Games to play with an energetic baby GCC?

Hi everyone!

Quick intro: I have an 8 month old clipped GGC who goes everywhere with me on my shoulder (trains, parks, shopping centers etc). In his normal mood, he is a happy cuddly conure. I don't teach him much, but one thing he has learned to do is raise his left foot up high when he wants something from me.

The problem starts when he gets into a playful and energetic mood. Lately he has started learning to 'play' a game of 'chase and bite the finger'. I know its only a game to him, due to the way he stops everything when I ignore him and raises his foot to me to ask for more. The first time I saw him raise his foot I thought he wanted something else, so I extend a hand to pick him up and he went back into demon mode. The little guy just wants to play...

So the question is not the usual "How do I stop him from biting?"
Instead I really want to know: What are some good games I can play with him to use up all his energy?

Here are some pictures of Birdie at the park as a thank you in advance:
http://www.parrotforums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=1294&original=1
http://www.parrotforums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=1293

PS. Whats up with the photo gallery assigning the same icon (and large picture) to every picture I upload?

Peek a boo is always a good game and it gets them used to towels. How do you prevent him from flying away when you take him outside?

He's clipped, so he hasn't learned to fly yet. He also relies on me for excitement via moving around outside with him every day. As a result he hasn't even thought about anything other then walking. If I place him on the ground and walk away, he will run after me! (alas, this is the closest thing I can come up with as an answer to the original question)

I've seen some nice Youtube videos of people playing Peek a boo with their birds. It looks like fun for all but it doesn't seem to require very much energy on behalf of the bird. I'm looking for something more like the human equivalent of sports.
I may be wrong though, does it use more of the birds energy then it appears?

I give my birds plenty of stuff to chew on and destroy, usually things they can pick up with their feet and toss around. I also play a game with them where I'll hide my hand under a table then just stick my finger up and wiggle it, they love chasing it and trying to work out where I'll strike next.
Both wear them out after a while =)

HAH that last one sounds priceless. I'm going to have to try that!

Here's another pic of Birdie as a thanks for all the replies!
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/5903/parkconure.jpg
(2000×1124 pixel warning )

Buy some little cat balls with the bells inside too. make sure they have slits in them. Two of our birds love to chase and toss the ball around. One rolls on her back and fights with it in her feet.

Sulphiria said:

Buy some little cat balls with the bells inside too. make sure they have slits in them. Two of our birds love to chase and toss the ball around. One rolls on her back and fights with it in her feet.

Click to expand...

Oh goodness, Guava turns into a little gladiator when she's chasing her ball around!

You take stunning pictures by the way! they look AMAZING!! haha im guessing you have a very nice camera haha the first one is my favorite i love the water in the background

Awww..he's beautiful! Sounds JUST LIKE our Franklin! I have uploaded tons of pictures of him in my profile albums...just click on my name...anyway...I too took Franklin everywhere with me before he could fly...it took a long time for his wings to grow out and even then he didn't seem to know what they were for for several months after.

Finally something startled him and he fluttered and even since then...he's only flown a handful of times. He definitely prefers to walk, run and climb everywhere!

Even still, I did buy him a flightsuit and now for safety and security, I always put it on him when I take him outside.

As far as games to play with him, I of course always had nearby a cat ball with a bell inside, he goes nuts for bells. He'd throw it off me, and I'd say..."get your ballie" and shake it...he'd come running, then eventually all I had to say was...get your ballie...and he'd do it!

I'd make "birdie necklaces" out of pasta, cheerios and beads that he could play with and snack on while on me.

Franklin absolutely goes NUTS for plastic pop/gatoraide bottles with the lid off and the little plastic ring left on it...trying to get that ring off will keep him occupied for HOURS...there's pic's in my albums.

He loves pipe cleaners...those fuzzy bendable colorful crafty items...I put beads on them and wear them as bracelets and necklaces and I have them in his cage. And when I toss a bunch of them down, he carries them around and makes his own shapes with them! LOL

I played a TON of peek-a-boo with him and he naturally loves to "tunnel" under blankets and explore. If I stick some of his toys under the blankets...he'll find them and carry them out!

When Franklin was about 8 months old...he went through a horrible "bitey" stage that lasted several months...like you....I tried to "redirect" the biting with toys and games instead of punishment. We got through it and he's not relapsed yet...anyway...he's 14 months old now.

Sometimes Franklin would really go psycho biting, but before he would...he'd usually show us some body language...and we'd always say...BEEEE NIIIICE...in a warning voice sometimes he'd back off, sometimes not and then because Franklin wasn't afraid of being under blankets or being toweled at all, when we'd have him out with us and he went psyco biting, I'd hurry up and cover him with what ever I had handy...be it a towel, rag, shirt or blanket...and he'd wait a few moments...then walk out from under the cover and go back to playing...seeming to forget that just moments before he was attempting to bite the crap out of me! LOL

Sounds strange...but that technique really worked for us...it was an instant barrier to the bite and a "time out" of sorts for Franklin. I never uncovered him, I always let him "stew" then walk out when he was ready...sometimes it was over a minute...other times he walked out within seconds. But NEVER did he go right back to wanting to chase and bite.

Good luck with your guy..and gorgeous pictures!

Toni

Thanks for the kind words.
The cat ball with a bell sounds like a must. I'll be getting one asap.
Nice pictures Nakiska, I think I have to get some banana chips for Birdie while I'm out.

Danny, the camera is a Canon Powershot SX230 HS ($250?), which I am just using in automatic mode because I don't know squat about photography. It's not even mine

Here's a couple more pics:
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/3848/peer.jpg
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/299/birdiez.jpg

I'm considering taking similar styled pictures on the trains/trams for a change of scenery (and just for a laugh). Updates to come...
Unfortunately I'm working a lot during daylight hours, not to mention that its winter here and its not too fun being outside.

And of course, what would he rather be doing?
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/9247/birdiex.jpg

How about "destroy the tissue"? Puck goes nuts for a tissue! He'll tear it up, and then find all the pieces, and tear those up. I interact with him by picking pieces up and wiggling them in his face for him to attack. :-D

Quick bump with a short clip!
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZZi7sOvtiM&hd=1"]Bird E at the park - YouTube[/ame]