How do you play with your parrot?

[wrench13]

How does every one play with your birds?
Peek a boo? Salty hates this.. mostly scares him.
Tug of war? Depends. If it's a piece of food, he will fight!!
Beak wrestling? Salty likes this.
Hands on rough wrestling? This is our preferred play mode, until Salty gets into over load. Then it's KILL THE HAND!!

What else??

Does training constitute play?
Does giving scratches constitute play time?

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Just let him/her out of the cage. They'll choose how they want to play and what they want to do. We have no choice in the matter and they know it.

In all seriousness though, just spend time with your parrot and observe their behaviors and reactions to things. You'll discover what their likes and dislikes are. Then you incorporate those into tricks or playtime.

 

[SailBoat]

How does every one play with your birds?
Peek a boo? Salty hates this.. mostly scares him.
Tug of war? Depends. If it's a piece of food, he will fight!!
Beak wrestling? Salty likes this.
Hands on rough wrestling? This is our preferred play mode, until Salty gets into over load. Then it's KILL THE HAND!!

What else??

Does training constitute play?
Does giving scratches constitute play time?

Scratches constitutes Bonding Time.
Training constitutes playing when the Amazon says it is, otherwise its just training.

Pee-a-Poo leaves my Amazon looking blankly at me, kind of like he thinks I'm out of my mind.
Tug-of War is his top game, except if he looses, then its War, only a fool would let him loss twice.
Really hates wrestling, too much hands-on.
Loves the game: hang onto Dad's finger and fly-off taking Dad with. DYH Amazon, big wings, lots of lift. No he doesn't get be off the floor, but I can feel the power.
Beak wrestling is another blank look, you're out of your mind, I bite hard with this thing if I have too, do I?

Really likes line dancing (OK, waddling)
Find the toys in the toy tent and take them and hide them. Then he will travel around the house with you looking for the toys. He loves finding the toys game. OK, so he knows where are, but still lots of fun for him.

 

[Printer bird]

Head scratching, chilling, sometimes block chewing, sometimes fabric texture exploring, looking over the edge of things together.

We could wrestle with my conure (flip him upside down, wrap him in fabric, get him running around, roll a ball around etc). He was very playful! We are still learning with the WCP but mostly she is chill and just happy to be out and with us.

 

[Weezerj]

Break/hand wrestling here....or take whatever toy away from dad

 

[Kiwibird]

Beak wrestling, whistle game (you make the first half of the wolf whistle, he'll make the second. This activity is exclusive to the shower :08, magic toy game (play with any toy he was ignoring 2 seconds ago and it magically becomes a hot commodity to play with)...

 

[LeaKP]

Tug of war, I'm running behind you on the couch you can't get me, I want your paper and I will tear it, seek and destroy...

 

[wrench13]

LOL, very cool, people, keep 'em coming. Sharing ideas and techniques and stuff is one of the great things about this Parrot Forum. I would never think to hide toys around the house, and together have a 'treasure hunt, for example, but I am going to try that tonight.

 

[Scott]

Mostly through direct contact. They have lots of toys and most have plenty of out-of-cage time. I hold/scratch them, and allow all of the tame ones shoulder time while doing chores, sitting at the computer, preparing chop, etc. Always wear "bird shirts" so they are free to chew the cloth as desired!!

 

[ToMang07]

So many different ways, lol

From "Pass the white football" to building her forts (out of pillows) on the couches, toys on the floor, or just holding her, (coaxing her to dance) she's definately a typical attention sponge Too, and a diva at that. I need to get a video of her "Strutting" while she sings her favorite song, lol

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I've never heard of a tamed parrot who didn't like scratchies. Whenever I raise my hand at Skittles he will lift his wing, meaning he wants a wingpit rub.

I think positive interaction of any sort is good. Most parrots just want to be near you. You can also incorporate objects into the picture based on your parrots reaction. For example, Skittles loves fabric and anything that makes noise. However, the tape measure is mortal enemy number one.

 

[Kiwibird]

I've never heard of a tamed parrot who didn't like scratchies.

Now you have- Skittles_Dad meet Kiwi lol. He has made such leaps and bounds since we adopted him and is a highly social bird, but in 7 1/2 years has never once put his head down for a skritch and generally dislikes being touched on the body (he won't bite us anymore, but you can tell it makes him really uncomfortable and he doesn't like the concept one bit). We suspect he was likely parent raised and/or that someone along the line must've abused him with their hands. Thats not to say that him touching you isn't ok, he loves preening his humans and always wants to be close to the flock (just don't touch him on his body!). I have in the last year or so managed to get him to where he'll let me kiss him on the head and body and even puts his little head down for it I guess any step forward is a positive one!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

LOL. I stand corrected. Skittles is just the opposite. He will go into his cage on his own at night most of the time. But other times he just flies over to the door and 'waits'. I go to put him in or direct him in and he'll just sit there staring at me. So I try to pick him up to put him in and he'll lower his head for scratchies. He's like a child who won't go to sleep without a bedtime story.

 

[LeaKP]

Tonight Nigel is playing away, chattering, running around on the ground, almost rolling over and "catching" my hands and shoelaces. Sooooooo happy tonight.

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

Cuddles and kisses and round and round the garden games as well as attack and make up games with QP Peter Pan but with Mr Biggles WFA its all about ball games whether its tossing a ball or putting it in a net or flying with it in his beak as long as there is a ball involved hes happy

 

[Terry57]

We do lots of singing and dancing...my Fids absolutely love it when I make up nonsense songs using their names...must be love since they even seem to like my horribly off tune singing.

 

[GaleriaGila]

The Rickeybird loves to be carried around to different surfaces upon which he can KNOCK... I can't even recall how it started. Here it is.

Just click for video.

 

[Leena]

Rio loves "catch the birdie". My hand is claw that follows him and I say "catch the birdie" .He runs dodging my fingers and bobs his head up and down .....if I get my finger on his head I win .....
As SailBoat said I too am not foolish enough to win twice
Then Rio waddles up to me saying "Caaaatch the birdieeeeeeeeee" and we repeat.

Another of his favorite game is standing on the edge of his cage sticking out his neck and bellowing "Give me a kissssssssss" to any human who is passing by.....Then depending where you rank in his favorite human list, you can kiss his beak or else he sqwaks like a maniac and runs to the other end of his cage....Anyone interested?

 

[plumsmum2005]

So many different ways, lol

From "Pass the white football" to building her forts (out of pillows) on the couches, toys on the floor, or just holding her, (coaxing her to dance) she's definately a typical attention sponge Too, and a diva at that. I need to get a video of her "Strutting" while she sings her favorite song, lol

Ooh yes please.

 

[GaleriaGila]

OMG that's cute! ALL thee stories are cute! Just makes me grin.