oh My!
Your great aunt died and somehow decided to leave her farm to you. Maybe she felt a bond because your mother was the closest thing she had to a daughter. But even after sixty years, the house is still in good condition and not too out-of-date. You decide to live there and try to fulfill your dream of becoming a novelist. But you’ll want an excuse to move away from the computer every so often. And last night, your father suggested you put some of the money your great aunt left you to start some kind of side business. The house has this huge screened in porch, and you think raising parrots would be the perfect answer. But, what are you going to need for in parrot cages?
You will want to buy metal parrot cages. Metal cages are the easiest to clean and the most economical. You should look for cages that are in good shape, and don’t have wires poking out or other things that could hurt your parrots. You will also want to make sure that your bird cages don’t contain lead or other harmful materials. You will want the biggest cages you can afford. Parrots were made to fly around. You will need to make sure that the parrots can’t get their heads through the wires. Parrots also like to curl up in a corner to sleep, so they really prefer square cages over round. Be sure to place several perches around the cages, so that your parrots will want to move around. One perch needs to be by the food and water. Other perches should be at varying heights.
You have heard people being called “bird brains” as an insult. However, birds are actually very intelligent beings that need almost constant stimulation. If you don’t provide bird toys for your parrots, they are likely to pick up bad habits such as biting and nipping. So you will want to get some bird toys and routinely rotate them between the birds you have. All toys need to be safe for the bird to chew, meaning no dangerous dyes, and nothing the birds might choke on. Some birds love mirrors. Other birds enjoy puzzles, especially puzzles that allow them to find food. You can even use household goods as bird toys. Try frayed milk jugs, cardboard rolls, or bells you may have around the house.
You will want to get out and play with your parrots a couple of times a day. Let them enjoy flying around your house, without the confines of bird cages. Play with your birds and get to know them. Your prospective buyers will want to know something about the birds, and it will help you sell them better. So go to your pet store, or order online, and start setting up your bird business today. I’m sure you will find yourself enjoying it, and you may even keep a parrot for yourself.
Bird Toys Pep up The Bird
One similarity between caged birds and tiny tots is that both groups are pets of those who care for them. Another similarity is that both need toys as much as they need food and drink. bird toys may not be of as wide a variety as baby toys, but bird toys are beautiful, and supplant to a large extent some of the natural toys that birds miss in their caged existence.
Colorful swings, ladders, bead chains, bells, ropes, and merry-go-round like hanging are the common bird toys to which birds have been seen to instinctively react. In each of these categories, there will be toys of different colors and sizes, made of different materials. Bird ladders may be rope ladders, bamboo ladders, or climbing nets, and could be resting on the cage floor, or may be hanging from above.
Swings are also popular bird toys, because many birds, especially those in the parrot family like macaws, like to swing. Some of the swings will have a hardwood perch as the swing seat, with chewable toys dangling from the swing chains. Swings may also be circular or triangular rope rings. Where the swing seat is a wooden perch, some birds even sleep on it. Multicolored swings made of plastic discs and beads make excellent bird toys, which have a high level of aesthetic appeal.
Many bird toys like ropes and bells are designed to be chewed, and among these chewable toys are some highly innovative toys made of cuttlebone. Cuttlebone, which is the bone of cuttlefish, is rich in calcium and is a necessary nutritional supplement for birds. Some bird toys manufacturers make perches and bells out of cuttlebone so that when the birds chew it, they would actually be getting all the nutrition that they require.
Foraging bird toys are also a welcome addition to any bird cage. With foraging toys, birds are trained to search for their food that is kept hidden within the rings or slits or drawers of a multilayered toy. Foraging bird toys may be in the form of a carousel, or interlinked containers, or sliding rings or in any creative form that manufacturers can think of. Disposable foraging toys can also be made at home if the bird owner has the time and creativeness to think of treasure hunt ideas for the bird using leftover paper cups, containers, fruit rinds, twigs, newspaper bits etc.
And when it comes to the question of doing things oneself, it is not just foraging toys that can be made at home but many other type of bird toys as well. Those who have access to long varieties of leaves like palm leaf can make any number of disposable woven toys like whistles, diamonds, rings, snakes etc. with it. Broader types of leaves and twigs, stuck together to form boats, or crocheted together to form paddles or ladders, will also make excellent bird toys. Homemade or factory-made, bird toys are a must for bird cages, both from the beautification perspective and utility perspective.
Getting to Know Bird Ages And Bird Toys
You took the first job you were offered out of school. You don’t love it or hate it. It just pays the bills until you decide what you want to do in life, or meet someone. But the rumors have starting flying that your company needs is to trim down. You know that the rumors are likely true, especially in this economy. You try to do well in your work and know your bosses are pleased. You don’t know that you are going to get the ax. However, you’re getting pretty bored of going to work, coming home and having nothing to do. So you decide to slowly start a parrot business. You loved your pet Willie growing up. He was always there for you when you needed to talk or just be with someone. You know you have some decisions to make as far as things for your parrots. And the first things you need to buy are bird cages.
bird cages are important because they are your bird’s homes, and you will want to buy the biggest bird cages you can afford. Birds like to fly, so in their cages. They usually fly from side to side instead of vertically, so you’ll want to keep that in mind when buying cages. Parrots also enjoy curling up when they sleep. They feel more protected that way. So look for square cages instead of round. You want to buy metal cages because they are the easiest to clean. Birds like to perch different places, so you will want to put several perches around the cage.
You know bird toys are important, or at least you hope they are. Your parents gave you several bird toys each Christmas and birthday as part of your gift. But why are they so important? Birds are actually very intelligent animals that need almost constant stimulation. You know you need to take the parrots out and play with them. In fact, that’s one of your favorite parts of having birds. But you are still working and go out with friends most weekends, so the birds are going to be on their own a good bit. Bored birds are not a good thing. When birds are bored, they can pick up bad habits. So yes, you will want toys, and will need to rotate them around a good bit.
bird toys do not have to cost a fortune. In fact, several things normal people would throw away make great bird toys. Consider things like old toilet paper rolls or frayed milk jugs. Birds also like to play with baby toys such as rattles. Parrots also love to climb. So get out and start buying the bird cages and bird toys that you need today. You won’t regret it.
Decorate Pet Bird Cages With Bird Toys
Bird toys like ladders are available in abundance in shops. Toys that can decorate the bird cages as well as amuse the birds can easily be made at home also. People love to own birds. To keep these pet birds safe, they need cages. And to keep the birds happy within the confinement of cages, they have to be given toys to play with. Always remember that when you are putting birds within cages, you are cutting them off from their natural habitat, and heavily curtailing their space for movement. The downsides of this incarceration can be undone by keeping a bird inside good bird cages and providing it with enough bird toys.
When out in the wild, birds use their beaks and claws a lot while foraging for food. In addition to that they may nip at anything that catches their fancy or may chew twigs. They are deprived of all these natural exercises when they live within bird cages because even their food is served to them as if they are eating at a restaurant. To make up for this paucity of beak and claw exercises, they have to be given Bird toys at which they can nip and scratch.
Bird toys will be available in abundance with pet shops that sell bird cages. Different types of plastic or rope ladders known as dragon-wood ladders, bridge ladders, bend ladders, or rainbow ladders do a fine job inside cages as toys. Rainbow ladders are available in multiple colors. Bridge ladders and bend ladders are mostly horizontally placed. Birds can perch on these toys as well as nibble at them. All these toys come with hooks at the ends so that they can be easily hung inside the cages.
Besides the bird toys available in the market, anyone can make toys at home. Coconut shells colored with harmless vegetable dyes will make good toys. Those who have access to palm trees like coconut can fold and pleat its elongated leaves into fiddles, snakes, balls, or arches and put one or two inside the bird cages every day. Nipping on such natural products is absolutely harmless for birds. These leafy toys will be very economical as well because they can be thrown away everyday and replaced with fresh ones.
Lengths of colored ribbons can be pleated into patterns and hung around bird cages. They will beautify cages and will also double as bird toys. Multicolored merry-go-rounds that are hung atop babies’ cradles can be hung on the ceiling of cages as well. These too will do the double job of decorating the cages and being toys. Small plastic containers that birds can open and close will also make good toys. Balls of wool are among the homemade bird toys that birds love to play with. Things that have done even a short stint as toys can never be reclaimed for human use. They breathe their last in bird cages