My 2 Senegals are afraid of a new toy

[Emily15]

A friend just got a new toy for my 2 Senegals. I put it at the top of the cage, and they hurriedly ran to the bottom of the cage. I left the toy in the cage, thinking they'd get used to it. When I returned an hour or two later, they were in the same exact spot. I finally took it out of the cage.
Later, when I had gotten the birds out of the cage, I put the toy next to them. They ran away from it!!!
I don't understand why they'd be scared of it. It has a little bell on the bottom, hangs, and is made of colored wood. They have had very similar toys before, and loved them!
Is there anything I can do to make them like the toy or not be scared of it??? Or, is it a lost cause???

 

[T00tsyd]

LOL Give them time. Or, put it where they can see it with something absolutely delicious that they would risk anything for beside or on top of it. They'll come around.

 

[EllenD]

This is very normal, it's something new and to be feared! LOL, my Senegal always fears EVERY new toy I buy him or build him for at least a week...then he proceeds to ripping it to shreds or reducing it to toothpicks...So consider it the toy "lasting longer" this way, lol...

Just leave it inside their cage and don't mess with it again, taking it out and putting it back in won't help, they just have to get used to it in their own time. One of them will eventually start playing with it and then the other will join in. It might take a week or longer, but it will happen, once they realize that it's not a predator to be feared!!!

 

[Emily15]

Ok! Thanks. That was the major problem. They were staying on the bottom, but the food bowls were in the middle....so I'll try putting it back in and seeing what happens. Thanks so much!!!

 

[Emily15]

I have put the toy back into the cage. Now that it's been in there for a few hours, I think Senegal and Whitney (the names of my two Senegals) have been moving around a little.....as compared to staying in one spot as they did before. Thanks both of you for responding and helping me with this. Although I've had my pets for a year now...I'm still learning ALOT!!! THANKS!!!!

 

[GaleriaGila]

The Rb is so leery of new toys that I often put them on a table across the room and move it closer over the course of days!
Glad your two are coming around.

 

[Sandy19]

My Senegal is weird about certain toys too. I bought her an orange wooden carrot once and she hated it. I didn't even try to get her used to it because it was freaking her out. I gave it to the rabbit and she liked chewing on it.

I don't give my Senegal anything with small bells anymore because I noticed she was somehow removing the clappers out of them and I'm scared they could get embedded in her mouth. Maybe I'm overreacting, but I only buy her the large bells now. She does like her bells and I figured the larger ones are safer.

 

[Emily15]

They are now moving freely around the cage, but they haven't started playing with it yet. Senegal will even sit on the perch directly next to it, but won't touch it!!! I'll keep an eye on them and make sure they don't get hurt by the bell.