Help- He Doesn't Play!

[alcmene]

My new sun conure came from an understimulating environment (petsmart). He was there for a full yr- from when he was newly weaned until i bought him a wk ago. He doesn't play with toys. I'm guessing because he was in a too small cage with boring toys that never changed at the store.

I bought him every type of toy imaginable- foot, shredding, puzzle, foraging, you name it. He doesn't touch any of them. When i'm actively interacting with him he's lively and energetic. We do mostly training behaviors together. When he's in his cage he just sits and stares at the wall. When he's on his play gym he just eats continuously (it has food and water cups).

How do i teach him to play?! There has to be some way to show him what toys are for and that they are fun...

 

[Kalidasa]

Show him. Play with them yourself until he gets involved. He probably doesn't understand what toys are if he really never had any. Parrots are very monkey-see monkey-do. With toys, food, everything. he's still very new and needs to settle in.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Kalidasas right [sounds like your on the right track] Im always amazed at how long it takes for birds to settle in [don't worry it will happen].

 

[BoomBoom]

^ What they said. Act like you are having so much fun with the toy and when he comes in to investigate, act like a greedy toddler who does not want to share - then let him have at it.

 

[riddick07]

I agree with everyone else! Loki isn't interested in many hanging toys. Have you tried a natural bamboo basket that you can fill up with handmade foot toys ( I use foam, beads, plastic lacing, cardboard, buttons, straws, things I can't remember..)? Loki goes gaga over his. He took a little bit to realize he could really rip it up but once he did he destroys them like they are the enemy...

You can also try putting together a small count puzzle in front of him. Take a little while and if he is interested don't let him at it! Once its done let him investigate. Our cockatoo who had no idea what foraging was since she had never had the opportunity in her 3 years went crazy over the puzzle. I took 2 weeks to finish a 1000 count puzzle and she would try to grab my pieces or get on the table at it since I was so focused on it and she was curious. I never let her have it but once I was done I let her at it. Took her about 2 minutes to completely destroy the thing.

Keep trying and eventually something will get his interest and set him off!

 

[Ashleigh86]

I agree with everyone here! Anytime I want my sun to be interested in a toy I play with it while she watches and she's instantly interested. The basket idea is kind of like what I do with a small bowl, just fill it with interesting things(wood pieces, beads(not too small), shredded paper, treats) and Indy loves it and it keeps her busy while we are at work and it's a foraging activity!(bonus ) I also try to add food or treats to her toys to get her interested like millet or nutriberries, whatever keeps her interested! Another one she likes a lot is a home made footie toy that is just a cork that you cut small slits in and stick sunflower seeds in it, and the further you put them in, the more cork they have to shred to get to it

 

[alcmene]

I spent a 1/2 hr this morning playing with bird toys in front of him. He didn't care. He wasn't afraid, just completely not interested in what i was doing. I put bird toys in my mouth and shook them around and everything (side note- I'm so glad no one could see me because I'm sure i looked like a lunatic!).

Then i thought a little reverse psychology might help. So i enlisted my daughters to play with the toys in front of him. They were laughing and clapping and making a big ruckus. They made a point to steal the toys away from each other, like they were the earth's most desiresble treasure. And.... Nothing. He was looking at them, but not with any interest.

Then we tried getting Mr Peabody to play with them. I was hesitant about trying to make him jealous of Peabody, because i want them to continue to get along. But it didn't work any way. He couldn't have cared less about what Peabody was playing with.

I'm at a loss. What am i doing wrong?

 

[Kalidasa]

You're not doing anything wrong, but progress with birds doesn't generally happen in a day. Keep it up, every day, until he gets it. Alot of patience is needed when dealing with birds.

 

[MomtoPercy]

You've gotten excellent advice so far. Keep doing the same thing, it may take a while, just persevere.

I fully agree about adding treats to the toy basket - hide some favourite treats in the bottom but make sure he sees you put them there. He will have to move the toys to get to the treats and who knows, he may start to play with them?

If you make toys, do it where he can see (raving all the while about how wonderous the toy is you're making).

Hang toys outside the cage - when my fids are reluctant or scared of a new toy, I hang it on the outside of the cage : the fact that it is "out of bounds" increases its desireability ten fold! LOL!!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I echo what's been said so far. I've only ever owned one sun conure, my Skittles, and he was exactly 1yr and 2 wks old when I bought him. He had actually been to several shops in the process. He had only been at the pet store where I got him for a few weeks and already the clerks were falling in love with him and now I can see why.

The thing for me is Skittles favorite thing to do is be with me. Suns are extremely social creatures and you will more than likely have better success if you play with the toys then he will want to play with them. I joke with people in my real life by saying Skittles doesn't want something until someone else has it.

I find my sun conure LOVES chewing toys (which he has plenty) and things that make noise. He has a jungle ball that he goes to war with often. He liked it so much, I bought him a second one so he has one in his cage and on his play stand. Skittles likes climbing on hanging toys and chewing on them. I got him one of those giant toys you hang (that have different ropes and wooden blocks on them). They aren't cheap, I paid $37 for mine but it is VERY big and he LOVES it so IMO it was worth it.

I might add, sometimes it takes a new bird a period of time before they begin to show interest in things as they are still getting used to their 'new' environment. Also, chances are you will have to go through different kinds of toys until you find the right ones. I had that issue with Peaches. I bought her almost $50 worth of toys one Christmas and she didn't touch one of them. I find she ONLY likes mirror toys with a perch attached so I got her some of them. She has 3 different ones in her cage and she uses each of them.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

U could keep trying different types of toys, but not all at the same time, or even one after another minute by minute. It might get too confusing where he just ends up watching a show. Plastic, stainless, rolling, bouncing, hanging, frilly, rope, bells, crumpled paper, , etc. u don't need to spend alot of time or money finding things to try. Kitchen things like sets of measuring spoons and cups, toys from your kids, bottle top, a small clean shoelaces with plastic tip cut off, wood spoon, etc.

 

[alcmene]

Success!

I've kept up the playing with her toys myself act for several says now. Today, for the first time, she batted at and nibbled on one of them. She only did it for a brief minute. But it's a step in the right direction!

 

[MomtoPercy]

Yay!!! Remember to praise him pofusely if he touches any toy!