Toys are also great ways to get birds to forage. Birds forage in the wild and like most herbivores, this is what requires most of their time. Birds have an incredibly high metabolism. Hence, it takes a bit of time to consume the required calories for existing, and even more for breeding. This is where the cliché “eats like a bird” comes from. Now take this creature with a high metabolism that can fly, which is an action that requires an incredible amount of energy, that sits in a cage most of the day with no way to exude that natural energy abundance. If that were you, what would happen? You call it cabin fever and get crazy going through one winter.
Now imagine a bird that can live to be 80 years old dealing with this. Now add that onto the fact that when people get birds they don’t understand how much responsibility birds are and the bird ends up going through multiple homes. Next time you see a large bird with its feathers plucked out, you’ll now have a good idea what may have happened. Granted there are other factors like breeding hormones, illness and such but most of the time, if a bird is mutilating its because it has all this natural energy and no way to release it while in captivity.
If you birds can’t fly and have nothing to occupy them, this can lead do destructive behavior like plucking and mutilation. Once that pattern starts it is very difficult to stop. So have toys and foraging materials for your bird to occupy himself with.
Be creative. I have listed a few product on this website that I like and use. Primarily because of the availability at my local pet store but also because I have found things that work. Here is a product I use frequently. Its cheap, simple and even disposable if you happen to step on it.
All you do is you take a cat toy, make one cut with snipper pliers in the top, take out the plastic bell and place Lafeber’s treat balls inside. Then I place 2 or 3 of these on a turkey serving tray so that the concave edges keep the balls on the plate… for the most part. It gives them a treat and a chance to forage for their treat instead of just giving it to them in a dish. This way the higher calorie food makes them burn it off yet occupy their time.
Another thing I do is take one of those silicone orange toys for large birds and put the treat balls in the holes. This way they have to pick at the treat ball while the toy is moving around. It takes them time to get at it all.