Valentino's new brain toy.

[noblemacaw]

[FONT=&quot]I got this toy for Valentino a Red Fronted macaw to help with boredom. He is extremely intelligent and finding toys to cater to that intelligence can be a challenge.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]At the recommendation of a friend who has bred parrots for over 20 years suggested this toy because it would take Valentino a while to master it. Each door opens in a different way so the parrot would be challenged enough. “How long do you think it would take for him to master it?" I asked. Don said “It should take him a while." Meanwhile Lupe said “I think that toy is too hard for him to play with." I purchased this toy.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I filled up each chamber with a couple of pistachios and installed it in his cage. I went upstairs for 10 minutes to do something and all was quiet. Valentino didn’t make a sound he didn’t even talk to himself. I come back downstairs to find he had opened every door and turned the toy upside down because his beak is too big to reach in and grab the treat.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I was gob smacked and just stared at the toy and Valentino while he made baby noises at me. “You have GOT to be kidding me!" I thought it was a fluke so I took the toy out, re loaded it with treats and reinstalled it making sure it was tight. I never even showed Valentino how to open the doors.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Lupe got the camera and began to video him working the toy. Sure enough he opened each door and attempted to get at the nuts inside. I could see he grew frustrated because he could not REACH the treats on the bottom of the chamber because his beak is too big. Poor parrot. I just could not believe he was able to figure out that toy so quickly. Lupe stared at me eyes wide and said. “What next? Is he going to start driving our cars?"[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Here’s a link to the video Lupe shot after I reloaded the toy and made it more secure.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdlloMXbBjk]Valentino playing with foreging toy - YouTube[/ame][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I need to research more brain toys for my prodigy. Valentino is a freak of nature.[/FONT]

 

[JerseyWendy]

WOW!!!! He sure is one VERY clever boy!!!!

GREAT video! I would have loved to have seen your face when you came downstairs and saw the compartments were all empty.

I bet Lupe was as speechless as you were.

 

[dulphinz]

Haha! Indeed you have a clever boy . Great video! Can't wait to see what it takes to stump him...if there is such a toy

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Wow!!! That's awesome!

I always passed up that toy thinking it would be too easy for Kenji(I thought they all opened the same). I might have to get it

 

[Abigal7]

Valentino is such a smart bird.

 

[goalerjones]

Maybe you can add some cardboard to each box to raise up the nut high enough.

 

[antoinette]

Valentino is sure one clever bird and he proved it.
That toy is awesome
Loved the video
Thanks for sharing

 

[JJones1719]

This toy is great, I have one too and I hang it in all angles to make it really a test to see if my boys can figure it out. most of the time, it takes me longer to place the treats inside then it does for them to get the treat out. lol. keep up the great work.

I also use untreated paper at office depot, I cut into strips, then place either their pellets or treat inside and with leather straps, I tie and hang them all over the inside of their cage, this keeps them busy for hours and they love it. It's a cheap way to make them work for their food.

Great video too. Thank for sharing. Joe

 

[haleybird]

Oh my goodness! What a little smartie-feathers! Valentino is soo beautiful! I've never really seen many rfm's before, and the colours are fantastic....those little red streaks on the side of his head are so precious! I really enjoyed watching this vid, thanks for sharing it!!