Simple Enrichment

[bill_e]

Nike used to turn her beak up at almonds and then about 7 months ago she started accepting them. She will not however break into any nut shell. I don't know if she's too small or if she's just lazy.

Anyway, armed with a bag of leftover holiday nuts, I have begun exposing just a little bit of the almond while it's still in its shell and much to my surprise, Nike has been tackling the shelled nut both eating what she can get at as well as chipping away at the shell until she's able to remove the almond.

This is the closest thing to foraging I've ever been able to get Nike to do.

 

[LaManuka]

There’s something very satisfying about being able to give your bird a more stimulating food source than simply a bowl of food. In bringing them into our homes we have taken away so many of their natural behaviours which can so easily be replaced by bad habits brought on by boredom. Whenever possible I try to give Lilly some native flowers to chomp on, they keep her occupied for AGES even though I don’t know if she gets a whole lot of nutrition out of them. She goes back to them throughout the day and rummages through the branches picking off every last bit of nectar and pollen and it’s a joy to see her so happily occupied. Even Val the budgie gets interested in them

 

[chris-md]

That’s how it always starts, with just a peak of the intended target.

I got Parker foraging by placing a nut in the middle of a toilet paper roll. Not enclosed or folded over, just in the middle where he could clearly see it. Worked like a charm and he’s been a great forager ever since.

 

[SailBoat]

So very happy to hear that Nicky has taken the next step(s)!
But I can understand why she had waited, after all, she had trained you so very well.

 

[noodles123]

That's great news! So nice when they finally pick up on something like that!!!


I am not trying to rain on your parade, but just be careful with nuts in shells-- Noodles was eating almond shell bits and the vet said to take them away from her lol...
I am sure that most birds don't do that, but they can get impacted if they do.