How to prevent a perch potato

[CDavis]

Hey guys I'm sorry for all the recent questions but I want to make sure that I give bonkers the best possible life I can. Ok so I visit bonkers for about 3 hours everyday more if I'm working but in all that time i have never seen him playing in his cage he is always just sitting on his perch singing and talking. The only thing he likes to do is ride around on me and sometimes he will wrestle with me on his back but I haven't done this too often because I don't really know how much is too much when it comes to stimulation. How am I supposed to keep him fit and healthy he is fully flighted and on a great diet but I have only seen him fly twice and they weren't long distances. How do you guys keep your Zons fit and healthy and prevent perch potatoes.

 

[chris-md]

I can only speak for my ekkie but sometimes that's what they WANT to do. Parker often just sits on his playstand staring off. He could easily climb onto the floor if he really wants to seek me out. He also is not much for toys.

But he's an ekkie, who are known to be daydreamers.

 

[CDavis]

I can only speak for my ekkie but sometimes that's what they WANT to do. Parker often just sits on his playstand staring off. He could easily climb onto the floor if he really wants to seek me out. He also is not much for toys.

But he's an ekkie, who are known to be daydreamers.

Well I know exactly how stubborn Zons can be I was just wondering if there is anything that I can do to entice him to burn some energy

 

[Kiwibird]

Not every bird likes the same kind of toys, so figuring out what kind of things Bonkers is interested in is the first step. Offer him a variety of toys (chewing, noise making, foot toys, foraging, knots etc..) and see what he seems interested in. Kiwi likes puzzle foraging toys, little objects/foot toys, baby toys and untying knots. He is not typically overly interested in noise making toys or chewing/shredding toys. He could play with an oversized button for an hour but a small wood toy may take him 6 months to get through.

Also, I'm sure since you've been reading the amazon forum for a while you realize they are big time flock birds. Include Bonkers. Getting him out of the cage and hanging out will definitely increase his activity. They are much less inclined to sit like lumps if they are hanging out with the flock! Play with him outside the cage. Could be trick training or simple as bring a couple little toys over and pretend to play with them yourself (which will naturally make him want them) and just get him messing around, chasing things, moving... Flight is awesome, but not a requirement for a healthy, active bird. Kiwi has never been flighted, but he is always climbing things, hanging in precarious positions, running around, out with us etc... Just active active active all day long. When he takes his little bird naps, he deserves them! If Bonkers isn't a big flyer, get him into climbing. That's what we did with Kiwi. Encouraged him to learn to climb since he couldn't fly. Offer multiple climbing surfaces (such as boings, swings, ropes, nets etc...). We used to have to entice Kiwi to climb on 'unstable' things like ropes by holding a treat on the other side, but once he found his balance and confidence, he can climb just about anything! He especially loves climbing to forage. Amazons actually tend to be good foragers and enjoy it, plays into the whole winged pigs by nature thing

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Amy isn't much of a toy player either. On occasion I see her playing. She likes her perch. When she comes out she goes to her play pen or walks over to visit BB and sits on his roof.
She doesn't fly either.
But maybe coz she's an old lady now..but she is happy


Jim

 

[BeatriceC]

Goofy is a perch potato. He's content to sit in his cage and stare out the window. That said, MrC involves him in pretty much everything. He helps work on cars, cleans the pool, does yard work, etc. pretty much every time he's working outside, Goofy is with him.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Goofy is a perch potato. He's content to sit in his cage and stare out the window. That said, MrC involves him in pretty much everything. He helps work on cars, cleans the pool, does yard work, etc. pretty much every time he's working outside, Goofy is with him.

When ever weather is permissible Amy is out and about with me also. I can see the happiness and hear her excitement where ever I take her. It helps with her solicialization,she gets fresh air and sunshine and interacts with other people.
Some times I wish I lived in an area where its warm all year long lol..she'd be one happy birdie

Jim

 

[wrench13]

Salty is a 'tater inside his cage. However, with the door open he is rarely in it. We have a heavy plastic chain going across the ceiling, about 10 feet, , to a hanging ring type boing that I put a wood perch through. That is where he gets his lunch and dinner meals. On the chain is all his hanging toys and bells. THOSE he beats the hell out of. Salty likes bells, and basket weave type toys, a few wood toys and a cotton rope type toy, a sneaker and more bells! Every day, Geri rolls up a crushed walnut into a coffee filter and weaves it thru his cage bars , for him to forage for. He spends every day going from toy to toy on his chain, balancing on the chain, and going back to his cage for a sip of water. Of course part of the day he spends napping in his cage or at the highest point on the chain ( like a little green vulture ) and wrestling with me. If Bonkers likes to wrestle on his back with you, that is cool isnt it? Salty likes when I cover his head and ask him "Where is Salty?" and then 'find ' him, rocking him back and forth, telling him what a rotten bird he is, and carefully letting him mouth my fingers. Thats the only thing you need to watch out for - when the pressure starts to get a bit harder, its time for a break. The trick is not to let him get them into his mouth in the first place, and if he does, to distract him with a tickle or head rub. I love wrestling with him, and he loves doing it with me.

 

[CDavis]

Goofy is a perch potato. He's content to sit in his cage and stare out the window. That said, MrC involves him in pretty much everything. He helps work on cars, cleans the pool, does yard work, etc. pretty much every time he's working outside, Goofy is with him.

This is how bonkers is as well he is completely content to sit on his cage around people just observing but he also enjoys the occasional wrestling match and riding around the store with me while I talk to customers.

 

[CDavis]

Salty is a 'tater inside his cage. However, with the door open he is rarely in it. We have a heavy plastic chain going across the ceiling, about 10 feet, , to a hanging ring type boing that I put a wood perch through. That is where he gets his lunch and dinner meals. On the chain is all his hanging toys and bells. THOSE he beats the hell out of. Salty likes bells, and basket weave type toys, a few wood toys and a cotton rope type toy, a sneaker and more bells! Every day, Geri rolls up a crushed walnut into a coffee filter and weaves it thru his cage bars , for him to forage for. He spends every day going from toy to toy on his chain, balancing on the chain, and going back to his cage for a sip of water. Of course part of the day he spends napping in his cage or at the highest point on the chain ( like a little green vulture ) and wrestling with me. If Bonkers likes to wrestle on his back with you, that is cool isnt it? Salty likes when I cover his head and ask him "Where is Salty?" and then 'find ' him, rocking him back and forth, telling him what a rotten bird he is, and carefully letting him mouth my fingers. Thats the only thing you need to watch out for - when the pressure starts to get a bit harder, its time for a break. The trick is not to let him get them into his mouth in the first place, and if he does, to distract him with a tickle or head rub. I love wrestling with him, and he loves doing it with me.

Yea he likes to wrestle with me and that is awesome for both of us I just haven't known him long enough to know how much is too much for him so I take it slow and so far it has worked out perfectly.