Post by cnyguy on Jul 8, 2022 20:10:53 GMT -5
Ralph has claimed two things to play with that are definitely not intended to be parrot toys. I had a 3-liter Poland Spring water bottle that is empty and ready to be returned to the store (that type of bottle is returnable in New York State). When we were playing on the floor, Ralph took a sudden interest in the bottle, so I held it out to him. Ralph likes to play tapping games-- he'll tap on something with his beak a certain number of times and I have to tap back the same way. He tapped on the Poland Spring bottle and I think he likes the drum-like sound it makes. Now he wants to tap on the bottle every time he comes out to play. I guess it won't be going back to the store anytime soon.
His other new favorite is a wooden honey dipper. I don't use it often but when it was sitting in the drawer, I noticed that the little wooden ball on the handle end fell off. I took it out and glued the ball back on. After the glue dried and I was ready to put it back in the drawer, Ralph found it on the kitchen counter and wanted it (vigorous head bobs when he spotted it) so I handed it to him. He carried it up to "his" shelf in the cupboard where he likes to sit and has been having fun just moving it from place to place.
When parronts ask about their parrots having little interest in parrot toys, I suggest things that aren't meant to be parrot toys-- plastic keys meant for human babies, for example. I never would have thought of a water bottle or a honey dipper as potential parrot toys, but as I often point out, parrots usually have ideas of their own. 😁
His other new favorite is a wooden honey dipper. I don't use it often but when it was sitting in the drawer, I noticed that the little wooden ball on the handle end fell off. I took it out and glued the ball back on. After the glue dried and I was ready to put it back in the drawer, Ralph found it on the kitchen counter and wanted it (vigorous head bobs when he spotted it) so I handed it to him. He carried it up to "his" shelf in the cupboard where he likes to sit and has been having fun just moving it from place to place.
When parronts ask about their parrots having little interest in parrot toys, I suggest things that aren't meant to be parrot toys-- plastic keys meant for human babies, for example. I never would have thought of a water bottle or a honey dipper as potential parrot toys, but as I often point out, parrots usually have ideas of their own. 😁
Ralph does like tapping on things and playing tapping games. When they were remodeling the apartment downstairs Ralph even tapped back at the workers' hammering. 
