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Post by heatherg on May 24, 2023 23:49:20 GMT -5
I was going through my extra stuff today and found that I had a tiny old wicker canary nest. Was going to throw it out and noticed it’s basically what I wanted to do with coconut shells. There’s a wire loop through the side that lets you hang it on the side of the cage.
Anyhow I packed it with little toys, lids, balls, and baited it with a millet spray. Willow was staring at the ‘toybox’ and I dare say he’s eaten the millet. He doesn’t want me to touch it, either.
Willow is now ok with the multicolored milk and juice caps I saved. I think i accustomed him to the bright plastic jingle balls and maybe that’s why he’s ok. I found a yellow cap and offered it to him as he stood on his sleeping perch. He beaked it out of my hand and held it in his foot, chewing on it, for a while.
I found some bright colored straws, too. I’ve been putting some new things in his treat dish so I’ll try the straws. He’s been trying to weave hanging toys so maybe he will weave.
Willow has been LOUD recently! and I think he’s practicing his words in the morning when I’m waking up. His voice is different from Jaspers whistle-voice.
It’s exciting!
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Post by cnyguy on May 25, 2023 19:25:47 GMT -5
It's nice that Willow has some new things to play with. It wouldn't be surprising if he started weaving. Ralph likes to weave and it keeps him busy.
Your post reminded me that Ralph used to have some bottle caps and large buttons to play with. He lost interest in them and I put them away. Maybe I should get some out and see if he would want to play with them now.
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Post by heatherg on May 28, 2023 15:10:46 GMT -5
Lucy weaved until she got very old. She used to make a palisade of sticks around the outside of her cage. And it kept her busy, too.
I often wonder what to DO with a parrot who isn’t so busy with projects.
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Post by cnyguy on May 28, 2023 19:23:56 GMT -5
I had that concern with both Scooter and George, neither of whom were big on parrot toys. I experimented with some things that aren't parrot toys, as well as a few different kinds of toys, and found a few things that they liked to do. George and Scooter could have made an interesting team since Scooter liked to tie knots in strings and George liked to untie knots. George liked to fight with his big stainless steel bell and he had an acrylic dog bone that he liked to toss around. Sometimes he would chew up pieces of wood. I used to get thick wooden dowels and cut them into pieces, drill holes in the pieces and string a few together. George had fun with those. One of the few toys that Scooter ever bothered with was a certain type of preening toy that somewhat resembled a small broom. She liked to pull them apart. Once in a while she would tear up pieces of clean cardboard but she tired of that quickly. It can be hard to come up with ways to keep our parrots from being bored and keep them occupied.
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Post by heatherg on May 29, 2023 9:16:19 GMT -5
Well, willow has four straws in a friendly peach color as well as some new things in his toybox. I guess I should put a bribe in with the straws. I’m thinking I’ll string some of the colored lids on a heavy cord and maybe he’ll enjoy beating it up or carrying it around? Lucy spent lots of time on her cage floor playing but not Willow.
Jasper got a big toy with lots of chewable wood pieces. As the wood pieces get chewed off, I put them in her treat dish and she enjoys reducing them to splinters. I’d also bought a bunch of cardboard bird bagels which she shreds to bits.
I’m hoping today continues nice weather so maybe willow can get a bit of sun. Jasper continues to be very flighty so that won’t work.
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