Eclectus Toys

[OutlawedSpirit]

I am trying to find ideas for toys for my Eckie. I am finding it difficult. She doesn't like most "big bird" type chewing toys because the wood is too hard and in too big of pieces. However, most of the "little bird" toys that she would like to chew are designed for little birds. So lots of plastic straws and pony beads and stuff. I am worried that since she has a much larger beak than the little birds, that she would choke or otherwise hurt herself with straws and beads. Any advice?

 

[dragonlady2]

I found the same thing with my Ekkie. However, he does like yucca chunks, thin pine pieces, and cork. He also likes his bells so he has a lot of stainless steel jangly things hanging in his cage and play stand. He tosses little plastic cups, balls and pods in the air and then chases them to toss them again. They are so intelligent that it takes a variety of things to keep them occupied.

 

[DexMom]

Dexter likes things with smaller pieces of wood and lots of rope and knots that he can pull on and gnaw on, like this one:

Things to tear up, like pinata toys (these don't last long):

Things he can spend time figuring out like this:

Plus I almost always have a knotted, braided and otherwise twisted up set of leather cords somewhere in the cage that he loves to untie (and then I retie, twist and braid them again, he doesn't destroy it, just untangles it).

I also like to provide various opportunities for him to forage. I will use a paper towel roll with some shredded paper inside and maybe a bit of dried mango or a few almonds, twisted on the ends and woven through the bars. Another easy, cheap foraging toy is to take couple of natural coffee filters, put a fig or piece of dried fruit in the middle and twist it closed like a tight little purse, tie with a piece of paper rope or grass rope and hang from the top of the cage (so he has to work to catch it with a foot and hold it while trying to tear it open to eat).