Floor Time

[jensea]

We are working with Ozzy on how to play with toys and floor time. I don't think he was ever taught or let down on the floor? He acts like he doesnt know how to hop or slide down stuff? It took at least 20 min of enticing him, and 40 seconds of actually touching the floor. And this poor guy's new cage can't come soon enough! I wonder if there'll be an adjustment or if he'll just love all the extra space and new toys..we shall see!

 

[Scott]

I've found cockatoos in general to be very welcoming to new cages, especially if they are filled with good things to eat and chew!

As for the floor, they seem to prefer high places, but spend some time hopping on the ground at times and enjoy trolling for bits of dropped food. Especially treats such as almonds and millet!

 

[Dopey]

One of my toos likes the floor and two of mine don't. Go figure.
Mine don't play with toys...they tear them up. Give one of them cardboard or paper and she is happy. The other one just sits and watches. You gotta figure out what they like. Two of mine like leather, knots, and cork.

 

[jensea]

Ha! When I said play I meant destroy He's picking up on it pretty quick. I made a foraging box for him this morning and he's eyeing it.. toe touching it here and there..and just waiting to see what evilness will jump out of the box and get him. I've noticed he really likes trolling his cage and surroundings for food, so I've been spreading pellets and nuts here and there. I do hope he takes to a new cage!

And he does love cardboard and wood.. we have a large household so we have a steady supply of toilet paper and paper towel rolls

 

[Dopey]

I don't even really think about it when I give my guys new cages. They check out each other's cages all the time through their exploring.

 

[Siobhan]

Rocky would really like to spend more time on the floor, but we have two dogs, and he is too tempted to chomp our poor old elderly Lab, who is too arthritic to scramble out of reach like our younger mutt is. I also worry that the younger mutt would not take chomping with good grace and Rocky would get hurt. Right now, Jack is kind of afraid of Rocky, and keeps his distance. But Gigi (the Lab) spends most of her time lying on her bed, because getting up and moving around is very difficult for her. Sometimes we even have to help her stand when she needs to go out.

 

[jensea]

Rocky would really like to spend more time on the floor, but we have two dogs, and he is too tempted to chomp our poor old elderly Lab, who is too arthritic to scramble out of reach like our younger mutt is. I also worry that the younger mutt would not take chomping with good grace and Rocky would get hurt. Right now, Jack is kind of afraid of Rocky, and keeps his distance. But Gigi (the Lab) spends most of her time lying on her bed, because getting up and moving around is very difficult for her. Sometimes we even have to help her stand when she needs to go out.

Awww.. our Boxer is very much like that, especially with the colder weather creeping in. He'll be 11 in just a couple of weeks. So I'm a bit relieved that he's not insisting to get on the floor but it has to be boring just hanging out on the cage. We'll be building a tree stand shortly and I think we make it like a play gym for him with rope to hang from and swings to twirl in. I can be creative!

 

[jensea]

I don't even really think about it when I give my guys new cages. They check out each other's cages all the time through their exploring.

I'm very practical and would just be like "hey, here's your new cage.. cool huh?" but I've heard that some birds don't adjust so quickly?

 

[Siobhan]

A play stand is in Rocky's immediate future, too. Hubby is a carpenter and can build him something pretty inexpensively.

 

[Siobhan]

Rocky has recently gotten brave about getting down on the floor and waddling around, but what he wants to do is come to me and make me pick him up. He doesn't really just want to be on the floor.