Busy beaks and busy brains make happy, healthy, well-adjusted parrots. There is nothing as sad as seeing a parrot in a cage with no parrot toys, or even with only one toy to entertain itself. Parrot toys are crucial to your parrot's mental health.
While your parrot should not be confined to its cage all the time, there are periods in almost any day when you do have to place your parrot in its cage. Even when the cage door is opened and the parrot can come and go at will, it will not be on your shoulder every minute. This means the bird needs something to do with its time. That's where a supply of interesting, fun toys becomes so important.
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It is crucial to change toys periodically to keep things interesting for your parrot. While you may want to leave the one or two toys that are most loved by your bird available at all times, have a selection of other toys on hand and change one toy every week. The parrot will treat the toy as if it were brand new, even if it was in the cage or on the play area a month or two ago. As toys become worn or chewed up, replace them with new ones, discarding the worn out toys.
Parrot toys do not have to be extremely expensive, and if you are on a budget you can even make some for your parrot. You'll probably purchase at least some of the toys for your bird. Whether you make toys or buy them, you need to follow some simple guidelines to be sure the parrot toys are safe and will really entertain your parrot for hours.
You must look at toys from the point of view that the size must match the size of your parrot. If you have a budgie, a great big toy meant for a macaw will only intimidate the little bird and it will not be enjoyed. A much smaller version of that same toy may become the budgie's favorite. A toy meant for a medium sized bird, when given to a macaw, will be destroyed in only hours or even minutes. So, base your purchasing and crafting decisions on the size parrot you own.
Look at any toys you consider purchasing with a very critical eye. Are they any parts the parrot could easily remove and ingest? Are these parts that could puncture the bird's skin or beak? Are there hazards such as being able to become trapped by the toy or have toes entangled? If the toy contains a chain, are the links of the chain welded closed to prevent toes from becoming caught or beaks from getting trapped? Is the toy made of quality materials? If a bell is included on the toy, is the clapper inside made of a bird-safe material? If the toy passes all these test questions, then you should consider purchasing it. If there is any doubt about the safety of any parrot toy, do not buy that one because there are hundreds from which to choose.
Many birds love shiny parrot toys. A simple shiny stainless steel chain containing some colorful wood parts can be quite appealing to your parrot. A shiny bell can become a well-loved toy that is used as a hat, a "snuggle companion" as well as something with which to create noise. Puzzle toys are very popular with large parrots because they provide mental challenges.
Parrots need to chew on wood in order to keep their beaks healthy. In the wild, adult parrots chew holes in trees for nesting cavities. This instinct remains active even when they do not have a mate in captivity. That urge to chew on wood is strong and should not be discouraged. Provide plenty of toys that contain wood to chew. You can create a parrot toy for a small bird with Popsicle sticks and plastic beads strung on a plastic cord. A medium parrot toy can be created from scraps of untreated wood drilled with holes to string on a stainless steel chain. A large parrot toy can be created from large pieces of untreated wood or clean tree limbs, drilled and strung on a large stainless steel chain. Of course, all these toys can also be purchased easily in various sizes and designs.
Provide lots of parrot toys and your parrot will be happy, mentally healthy, less likely to pluck feathers, and will enjoy hours of fun and play.