The Value of Independent Play
To help prevent dependency issues later in life, it’s essential to encourage independent play in young birds. Parrots introduced to a variety of safe toys—with different textures, colors, and shapes—tend to grow into more confident, curious, and independent adults.
Many adult parrots who “don’t play with toys” were likely not given the opportunity to explore diverse environments during their formative months. Sadly, these birds often develop behavioral issues such as feather plucking, screaming, or biting.
Why Play Matters
We believe that fostering play is nearly as important as providing proper nutrition. Play offers enrichment across several categories:
- Physical health: Promotes exercise and activity
- Emotional well-being: Stimulates the mind and supports social development
- Instinctual fulfillment: Satisfies natural urges to chew, forage, and manipulate objects
Can Older Birds Learn to Play?
Absolutely. Don’t be discouraged if your bird ignores the first few toys. Birds, like people, have different interests and personalities. With time, patience, and experimentation, you’ll discover what captures your parrot’s attention—and they may become curious about other toys in the future.
Tips to Encourage Toy Engagement
- Start with easily destructible materials such as paper, palm, or vine-based toys.
- Weave shreddable materials like bird-safe “shredders” through cage bars or hang a phone book for them to tear into.
- Gradually introduce more durable toy parts like cardboard, balsa wood, or pine slats.
- Hide treats inside foraging toys to motivate exploration and play.
- Model interest by playing with a toy yourself in front of your bird—it sparks curiosity!
- Play interactive games with your bird to strengthen your bond and encourage activity.
- Rotate toys regularly and introduce different types to prevent boredom and maintain stimulation.
Remember, play is more than entertainment—it’s a critical part of your bird’s overall wellness.