Foraging

Are you familiar with foraging? Foraging is what birds do naturally in their native environments daily in order to feed themselves.
Food, in the wild is not neatly placed in stainless bowls and made readily available to them. They have to seek out an existence to survive.

Not until recently has the avian community begun to realize the importance of foraging techniques for our own captive birds.
Through studies and research it is found that when given the opportunity to search for their daily meals, many rudimentary behavioral needs can be met and feather plucking/mutilating disorders might possibly be prevented. The mental health of the bird is greatly improved.

I recently purchased the DVD by Dr. Scott Echols on Captive Foraging. He has been working on it for several years to develop ways to make foraging techniques available to our caged birds. The video is excellent and touches upon several key elements...

* Understand the natural foraging instinct of all animals
* Prevent unwanted behaviors, such as feather destruction and repetitive functionless activity
* Build a foraging tree for captive birds
* Create foraging toys — from basic to advanced — to keep birds occupied and happy

It's a very informative and educational video and gives many good ideas and I especially liked the ability to make much of them on my own.

I can honestly say It's definitely worth looking into, especially if you have a companion bird that suffers from boredom and plucking issues.

Michael

PS Does anyone already employ foraging techniques with your birds? If so, would you mind sharing? Thanks!


http://www.flyingsouth.com/index.asp...ROD&ProdID=705

[imported_Laura]

Sound really interesting!! I will definitly be checking it out!! I am always looking or things i can build instead of buy!! Plus it really does make sense if you think about it. I will have to pick it up.
Thanks
Laura

They have started making a lot of toys for this. I think they are a great addition to any bird cage. They love to "work" for their food. It helps them keep in shape and provides hours of entertainment for your birds and you.

Dave,

I have a couple of foraging toys from Birdsjustwannahavefun and my macaw really enjoys the challenge.

Michael

Sometimes we will buy the "husk toys" (that's why my girls call them) that have a variety of shredding materials all inside one tearable cup or woven basket. We shove nuts and dried fruits down inside these, and for the quakers we add everyone's moulted feathers or bits of poly rope and leather strips so that there are lots of surprises. It's fun to stuff them before hanging in the cage. It's even more fun to watch the quakers later weaving their treasures into the bars of their cage!

I thought the DVD was extremely interesting and helpful, but my biggest problem is Quakers are little so I had a hard time using some of the suggestions. My girl gets her food by shredding Dixie cups and also has these toys that I put nuts in. She also has a little kabob toy for putting fruit on. Her only other foraging is wandering the counter for forbidden goodies! She nearly ate half a bowl of popcorn the other night! I should have known she was getting in trouble, she was being quiet!

Not until recently has the avian community begun to realize the importance of foraging techniques for our own captive birds.

That's really nice to know. So many people are often against foraging for captive birds. I like & have always done it because it's natural.

My boys & girl love foraging.
My electus prefers to forage around the ground, so everything he needs is closer to the ground for him. My sun & tiel are tree foragers but on the rare occasion my tiel will go lower for foraging.

All of them love working for their food. They all have foraging toys.