Wild parrots spend much of their time foraging for food. The intelligence and inquisitive nature of pet parrots, traits we find so endearing, developed in part out of foraging habits. Parrots need to forage and problem solve. This need is often unaddressed with pet birds.
Boredom and Feather Plucking Parrots
Wild parrots divide their day between grooming, foraging, sleeping and socializing (not unlike humans, when you get right down to the basics). By far the largest portion of a wild parrot’s waking hours is spent foraging.
Now consider pet parrots. Often they’re the only pet bird in the house, so that rules out socializing with other parrots. They rely on their humans for social interaction, and we aren’t always available. Instead of foraging for food, pet parrots get meals hand delivered to them in bowls that are always in the same place.
With socializing limited and foraging non-existent, this leaves pet parrots with grooming and sleeping. No wonder so many pet birds’ grooming develops into feather mutilation. We are, quite literally, boring the feathers off them.
Foraging Toys and Play Gyms
Making parrots forage for their food isn’t cruel: it’s a gift that gives them hours of entertainment. Start slowly, however—pet parrots with little foraging experience won’t know what to do if you suddenly start hiding their daily meal.
Instead, choose a treat you know your bird enjoys, and make it visible, but a little difficult to get to. This can be as simple as letting the parrot see you drop the treat into a paper cup. Going over to a cup and retrieving a treat may seem simple, but it’s still foraging. After a few days fold the paper cup closed so the parrot has to chew it open.
Leafy greens are great foraging toys. Weave the leaves through the bars of the bird’s cage so he has to work to get them. Even if he doesn’t like greens he may enjoy pulling them off the cage.
If you have a parrot play gym or bird stand, “decorate” it with treats. Getting to visible food is as much foraging as hunting for hidden food. In fact, it may more accurately represent how wild parrots forage.
Commercial Parrot Toys and Foraging
Many commercial parrot toys are built with foraging in mind. You can buy treat toys that pet parrots have to open to reach food, or “kebobs” you can skewer fruit on and hang from the roof of the cage. Some foraging toys are capable of stumping humans, so they should provide at least a small challenge to parrots!
Resources
Patt, J. (n.d.). Teach your Bird to Forage and Help Avoid feather Destructive Behaviors.
Rose, C. (2003). The Importance of Foraging.
