no chewing?

[YUMgrinder]

Hey guys! I have two cockatiels, a green cheek conure and 4 budgies. I use squawkbox for monthly toys and treats and I cant get any of the birds to chew. They chew on NOTHING. All the toys are perfect condition.

they have an aviary type setup where they get to roam free when I am not around, they get lots of time with me, they seem happy, but they don't chew. Chewing should be instinctual and fun for them and I'm sad they don't participate. I've tried all sorts of toys. any advice or insight?

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Try boxes or newspaper? something easy to chew? BB likes toys with streamers and makes mince meat out of paper. Amy likes tp rolls and fingers

Glad to see a post from you YUM


Jim

 

[SailBoat]

The instinctual chewing response is connected with finding and obtaining food. With food served everyday, part of that response is depressed. The other part of the response is founded around nest building. This response is also depressed as we control sleep pattern to limit the onset of hormonal flow.

To encourage chewing is a combination of introducing foraging and providing more chew based foods like Veggies.

Look at softer wood toys and paper products.

Just remember that very often, their newly found joy of chewing just may include those expensive things you own,

 

[wrench13]

Good to hear from you Yum!

Sometimes, parrots don't know what to do with chew toys, really. Sometimes it helps if you show them how much fun they are, playing with the toys, make believe chewing and making all sorts of happy squeals and squeaks. This can also work when introducing new foods and veggies.

 

[noodles123]

Try a variety of textures-- that wood that is kind of like balsa seems gratifying to Noodles. Have you rewarded them for attending to their toys and modeled playing with them (don't bite them, as your saliva is not safe for them) but act like they are super fun and reward them for touching them at all etc.