Number of toys in the cage

[motherwright]

Ok, as everyone here knows, I am new to parrot companionship.

I adopted a jenday conure (with a naked neck & legs, and some of her shoulder are naked too) on 9-12 and then we added a blue masked lovebird about a month ago. They are on 2 seperate floors of our home. These are birds/pets.

Here is my question.....how many toys should be in the cage with the birds? I have seen pictures of cages on this board and there are tons of toys in the cage. I have no clue how the bird can get around, but I am open to putting tons of toys in the cage...I just dont know.

In my lovebirds cage (almost 4 months old) she has 3 perches and 3 toys and a swing...she loves the swing. She runs all around and up and down the cage. Not sure if she plays with the toys, I dont see nibble marks or hear the bells (she is upstairs in my daugthers room).

In the Conures cage she has 3 perches at different levels...only goes on 1 to hang out, one to eat and ignores the other. She has 2 toys, plus an orange rubber thing I put peanuts in and 1 more thing with hidden peanuts. Well she is afraid of toys and only regularily will forage for peanuts in the orange thing and very rarely will he get close to 1 specific toy and peck at it to ring the bell. She pretty much sits on her perch when she is in the cage. When she is out, she is on my lap walking around, or helping me do my chores on my shoulder.

Both have been to the vet, both are free and clear of parasites, etc. Both are on a good pelleted diet and eat and drink well.

Just, how many toys are good, how many are too many, and how do I get the conure to play with them (her previous owner said she never played with toys in that house either)

Thank you
Colleen

[hyacinthLove]

first off, welcome to bird board and to the awesome world of parrots :) also, good for you for adopting little ones in need.

i have 4 toys in my cockatiel's cage at any given time. however, this also depends on the size of your cage. i think the bird should be able to move around easily and flap his wings without worrying about hitting something.

as far as being afraid of toys, try playing with them outside of the cage. play on the floor if he wants! make happy noises and show him that toys are fun! it sounds silly but it can be very effective! also, be sure to slowly introduce new toys. i sometimes place new toys on top of my cockatiel's cage for a day or so, so he can check them out before they are "invading" his space!

[4HAND]

Usually three toys of different types is a minimum.Every week or two these can be rotated out and different toys put in.Because the jenday is a plucker,I would have extra preening and foraging toys in that cage.Toys that are destructable are very important to birds prone to feather mutilation.Once you find a toy the jenday loves you may want to leave it in all the time and have an identical toy as a backup.In my mind there should be a spot free of toys so the bird can do some vigorus wing flapping.Also, you shouldn'thave so many toys that you can't keep them clean or inspect them for damage that might pose a safety hazard.
Tena

[janejacinto]

I am one of those that have tons of toys in the cages. Also one that has large cages. You will know when you have enough in the cage.
Jane

[Nazir's]

I think the key is to provide enough to entertainment but not to the point of over crowding.

[gbird]

I'm also guilty of over toying Pita.....I guess the answer would be....depends on how spoiled your fid is....LOL

Seriously though, tonight I uncluttered Pitas cage. Removed some toys, added new ones, moved them around. Depending on the bird you have, you have to go with it's personality. Pita can't enough of his toys, he'll go to each one and play with it. Some birds get afraid of toys, or just dont like them. After a while you get to know what kind of toys your fid likes, and which ones the dont care for.

The bird should always have enough room in his cage to spread his wings. So I would say take your time, let the bird adjust. Another good hint is, pretend to play with the toy in front of the bird. You know a parrot can't resist playing with something you are having fun with.

[swanwillow]

I only have a 3/cage ratio, but I want more, somewhere around 10/cage. My birds get bored, I know it, so 10 toys...

Lets see now, my kids each have about 50 toys strewn around the house, I myself have more than ten. So, ten for the fids!

[Sally]

If I could bottle the happiness and joy Chipper has with her toys I would do it. She plays with every toy and she has a chirp of happiness that makes me tear up and my heart feels so good!

Chipper's cage looks crowded in one dimentional photos. In 3D it is VERY roomy. She can jump, crawl, hop, fly, swing HIGH and play! She runs and jumps on her big swing and it goes high!

I hang toys and foraging areas all the way down. There is a super fav. wooden bead toy she loves to I hung a "Bead Forest" for her. A grouping of four. She climbs in and loves it. I also have long rope perches curled around and she climbs them and it is so perfect.

Each bird is different. I know Chipper very well. I know the toys she loves and she would be sad with three toys she is so happy and healthy. Her cage set up works great for her. Parrotlets love to play and have fun. Some birds like fewer toys. She loves her playgyms and toys there on the gym table too.

[spookygrl]

hmmm,no advice for toys in the cage. it's been close to 2 yrs and my quaker flips out with any toys in her cage. and yes ive tried putting toys on the outside buying destructive toys foraging toys,toys on the cage ioutside but within reach.my bird panics easily,more like a grey. i place tiny toys pinned to my shirt near or on my shoulder. only destructable ,like the tiny pin~ata type for keets. she is at least investigating them. her favorite past time is however is ripping out my hair and napping under my shirt. i recently have moved her playstand next to the gcc. she is at least briefly beaking the toys.

[marwa]

Originally Posted by Sally

If I could bottle the happiness and joy Chipper has with her toys I would do it. She plays with every toy and she has a chirp of happiness that makes me tear up and my heart feels so good!

Chipper's cage looks crowded in one dimentional photos. In 3D it is VERY roomy. She can jump, crawl, hop, fly, swing HIGH and play! She runs and jumps on her big swing and it goes high!

I hang toys and foraging areas all the way down. There is a super fav. wooden bead toy she loves to I hung a "Bead Forest" for her. A grouping of four. She climbs in and loves it. I also have long rope perches curled around and she climbs them and it is so perfect.

Each bird is different. I know Chipper very well. I know the toys she loves and she would be sad with three toys she is so happy and healthy. Her cage set up works great for her. Parrotlets love to play and have fun. Some birds like fewer toys. She loves her playgyms and toys there on the gym table too.

hey ... I love your tinker toys stand .. where did you find these ...? I want one of those ..