Daily stimulation help

[Birdmom12]

I'm wondering what everyone does for daily stimulation with their birds. We work during the day and check in for a quick hour around noon. I'm sensing our girl is getting bored with life and needs a little spark put into her day.

We have foraging toys both food and paper she can play with. When shes out of her cage she has play stands and rubber toys to rip into. When we are gone for the day I tend to leave on a planet documentary show and she watches animals/birds all day.

Shes gotten in the habit of screeching once we come home...even if shes out of her cage and involved. I'm hoping giving her some healthy stimulation will help curve this. Any ideas or suggestions on ways to keep her mind active.

 

[Flynhigh]

Check out the Bird sitter video from parrot university, my birds love it . If yours enjoys TV I'm sure she'll like it too. Its not expensive either. All you need is a DVD player. I use it three days a week.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

 

[Anita1250]

We both work as well, but Roger works nights, and I work days. When he comes home, he naps on the couch with the bird. Sam loves it. He takes his nap as well, and they sleep together. I guess as long as one member of the flock is there, he is ok.

 

[itzjbean]

We both work as well, but Roger works nights, and I work days. When he comes home, he naps on the couch with the bird. Sam loves it. He takes his nap as well, and they sleep together. I guess as long as one member of the flock is there, he is ok.

It's super dangerous to sleep with our parrots, we've had several posts just this year of people losing their birds to rolling onto them during sleep together that end up in heartbreaking (and very preventable) deaths. I hope your spouse would reconsider doing this, it only takes one accident to lose them forever.

 

[Birdmom12]

Thanks everyone.

I did end up getting her the parrot dvd. It sparked her interest and at times she mimics the other birds. Today was her first day with it and I think it went well. When I came home she was less tense and over all friendlier towards me. As a reward I gift her a small sliver of a spinach veggie hummus wrap. She happily snacked on it for about 5 minutes.

I think we are also starting to see signs of her body getting back on track. Shes starting to molt of down feathers and shes starting to look fresher...if that makes sense.

I also got some kids toys over the weekend for her. I have baby rattles, wiffle balls, and pretend kitchen utensils. These will all be used to make hanging toys, foraging toys, or just destroy me toys. She showed the most interest in the kids cooking toys. However, we did find out she loves to rough house with the rattle and her favorite person.

 

[wrench13]

Videos - parrots can see flat screen type tv's , not old tube type -two different technologies. You tube has hundreds of videos of parrots talking playing etc etc. Screen them first so no bad habbits are transmitted. My Salty learns so much from watching them, singing talking all sorts of things.

Stimulation and bonding - I always recommend trick training on a daily basis, same time every day. Simple ones to start with and work you way up. Its a great way to band with your parrot. Not a long session 10-15 min a day. You will be shocked to see how smart your bird is. Gives them something to look forward to ( Salty lets me know, loudly, if I am like 5 minutes late).

 

[fiddlejen]

Shes gotten in the habit of screeching once we come home...even if shes out of her cage and involved. I'm hoping giving her some healthy stimulation will help curve this. Any ideas or suggestions on ways to keep her mind active.

My Sunny always schreeches when I come in. Also whenever she re-enters her cage, and for various other reasons. I've concluded it's because Her Sunniness does not have an official Herrald to precede her with a trumpet, nor to make official Announcements when her loyal subject enters or leaves her presence. So, she humbles herself to do the announcing herself.

Different breeds of course. And where you're sensing yours needs more stimulation, then I'm sure she does. But still - she MIGHT just be saying, "Welcome Home!!!," like mine does, when you arrive??

 

[Anita1250]

Roger is napping on the couch, and Sam is napping on his cage. They are just in the same room.

 

[Birdmom12]

Thanks everyone.

Although she still hates me there is slow progress. I have finally found the highest reward treat for her. The moment she sees it come out she fluffs up, eyes go wild, and the chirping starts and she runs over to her side perch. Its a toothbrush with peanut butter crammed into the bristles!

She will spend a good 30 minutes just licking the bristles. I've also noticed she will spend some time scratching her head with it.