The Practical Parrot #2[Toys]

Look for baby "key" rattles and wooden bead teethers at pharmacies and discount stores -- I attach these to dog chains for my rainbow lorikeet, Romana. I separate the toys with parrot bells.

My Amazon, Vic, also likes to make nests during breeding season. I save large corrugated boxes for him, put extra paper inside for him to shred, then close the box. I punch one tiny hole in a side so he can get a start on it with his beak and after he's made a large hole, he'll call me to watch him go inside. Ever since I started giving him boxes, his screaming has lessoned. Vic will demolish a box in about a week so I hang onto my UPS boxes. Vic would also rather hang from his toys and ring his bells than scream to get my attention. For variety, on a rainy day, I'll toss a squeaky toy into the nest-box opening. He'll go in and battle this intruder until it's de-squeaked. Luckily you can find these toys in the children's section of 99-Cent stores since they last only seconds once Vic gets a beak-hold on them.

My friend, and B.A.B.A. new member, Vicky Guillory, tells me her parrots love to decapitate plastic army men! She says that you can find these toys in big bags, very cheaply. It seems kind of fitting, since we eat chicken. Look for dinosaurs, and cowboys and Indians, also.

Romana loves to shred tissues. This could be annoying; however, for me it's helpful. I'll buy a cheaper brand of white, unscented tissues and while I'm playing with her she'll dive into the box and kick the tissues to bits. I remove the shredded pieces later and save them for my nesting canaries. The hens finish lining their nests with the tissue paper, which is soft and highly absorbent. If "Ro" didn't shred tissues, I'd have to do it anyway -- and she's less nippy afterwards. Note: Great for birds in the "mating mood".

Discount stores have small plastic baskets in vivid colors. For a small parrot or budgie, "wire" one into the corner of the cage. I fill this basket with foot toys for Romana and it's large enough for her to play in. For a larger bird, pick a larger basket and if it gets chewed up, it's easily replaced. Also, look for a corner tray in the bath section (I donated one for the March raffle), This is similar to the corner perch that a bird company manufactures and sells for lots more -- here it costs $1.00! These baskets and trays are also useful for birds unable to perch easily due to injuries and foot problems. Many birds sleep in them. Note: When "wiring" these items to the cage, it's safer to use nylon electrical ties found in any hardware or electrical supply dealer store.

More plastic stuff to save and recycle: I wash and save plastic lids and vitamin bottles which can be reused as-is for toys. Screw the lid on an empty bottle after you've placed a few dried beans inside - this makes a great rattle. (Use discretion with larger birds whose beaks may shatter these plastic bottles). Larger plastic lids can be used as food dishes. Purchase plastic drawer dividers in various sizes at department stores to hold food and water in flight cages.

I wish to thank Nora for her outstanding contribution to this column, but don't think for a minute that you've heard the last from her, even though she's recently relocated to Phoenix, Arizona. Stay tuned for the next newsletter, for there will be more terrific ideas from her, as well as from another B.A.B.A. member, Chris S. Sedlmayr.