Foraging Ideas?

[katie_fleming]

I've made Jasper a few foraging toys before but always gave them to him outside of the cage.

I'm looking for ideas for things I can make to hang inside his cage that will be safe. That's my biggest worry.

Once I bought him a bunch of boxes that you could stuff things inside and hung it with hemp. He managed to stick his head through a hole in the box and was freaking out and the rope was long enough it could have gone around his neck. I saw this all on Skype from work and never ran so fast in my life to get home. Luckily he had gotten his head out of the box and the rope wasn't around him when I got home.

So I've been hesitant to give him other foraging type things. I do have this for him although the website doesn't indicate it's safe for Eclectuses I wonder what your thoughts are?

Parrot's Treasure

This is what they list for Eclectuses:

Foraging - Toys - Products

Any ideas would be appreciated. Whether home made or purchased (although I only buy from that site right now b/c their shipping is reasonable).

Thank you

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi Katie what do you think of this
http://www.northernparrots.com/super-star-parrot-foraging-toy-prod344331/

it's not as big as the one in your link.

Like the wheel forager though, that should keep him busy!

Glad Jasper was OK when you got home - phew!

 

[chris-md]

Hi Katie!

So just FYI it was me who tweeted you the picture of Parker in the box of new toys. Among those was a nice foraging toy I think would be great for jasper.

I'm out and about right now but give me an hour and a half I will have plenty to share here.

 

[katie_fleming]

Hi Katie what do you think of this
Super Star Parrot Foraging Toy

That one looks great! It would probably be too expensive to have it shipped here though, I see it's from Europe. I'll keep an eye out for something like it!

Hi Katie!

So just FYI it was me who tweeted you the picture of Parker in the box of new toys. Among those was a nice foraging toy I think would be great for jasper.

I'm out and about right now but give me an hour and a half I will have plenty to share here.

Ah! Great to connect the two together! Sounds good, looking forward to it

 

[chris-md]

Ok, I'm back! Heres what I can share:

How advanced is he at foraging? That treasure box should be safe for ekkies, but I can say it'd be way too advanced for Parker. Rotate one of those pins even slightly and he'd starve to death

1. Start with treat stuffed toilet paper rolls. This video was Parkers very first attempt at foraging
[ame="https://youtu.be/KztWdrv4KsY"]Parker the eclectus' first foraging success - YouTube[/ame]

2. Parker has mastered these foraging toys:

a. skewer (self explanatory).

b. what I'm calling das boot - [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Foraging-Systems-E487-Feeder/dp/B004TS1S2I/ref=sr_1_33?ie=UTF8&qid=1458267172&sr=8-33&keywords=parrot+foraging+toys]Amazon.com : Creative Foraging Systems+E487 CFS See Saw Pet Feeder : Pet Bird Feeders : Pet Supplies[/ame]
This one is tricky, however. Some of the spaces are tight so you can't put big stuff in. It has to be small stuff that rolls around fairly easily. I have had the best success putting in his Higgins Fruit to Nuts mix. This took a while, and I admit it sat around for a few months in a box after initial failure. Once I got the fruit to nuts mix in there, I could see its level go down. Never saw Parker use it, but the food was disappearing so he clearly succeeding.

c. Cups on a chain - [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Super-Bird-Creations-2-Inch-Bottoms/dp/B003HM1WEG/ref=sr_1_76?ie=UTF8&qid=1458267372&sr=8-76&keywords=parrot+foraging+toys"]http://www.amazon.com/Super-Bird-Creations-2-Inch-Bottoms/dp/B003HM1WEG/ref=sr_1_76?ie=UTF8&qid=1458267372&sr=8-76&keywords=parrot+foraging+toys[/ame]
Good one to have.

I've also used a hol-ee roller to put nutriberries in with success.

I have this, but it's far too advanced for him; stymied him right away. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images/categoryimages/highdef/CC-77870-61210C-toy.jpg

Something else you can try, and I'm just trying this for the first time tonight, is to take a slightly larger macaw toy with blocks and such, and hide nuts and dried peppers all throughout it. This can encourage him to try climbing over it in an attempt to get to the goods.

You might also find this conversation intriguing http://www.parrotforums.com/eclectus/60547-cage-forage-only-zone.html

Good luck to you and Jasper!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi ya not the same but similar although chris-md wrapped this one up I feel as he's definitely becoming our foraging guru that we can all turn to.

Good luck with the foraging.

USA-12 A Shot at Foraging by Made in the USA Bird Toys - FORAGING TOYS

ALSO look at this could be good for ideas if nothing else.
http://www.busybeaks.com/Hideaways.htm

 

[Uglow]

Bird Toy Eco Forage Pack
these are great. you can open them up and stuff them with his favorite dry treats in. I usually tie them in his cage or tree with these.
6 ea 36 In (.9 m) x 1/8 In (3.2 mm) Long Vegetable Tanned Bird Safe Leather Strips

 

[plumsmum2005]

Bird Toy Eco Forage Pack
these are great. you can open them up and stuff them with his favorite dry treats in. I usually tie them in his cage or tree with these.
6 ea 36 In (.9 m) x 1/8 In (3.2 mm) Long Vegetable Tanned Bird Safe Leather Strips

I tried one of those Forage Packs with Plum, he ripped a couple of holes in it and then threw it back at me. Guess he's just not into foraging!

 

[Uglow]

Bird Toy Eco Forage Pack
these are great. you can open them up and stuff them with his favorite dry treats in. I usually tie them in his cage or tree with these.
6 ea 36 In (.9 m) x 1/8 In (3.2 mm) Long Vegetable Tanned Bird Safe Leather Strips

I tried one of those Forage Packs with Plum, he ripped a couple of holes in it and then threw it back at me. Guess he's just not into foraging!

did you try mixing in some stuff that he likes in there? As soon as Uglow realized there might be food in there the gloves came off.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Bird Toy Eco Forage Pack
these are great. you can open them up and stuff them with his favorite dry treats in. I usually tie them in his cage or tree with these.
6 ea 36 In (.9 m) x 1/8 In (3.2 mm) Long Vegetable Tanned Bird Safe Leather Strips

I tried one of those Forage Packs with Plum, he ripped a couple of holes in it and then threw it back at me. Guess he's just not into foraging!

did you try mixing in some stuff that he likes in there? As soon as Uglow realized there might be food in there the gloves came off.

Yes it's still in it (nut) LOL Definitely not a forager!

 

[Uglow]

I tried one of those Forage Packs with Plum, he ripped a couple of holes in it and then threw it back at me. Guess he's just not into foraging!

did you try mixing in some stuff that he likes in there? As soon as Uglow realized there might be food in there the gloves came off.

Yes it's still in it (nut) LOL Definitely not a forager!

ha. maybe show him where you're putting it and/or have one slightly visible. Another thing to keep in mind, at least with Uglow, he had a tendency to avoid some toys or foraging apparatus for weeks and then one day he would be obsessed with it. Nowadays whenever I add something to his cage or tree, he can't get to it fast enough.

 

[katie_fleming]

Thank you for all the replies!

@Chris to answer how advanced he is at foraging....I make him "surprise bags" that he LOVES. Sometimes zero interest, other times he can't get into them fast enough. Here's a video, it's two paper bags filled with shredded paper, pinecones, clothes pins (just the wood obviously), treats, etc:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeYR3Asus_0"]Jasper the Eclectus Parrot Surprise Bag - YouTube[/ame]

I have also made him toilet paper rolls filled with shredded paper/treats and he loves those as well! However both of these two toys are out-of-cage toys (especially if you see how I hang the surprise bag. I'd be worried about strangulation unless it was VERY short)

With regards to https://www.amazon.ca/Creative-Fora...r/dp/B004TS1S2I?ie=UTF8&tag=ca-skim0x14770-20 I have seen these but none are available on the site I shop from right now.

The cup one https://www.amazon.ca/Super-Bird-Cr...s/dp/B003HM1WEG?ie=UTF8&tag=ca-skim0x14770-20 looks interesting. It's similar to this one, what do you think? Turn'n Learn Logs Although they don't have it listed for Eclectuses.

http://parrotdiseperch.com/east/products/toys/foraging/puzzler-foraging-toy Looks good but I'm afraid as soon as he pulls the paper out the treat will just fall out??

I have a holee roller as well but I just let him play with it as is. I have a "nutcase" that's similar that I could try putting stuff into. The problem is the treats falling out I guess.

I also have this http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images/categoryimages/highdef/CC-77870-61210C-toy.jpg but it doesn't turn very well. When you turn one section the whole thing turns. It might be defective :/

I have one as well that has the 3 little tabs you pull out to drop the food. He LOVES playing with it on the ground. I'm a bit worried about hanging it in his cage though. He likes to climb on his toys and I'm afraid he'll fall off. Maybe if I put it lower so he can sit on a perch and play with it there??

 

[katie_fleming]

Hi ya not the same but similar although chris-md wrapped this one up I feel as he's definitely becoming our foraging guru that we can all turn to.

Good luck with the foraging.

USA-12 A Shot at Foraging by Made in the USA Bird Toys - FORAGING TOYS

ALSO look at this could be good for ideas if nothing else.
Foraging Hideaways Enrichment Bird Toys

I have a bunch of those boxes! He loves them! I just don't know how to connect them to hang inside his cage. He's only had them outside. How do you attach them??

 

[chris-md]

Hi Katie

That video is adorable! I'm totally stealing that idea. Double stuffed is a great foraging idea. Toilet paper rolls stuffed in a paper bag suspended from the cage? win!

To your point about the toilet paper rolls, you can simply suspend them from the cage and he can attack as desired. This gave me the idea of a BUNCH of rolls suspended from the top of the cage like a mini forest. I do that occasionally with Swiss chard leaves. He picks at it throughout the day.

That cup toy is fine. Things don't need to be labeled specifically for eclectus. Most parrots of similar size are sufficiently similar that it's a safe assumption that what's good for the goose is good for the gander, so to speak. But it's also very advanced. I can only speak for Parker, but the bird needs to be mechanically inclined. Nothing with threaded screwing involved would work for Parker. Hence the cups I showed you. They are merely covered on top and can easily be lifted.

 

[chris-md]

Hi ya not the same but similar although chris-md wrapped this one up I feel as he's definitely becoming our foraging guru that we can all turn to.

No guru here. Just desperate to help a plucker find his way.

I do realize though my dog doesn't get it half as good as the bird. But I've realized having a bird really is like having a kid, you always have to be ON. And that I most certainly am.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi ya not the same but similar although chris-md wrapped this one up I feel as he's definitely becoming our foraging guru that we can all turn to.

No guru here. Just desperate to help a plucker find his way.

I do realize though my dog doesn't get it half as good as the bird. But I've realized having a bird really is like having a kid, you always have to be ON. And that I most certainly am.

Oh shucks you are just being modest.

So it's a dog foraging exercise next then?

 

[katie_fleming]

Hi Katie

That video is adorable! I'm totally stealing that idea. Double stuffed is a great foraging idea. Toilet paper rolls stuffed in a paper bag suspended from the cage? win!

To your point about the toilet paper rolls, you can simply suspend them from the cage and he can attack as desired. This gave me the idea of a BUNCH of rolls suspended from the top of the cage like a mini forest. I do that occasionally with Swiss chard leaves. He picks at it throughout the day.

That cup toy is fine. Things don't need to be labeled specifically for eclectus. Most parrots of similar size are sufficiently similar that it's a safe assumption that what's good for the goose is good for the gander, so to speak. But it's also very advanced. I can only speak for Parker, but the bird needs to be mechanically inclined. Nothing with threaded screwing involved would work for Parker. Hence the cups I showed you. They are merely covered on top and can easily be lifted.

Yeah! Let me know how Parker likes it. I started making them double layered after the first one he had to make it harder. And it lasts longer of course Do you think it would be safe to hang inside the cage near a perch? (So he can stand on the perch and work at it) My only worry is the length of the rope...maybe instead of hemp I could try something else? I have cotton rope, polly rope, and leather strips.

For the toilet paper rolls, I guess I could punch a hole through them and use a chain or paulie rope maybe? Again, I'm worried about the rope around the neck thing. If you manage to make something for inside Parker's cage can you please show me how you attached it?

Thanks for your note about other similar sized birds. I often search under African Grey's on that site b/c I figured they're close.

I bought Jasper a pinata toy a long time ago, kind of like this one Polly Wanna Pinata Parrot MYO but never used it. I was a bit worried about the dyes in the paper. But I bought it from that website so figured it would be safe.

I have one of these http://parrotdiseperch.com/east/products/toys/foraging/nutcase that I stuffed with shredded paper and put in some pellet berries. Hopefully he likes it

 

[katie_fleming]

I had quite the laugh this morning.

Last night I changed all of Jasper's toys in his cage as usual and hung one of the foraging toys he's only played with a few times. It's a 3-tiered plastic container that he has to pull/push tabs to drop the treat below. I put in a whole almond, sliver of an almond, and half a peanut.

This morning when I got up Jasper was already awake and munching on something. I went over to investigate. He had managed to get ALL of the treats out of it already!!!!! I put in another half a peanut, and a few minutes later I heard a squeal - he was happily eating it.

How the heck did he figure it out so fast?! Oh man, time to get out that treasure chest I think LOL