How to Make a Bird More Playful

Engaging your pet bird in enjoyable playtime activity is vital to maintaining its physical and mental health. Lack of play can cause your pet bird to become lethargic and exhibit depressive and destructive tendencies. There are several ways in which you can spend quality time with your pet bird and make it playful. From providing a stimulating play environment, to motivating it with a variety of attractive toys, you can transform your parrot into a playful, happy and healthy bird.

Things You'll Need

  • Hanging bird toys
  • Empty toilet paper tubes, rope toys, wood branches and puzzle treat toys
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a type of toy that will interest your bird. Offer it bright, shiny hanging bird toys created from different textures and materials. Toys that create interesting sounds such as bells will pique your bird's interest in engaging in play activity. Ensure that the toy you select is appropriately sized to prevent injury to your bird.

    • 2

      Convert household items into intriguing toy objects. Offer your pet bird empty toilet paper tubes to peck, peer or to walk through, rope toys and wood branches that it can pull around, and puzzle treat toys that simultaneously tantalize its taste buds.

    • 3

      Introduce new toys gradually to enable your bird to get adjusted to them. If your bird seems apprehensive, place the toy at a distance from its cage, but in line of its sight. Slowly move the toy closer to your bird's cage each day. Hang the toy in the cage once your bird seems at ease. However, supervise your bird for at least three hours during its first encounter with the toy.

    • 4

      Demonstrate to your pet bird how to play with the toy. Nudge the toy with your nose, hug it, play catch with it, and laugh and giggle while you do so. This will cause your bird to believe that you are having fun and encourage it to play with the toy.

    • 5

      Act possessive toward the toy, once your bird is attracted to it. Gently grab the toy away from the bird to pique its interest, and slowly allow it to pull it back from you. The more possessive you act toward the toy, the greater will be your bird's desire for it.