One of our store customers, Barbara Johnson,
was recently entrusted
with the care of an active young
Senegal Parrot, Petey. He was a gift from
her grandchildren to keep her company
after the passing of her husband. They also
gave her toys to keep him entertained. One
afternoon, Barbara was startled by loud
screeching and a tremendous racket.
Petey's foot was caught in a toy, and he
was struggling for freedom. Barbara gently
extricated Petey and, though startled, he
was not injured. Her initial response was to
remove all the toys to eliminate any chance
of future injuries.
Eventually, he started acting out due
to lack of adequate mental stimulation. In
order to explore safe options, Barbara made
a trip to our retail store.
Select the Right Toys
Toys play an integral role in the physical
and mental well-being of your pet bird.
However, certain
toys may not be
suitable and some
pose real dangers. Select toys that
are appropriate for your pet bird.
Toys intended for smaller birds can
be dangerous for larger birds, and
vice versa. The powerful beaks of
large parrots make short work of
toys made for smaller birds and
fragments of damaged toys may
cause choking, intestinal blockage,
or even internal bleeding.
Conversely, toys made for large
birds can accidentally pinch or
crush small birds.
Inspect Toys
Toys with chains, eye hooks,
links, bars, or any openings should
be examined carefully. Make sure
the openings are either too small or
too large for toes, beaks, or other
body parts to get caught. Check for
any sharp or rough edges. Small
parts that can be a choking hazard
should be removed to make toys
safer. Hanging toys attached with
strips of leather, rope, or string
should be tied securely onto the
cage. Injuries occur when pet birds
– ensnared in chains, leather cords,
or loose threads/strings – panic
and struggle to escape.
Supervise
Watch how your pet bird plays
with his toys and evaluate which toys
can stay and which toys should be
removed. Every bird is different, and
a toy safe for most birds may not be
suitable for an overly-active and
rambunctious young bird.
Depending on the personality
and play habits of your pet bird,
any toy can be a potential risk.
Check each toy regularly and retire
toys that are falling apart or fraying.
Though your pet bird may still love
playing with them, well-used toys
should be removed
or used only under
supervision.
Our Recommendations
|
Sing-A-Long Jukeboxes provide great
mental exercise and encourage your bird to whistle
and sing along to the melodies.
|
Brightly colored, thought-provoking Hanging Acrylic Toys is a
help develop your bird's motor and
reasoning skills. |
