Teaching foraging??

[HeatherS]

So I have a few foraging toys as well as some foot toys that I’ve attempted to make small foraging boxes with and our two lovebirds (who yet to interact with toys as well) and they have shown no interest in… even with my son sprinkling some seeds on top of the boxes infront of them… each box was placed next to their play gym where they spend most of their out of the cage time…. If also tried putting treats in a hanging foraging toys that I hung on their play gym and nothing…I’ll include some pictures…. And suggestions??

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I think with two lovebirds they have each other and aren't bored enough to play with toys. A single bird needs things to keep him busy but I imagine your two are content to just sit together, chatter to each other, and fly back and forth in the room.

 

[HeatherS]

I think with two lovebirds they have each other and aren't bored enough to play with toys. A single bird needs things to keep him busy but I imagine your two are content to just sit together, chatter to each other, and fly back and forth in the room.

It just seems nuts to me after reading so many things about the toys they absolutely need and the different types they should have at all times….. I have two big storage bins worth of toys and perches

 

[JjEjFjF]

With my conures i would put a few sunflower seeds in the tray and then i would do the foraging as they watched. When i found a seed i would give it to them. They learned pretty quickly.
My cockatiels have no interest whatsoever in the foraging tray.

 

[HeatherS]

With my conures i would put a few sunflower seeds in the tray and then i would do the foraging as they watched. When i found a seed i would give it to them. They learned pretty quickly.

Not a bad idea

 

[JjEjFjF]

Not a bad idea

Monkey see monkey do. Lol

 

[DonnaBudgie]

It just seems nuts to me after reading so many things about the toys they absolutely need and the different types they should have at all times….. I have two big storage bins worth of toys and perches

I know. You're such a good bird parent to get them all this stuff. Keep trying.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

You could put most of their food in foraging toys and force them to be creative.

 

[ChrisH123]

I definitely feel your frustration. My Meyers parrot wouldn't play with anything when we first got her. It took time and a bit of a strategy, but she now plays with skewer toys and forages using several toys in her cage as well as a mini foraging tray.

First, you need to find a HIGH value food item. This will be different for each bird, and YOUR bird decides what it is. If he'll do anything for almonds, cut a few into tiny pieces and use those JUST for foraging. At least until they start to understand the concept. Then you can use other foods.

Some things you can use: nut pieces, seeds, dehydrated veggies/fruits, coconut, nutriberries and Oven Fresh bites (these last two can be broken apart so you can use them more often and not be giving so many treats).

Put the treats your birds value most on toys, new perches, new bowls (anywhere you want them to go), and make sure they SEE you doing it. That's very important in the beginning.

Foraging often needs shaping, which is when you take small steps towards the behavior you want to see. If you take too big of a step, your bird may not understand what it is they need to do, and may get frustrated. If they get frustrated and repeatedly walk away, take it back a step.

For example: Start very easy and use a paper cup (uncovered). Make sure your parrot is watching when you introduce the cup and put a treat in it. Then give him a chance to take the treat from the cup. Do this a few more times putting the cup at different places in the cage.

Then move on to the covered cup. Once your parrot has mastered one form of the toy, move on to the next, making it a bit harder to get inside the cup each time. Here's a pic of what it would look like more advanced. Other ways to build the cups are here in this post.

I've also done pinecone foraging toys too. They're fun and easy to do.

Here are some instructions on how to make it.

If your bird isn't catching on, stick to easier things. My Meyers really enjoyed this grass mat forager I made for her using artificial grass. On here, they can see the treats (of course watch your bird anytime you introduce anything new to make sure they're using it appropriately).

I also love these little box foragers. You can cut bigger holes in them for birds that are new at it.

Hope this helps! Update us on how your little guys are doing!