How to Pick Toys for a Cockatiel

Part of keeping your cockatiel happy and healthy is making sure the bird has plenty of different types of toys that you can rotate in and out the cage often. If the bird gets attached to a particular toy, that one can be a permanent fixture, but you want to keep your cockatiel entertained. This is especially true when you are not at home. Bored birds quickly develop behavior issues that are very hard to undo. Picking good toys will help you avoid that problem.

Instructions

    • 1

      Size matters. Make sure you are picking a toy that is the appropriate size for your bird. Most pet stores have the toys divided by bird size. You don’t want to get your cockatiel a Macaw toy, but you also do not want to buy him a canary toy. Look at the bird on the packaging. It should be a cockatiel, parakeet, love bird or some other small to medium sized bird. If it isn’t supposed to take up half the cage but it does, that is a red flag.

    • 2

      Safety first. Make sure that the toys do not have lead or zinc in them. Both of these substances are toxic to the birds and they could develop long-term health effects from the exposure. Lead has been linked to fatal seizures in pet birds, so just be aware of what the toy is made of. Cockatiels are notorious for pulling their toys apart. If they do, you want to make sure that they cannot be hurt by any of the parts that might break off. The can get caught up in ribbons and even get them wrapped around their necks. If you decide to save money and make your own toys, make sure that you are not including any materials that are toxic.

    • 3

      Know your bird. Of course this will be hard at first, but as you get to know your cockatiel, pay attention to what he does and does not like. If you buy a swing and even after a month he still won’t go near it, avoid swing toys. If you discover he likes the stringy hang down toys, look for different variations of that type of toy.

    • 4

      Don’t be discouraged. When you first bring a toy home, she may not warm to it immediately. Some cockatiels will avoid new toys until they know it can be trusted.