"Barrel of Fun" foraging toy has Monty stumped!

[KDK241]

One of the new toys I got for Monty is the Barrel of Fun foraging toy. There is a problem though (of course). He won't play with it on his own I swear he gives up so easily. I had him watch me put the treats in, showed him they were in there and showed him how it closed and opened at least 10 times. As soon as it was closed he immediatly started trying to chew his way in while I was holding it Then I left it open a little crack so he could open it and he got a seed. I closed it but didn't latch it and he went back to trying to chew through it I put it in his cage because as hard as it is for him to believe I can't sit and hold toys for him all day, and he immediately went in his cage, chewed on it twice and ignored it! I know that it will take some time for him to figure it out but what do I do when he won't even try? lol. *sigh* I swear he has no ambition except for destroying wood.

[Addicted to Tequila]

Why should he have ambition when he has a servant with such a soft heart to do it for him? LOL

[kellywess]

My Severe has two... one attached to her cage and one she carries around with her religiously. She bangs it when its empty. Yes, I am a trained parront.

[KDK241]

Originally Posted by Addicted to Tequila

Why should he have ambition when he has a servant with such a soft heart to do it for him? LOL

I don't think that's too far off, lol. I think he is starved for attention and stimulation since his old owner had so many birds and he didn't have anything to do but sit on top of the cage. I give him some seeds wrapped in newspaper and he acts like it's gold. Now he thinks he should be with me, by me, around me at all times and if I don't pay enough attention to him he will throw his toys at me (and hits me with em too)

I also don't think he knows he can play with it while it is hanging up. He still only plays with his foot toys so I'm trying to get him to realize he can use it while hanging as well.

[jenniferag]

I was thinking that same thing... I've gotten chew toys and foraging toys like that and my bird won't even try anything! lol

I got him this thing.... it's minerals and crushed seeds and stuff made into a block and it has peanuts shoved into it like half way so he can see the peanuts but he has to dug them out and he won't even try.. lazy butt! lol

[Addicted to Tequila]

At least he plays with toys! Dudders is still just working on THAT!

[loyallyroyal]

Dewey has that toy, I put an almond in around 2 times a day. He thinks it self-serve though! If he shuts it and opens it again it should have an almond right? then he starts growling at it.
We have the treasure chest too, I had a hard time with that one too, he learned how to lock it, but never open it.

[KDK241]

Well today Monty figured out how to pull the drawer open when it was unlocked but still can't figure out how to unlock it. If I barely lock it he will try and turn it but he always turns it the wrong way so that he ends up locking it more. He still won't play with it unless I'm holding it in my hand though. It makes it an interactive toy! I open it, show him the seeds, close it before he can get one and then he tries to chew into it, then finally pulls it open, eats a seed and forgets how he got it open in the first place so goes back to trying to chew it open. Then he gets mad at me for showing him the seeds and closing it before he can get one and puffs up his head feathers looking all annoyed, lol. It's fun!

[Geri]

Originally Posted by loyallyroyal

Dewey has that toy, I put an almond in around 2 times a day. He thinks it self-serve though! If he shuts it and opens it again it should have an almond right? then he starts growling at it.
We have the treasure chest too, I had a hard time with that one too, he learned how to lock it, but never open it.

Murray has one of these and I swear he learned it in under a minute. After 5 or 6 times with it he could open it in under 10 seconds. Now he does just as your Dewey. In fact he is able to close it and re-lock it. He also seems to just enjoy playing with the thing.

I can't imagine that any bird wouldn't learn the "barrel" eventually. I think you have to just be patient with him. If there is a treat in there that he's just gotta have he will figure it out. This said every bird is indifferent to some toys.

[red192]

Scarley has one, one week it's in her cage the next it's in Ringos. Ringo wasn't sure about it, now he knows,,,woohoo popcorn!