Foraging Toys and Night-time Cage...

[ejsturm]

Okay, so this is my third new thread asking questions within 10 minutes...which I guess can be expected after welcoming a new bird into one's home. My wife and I got a 3.5 mo. old Meyers parrot on Saturday and have been enjoying his company ever since. I've also come up with nice need-to-buy, need-to-do, and need-to-ask lists the past couple of days. So here are some questions that have made it on to my lists.

1st Question:
What are some good foraging toys and where can I get them? Cygnus spends the day at home while my wife and I work. He seems happy with his current selection of toys but I want to be sure to keep him active and entertained as time goes on. Foraging toys seem to be a good way to help with this.

2nd Question:
Do any of you use nighttime/sleeping cages? We live in a one bedroom apartment. Cygnus's cage is in the living room so that he is where the "flock" spends all its time. However, this means that he could wind up staying up past his bedtime. Right now my wife and I just put him to bed, and we move into our bedroom so we don't bother him. But we were thinking it might be nice if he has a sleeping cage, which would be a small cage in our bedroom that we could put him in at night. Then, he could sleep peacefully and we'd still have access to our kitchen, T.V., etc. I also thought this might help establish different territories him. He'd have small cage to roost in, a large cage to play in during the day alone, and then un-caged play gyms and foraging areas for while we're all home. Let me know what you think of this idea. Obviously, I'm new to all this, so please don't be afraid to just tell me flat-out that it is a bad idea. But if seems like a good idea, how big do you think the nighttime cage would need to be for a sleeping Meyers?

I look forward to what you have to say...and I hope you are looking forward to all the questions I will undoubtedly be asking in the near future.

~Erick

[nailsrglue]

I do not use a nighttime cage, but rather I just cover the bird's cage when its bedtime. She does not make a peep until morning unless a light is turned on directly over her cage or we turn on the kitchen sink (it makes a loud high pitched noise). In the morning we uncover her. Her sheet is dark blue to make it dark and peaceful when she's covered.

[Alan]

With a flock the size of mine 10 birds, I don't use sleep cages. I would have them all over the house. But I do know many people who have 1-5 birds and use them and they work out great. I would think a sleep cage for a meyers could be 18X18, you could also use this to take him to the vet or if need be out of the house if something should happen. I would place 1 or 2 toys also food and water in the cage with him.

Foraging toys can be anything. I use boxes from the post office for most of mine cause you can order them for free off the website. I also use eggs cartons that aren't foam, not sure what they are made of actually. Throw some shredded paper in them nuts, treats and even toys and you can hang them or just put them in the bottom of the cage. A SS bucket with shredded paper wrap nuts and stuff in paper and mix it all up. Do a search online for diy forageing toys. I have a few more things at home that I can send to ya as well. Get small straw hats, i get mine at michaels, put them brim to brim with a great in them run a lenght of leather thru and tie it tight and you have a foot toy that they have to work to get their treats. You can also buy expensive toys if you want as well. But with all of mine I am not buying those for all the birds when I can make my own and spend that money on something else for the bird. Hope this helps.

[Tx mommy]

sounds like you are trying to spoil this bird Rotten!!! Good for you many people use sleeping cages, I personally don't but I'm considering it. Foraging toys are fun to make I have a Lorie so mine are easier I just take dried fruit and put it in a cupcake paper and hide it in her all time favorite toy paper finger cuffs. Now of course yours will need something bigger stronger, but you can be creative and have fun with it.

[magdalena]

I use sleep cages for my birds because the big cages/evening playstands are in what's left of a living room and we tend to stay up late watching movies. I'm planning on moving the sofa and tv out to the front room so they can have that room as just the bird room with only my desk (where I spend most of the day) in there with them.

I'll probably move their sleep cages into that room but will continue to use them even if they are just in front of their regular cages so they still have the feeling of roosting somewhere other than where they forage. They also have trees and play areas in the front room for when we are out there. I'm a big fan of cycling birds around to various areas so their natural foraging in different places instincts are met. Thankfully they allow me to share their jungle with them. :D

[Izzy]

My meyers has a sleep cage. I keep it on a shelf in the closet, so that she can get her beauty sleep! She loves it!

Top Wing® Square Bird Cage With Large Landing Platform - Cages & Stands - Bird - PetSmart

I think this is the cage she has. It's the perfect size because I can easily carry it in one hand to use for travel, and it is large enough for two rope perches and 2-3 toys. She has stayed in it for long weekends and car rides to the cabin, and she LOVES it. It's also a really well made cage - I don't have to worry about it coming apart while I'm carrying her around outside or anything.

My cockatiels get covered at night. When I only had one she slept in a carrier at night, but my second tiel was hand shy when I got her so I started just covering them. I think I might switch back to sleep cages eventually, because I do think it's more natural for them to play/forage in a seperate area than where they roost.